Civilians subject to an unjust military trial

Don't let Jalila and Mahdi face their appeal hearing alone
Be there by writing a letter

	The nightmare faced by two teachers in Bahrain. It's why we Write for Rights.
	The terrifying threats. "We can do anything to you.Anything." Mocked, tortured, threatened. Forced to sign a confession, without even being allowed to read it. Civilians subject to an unjust military trial. This is the story of two former leaders of the Bahrain Teachers' Association, Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb, who were arrested and ill-treated during this spring's protests in Bahrain. Jalila and Mahdi are among the 15 cases featured in Amnesty's Write for Rights Global Write-a-thon this year. Write a letter for Jalila and Mahdi, and other urgent human rights cases -- join thousands of others worldwide to Write for Rights this December. Your letters are urgently needed. Next week marks a key milestone in Jalila and Mahdi's case. One day after International Human Rights Day on December 10th, Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb face an appeal hearing. Why are these two teachers considered so "dangerous"? Because their trade union called for a teachers strike during Bahraini protests this spring -- protests seeking reform of a government that has used torture and excessive force against its own citizens. Jalila and Mahdi have seen the horrific behavior of Bahrain's government firsthand. Mahdi spent 64 days in solitary confinement, where he says he was tortured. And when Jalila demanded a lawyer after her arrest, she says the authorities rebuffed her with the chilling words: "Who said you would have a lawyer in here? It's us, only us. And we have the permission to do anything to you to [get] the testimony we want." After unfair trials before a military court, Jalila was sentenced to three years in prison, and Mahdi was sentenced to ten years. It's clear that Bahrain's authorities have no regard for human rights. Don't let Jalila and Mahdi face their appeal hearing alone. Be there by writing a letter. It's not too late -- join us to Write for Rights. Thank You, Michael O’Reilly Senior Director, Individuals at Risk Campaign Amnesty International USA		Send hope to Bahraini teachers Jalila al-Salman Your letters could make the difference for two teachers in Bahrain who are facing an appeal next week. Help us sway the Bahraini authorities.Will you write letters that can save lives?

Punjab Bachao Yatra

Thousands of Mahila Congress workers gather at Moga
Mahila Congress Pb.to launch 24 hour help line 
A step taken for women of Punjab: Dr Malti Thapar 
Moga:November 2, 2011

Mahila Congress Punjab will shortly start a 24 hour helpline at Congress Bhawan Chandigarh for the women of Punjab who are harassed and tortured at the family or social or administrative or political level. Stating this as a historic step, Dr Malti Thapar, President, Mahila Congress Punjab said that Mahila congress will provide moral and legal support to such females who are deprived of their rights in any way. This 24 hour helpline number will be intimated to the general public through media. Dr Thapar announced this today at Moga, while she was speaking at the rally held on the second day of Punjab Bachao yatra.

Dr Thapar said that number of cases of atrocities on the women have increased manifold during the last four and half years of this Akali Dal Badal and BJP rule. The crime rate in Punjab has gone up leaving behind Bihar also. Women in the state are feeling insecure and unsafe in the goondaraj of Akali Dal Badal. Everyday the silent protesting teachers or the Aangan vaadi workers are picked up by the Punjab police on the directions of S Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is the home minister also, and beaten mercilessly in front of everybody. 

Dr Thapar questioned S Harsimrat kaur Badal, MP that What is the use of just grabbing cheap publicity by holding daughter of poor people and branding it as “Nanhi Chaan”? Can the present regime give any authenticated data on the female foeticide in the state during the last four years?Dr Thapar assured the president PPCC, Capt Amarinder Singh that Mahila Congress will be his right hand in the coming vidhan sabha elections and will fight with the Pradesh Congress to throw this government out of power. Dr Thapar requested Capt Singh that while drafting the manifesto special attention should be given to the issues relating to the women of Punjab.

Dr Thapar pointed to S Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab that by making cancer specialization hospitals in Malwa belt won’t serve the purpose of common man, come to Dharamkot and see where Punjab is going? For the last 15 years Akali Dal has ruled in this constituency but S Parkash Singh Badal should see the plight of the people there. There is no school, college, hospital, roads or transport. People are living in pitiable conditions without even safe drinking water and electricity. Old age pensions and shagun schemes are also not being distributed by the government. Even the money to be given in the MNREGA is not being paid to the workers.

Amnesty International Urges Malaysia

Arrest Sudanese President Wanted for War Crimes 
Washington, D.C.: The Malaysian government should immediately withdraw its invitation to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, and arrest him if he travels to Malaysia, Amnesty International said today.

The Malaysian government announced yesterday that President al-Bashir will participate in the Langkawi International Dialogue, an economic forum being held in Malaysia from June 19 to 21. 

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

"Malaysia should not turn itself into a port of call for fugitives from international justice," said Donna Guest, deputy Asia Pacific director at Amnesty International. "The Malaysian government should bar Bashir from its territory and arrest him if he turns up."

Amnesty International welcomed Malaysia’s announcement on March 21 of its intention to become a state party to the Rome Statute and to recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. In his announcement, Malaysian Law Minister Nazri Aziz said, "This is a declaration that Malaysia rejects war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide."

When the U.N. Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC in 2005, it urged all states to cooperate fully with the Court. Although Malaysia is not yet party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, it should arrest Omar al-Bashir should he arrive in Malaysia, Amnesty International said.

"Malaysia’s invitation to Omar al-Bashir flies in the face of its decision to join the ICC," said Guest. "Instead of hosting people wanted by the ICC, Malaysia should reaffirm its commitment to justice."

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. 

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J & K Authorities to Release or Charge Teenage Protester

Thu, May 19, 2011 at 10:04 PM                                                                           Thursday, May 19, 2011
Amnesty International Calls on Jammu and Kashmir Authorities to Release or Charge Teenage Protester

Washington, D.C.: The Jammu and Kashmir authorities must immediately release or charge a teenage anti-government protester who was rearrested this week after spending three months in administrative detention, Amnesty International said. 

Murtaza Manzoor, 17, was briefly released from prison on Wednesday after the High Court found that his administrative detention was unlawful. He was immediately rearrested by police. 

Amnesty International said it is likely that a repeat administrative detention order for Murtaza Manzoor will be passed, allowing police to detain him without charge or trial for up to two years. 

"The police in Jammu and Kashmir are playing a game with the judiciary. Courts order a person's release only for the police to wait outside prison to re-arrest them. This farce should stop," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific director. 

"Murtaza Manzoor must be released immediately, unless he is charged with a recognizable criminal offense," said Zarifi. "If so, he should be remanded in custody by an independent court and his rights as a child should be recognized. The authorities must not order his repeat administrative detention." 

Although he is 17 years old Murtaza Manzoor is being treated as an adult because the laws of Jammu and Kashmir define boys above the age of 16 as adults. This contravenes both Indian law and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has said that the laws will be amended to make them consistent with international law and standards. 

"We can clearly see the need to amend the law in Jammu and Kashmir because teenage boys are held in jails with no special facilities for juveniles," said Zarifi. 

Police arrested Murtaza Manzoor on January 21 in the state capital Srinagar. He was accused of attempted murder, assault and rioting, based on allegations that he led a June 2010 protest against the Indian government that turned violent and resulted in protesters rioting and pelting police with stones. 

On February 8, fearing that Manzoor would be released on bail, police placed him in administrative detention under the highly problematic Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), which allows for up to two years’ detention without charge or trial. 

On May 13 the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir found Murtaza Manzoor's detention to be unlawful and ordered his release. 

On May 18, instead of being released to his father who was waiting outside the Kot Bhalwal Jail, Murtaza Manzoor was escorted from the prison by four policemen of a specialist counter-insurgency team and taken to the Joint Interrogation Center at Jammu. 

Police told his father that Murtaza Manzoor would be kept at the interrogation center for a few days before being handed over to a police station in Srinagar. 

"Murtaza’s case illustrates the 'revolving door' nature of detentions widespread in PSA cases, as documented in Amnesty International’s recent report, A Lawless Law,” said Zarifi.   

Murtaza Manzoor's family was not given any information on the alleged offenses for which he is being held. Amnesty International said it believes his detention may be unlawful. 

At least 322 people are reported to have been detained without trial under the provisions of the Public Safety Act in Jammu and Kashmir from January to September 2010 alone. 

A number of them, including children, have been detained on similar grounds of stone pelting and rioting during various protests against the Indian government throughout the summer of 2010. 

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. 

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Overturn Gay Pride Event Ban:Amnesty International

Wed, May 18, 2011 at 8:13 PM

Amnesty International Calls on Moscow Authorities to Overturn Gay Pride Event Ban

Washington, D.C.: Amnesty International is calling on the Moscow authorities to overturn their ban on the city’s gay pride event, which had been set to take place on May 28. 

Moscow’s Deputy Mayor told the event organizer, Nikolai Alekseyev, and confirmed to Amnesty International, that his application to hold the event had been rejected due to the large number of objections it had received from members of the public.   

"The Moscow City Authorities must overturn their decision to ban this year’s Moscow Gay Pride.  So-called public morality concerns can never be used to justify restrictions on the freedom of expression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," said Nicola Duckworth, director of Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia program. "The right response to such objections is not to cave in to their demands, but to ensure that those seeking to exercise their rights lawfully are able to do so in safety and in dignity." 

For the last six years, gay rights activists in Moscow have been denied permission to organize a pride event. Events that have taken place have been violently dispersed by law enforcement officials. 

In October 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia had violated the right to freedom of assembly of activists seeking to hold pride events in Moscow in recent years. 

The court found that by "relying on such blatantly unlawful calls as grounds for the ban, the authorities effectively endorsed the intentions of persons and organizations that clearly and deliberately intended to disrupt a peaceful demonstration in breach of the law and public order." 

Gay rights activists in St. Petersburg have recently enjoyed greater success in exercising their right to the freedom of expression.   

In October last year, a St. Petersburg court ruled, for the first time, that the banning of the St. Petersburg Pride event was illegal. 

Yesterday, an authorized gathering attended by more than 100 LGBT rights activists took place peacefully in the city. 

Over the last year, however, activists across Russia have been assaulted for speaking out on the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. 

"The Russian authorities must ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Russia are able to express the identities and organize public events without hindrance or the threat of violence," said Duckworth.   

"The last few years have seen some signs of greater tolerance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Russia, but they still face widespread discrimination," added Ducworth. "Moscow should be leading the fight for LGBT rights – not holding it back." 

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. 

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Women in France Banned From Wearing the Veil in Public

Women in France Banned From Wearing the Veil in Public, says Amnesty International 

Organization Condemns Arrest of Protesters, Calls for Law to be Scrapped

Washington, D.C.:Monday, April 11, 2011:: Amnesty International condemns the detention of several people, including two women wearing the full-face veil, who were protesting against the law banning the wearing of any form of clothing concealing one's face in public. Amnesty International understands that those taken in for questioning by police have subsequently been released. 

The law came into force today. Police said the people were detained for joining an unauthorized protest in central Paris. 

"Women in France have the right to freedom of religion and expression. They must also be free to protest when this right is violated," said John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Program director at Amnesty International. "This law puts France to shame – a country that prides itself on the human rights it claims to promote and protect, freedom of expression included." 

"The law preventing women in France from expressing their values, beliefs and identity should be scrapped," said Dalhuisen.  # # #

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. # # #

Amnesty urges Saudi Arabia to Allow Peaceful Protests

Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 10:14 PM

Amnesty International Urges Saudi Arabia to Allow Peaceful Protests, After Government Bans Right to Legitimate Demonstrations and Detains 24 People 
Organization Also Calls for Investigation Into Reports Police Beat and Kicked Protesters in city of al-Qatif 

New York : Amnesty International today called on the Saudi Arabian government to allow peaceful protests, saying a ban on all demonstrations in the kingdom was “outrageous.”  The organization also called for an investigation into the detention last week of about 24 people after peaceful protests and assaults by police on others.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Interior said security forces would take “all necessary steps against those who attempt to disrupt order.” Authorities confirmed the ban on protests, which was first referred to in 2008.

Further protests are planned for Friday amid growing calls for reform in the country.

 “The Saudi Arabian authorities have a duty to ensure freedom of assembly and are obliged under international law to allow peaceful protests to take place,” said Philip Luther, deputy director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Program.

“They must act immediately to end this outrageous restriction on the right to legitimate protest.”

Some 24 people were detained last Thursday and Friday following protests in the city of al-Qatif, denouncing the prolonged detention of Shi’a prisoners.

Police in al-Qatif kicked and beat with batons at least three of the protesters, who were taking part in an apparently peaceful demonstration supporting nine Shi’a community members who have been detained without trial for over 14 years.

The arrests came a week after prominent Shi’a cleric Sheikh Tawfiq Jaber Ibrahim al-’Amr was arrested following a sermon calling for reforms in Saudi Arabia. He was released without charge on Sunday.

“The Saudi authorities must investigate reports of beatings of protesters by security forces. They should also ensure that those detained are either charged with recognizable offenses and tried fairly or released,” said Luther.

“While in detention they must be protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and given regular access to their family, lawyers and medical,” he said.

Most of the protesters are believed to be held in a police station in al-Dhahran, a city in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

Among those arrested are Shi’a activists Hussain al-Yusef and Hussein al-‘Alq, who have written for the Shi’a website www.rasid.com, which often details arrests of and discrimination against members of the Shi’a community.

The nine members of the Shi’a community in prolonged detention were arrested in connection with the 1996 bombing of a U.S. military complex in al-Khobar in which 20 people were killed and hundreds injured.

According to reports, they were interrogated, tortured and denied access to lawyers and had no opportunity to challenge the legality of their detention.

Calls for reform, including for a constitutional monarchy and greater political freedoms, and for the release of people detained without charge or trial in Saudi Arabia have grown louder in recent weeks amid protests spreading across the Middle East and North Africa.

Background

In 2008, following a protest against Israel’s military action in Gaza, the Ministry of Interior, was reported to have said that protests in Saudi Arabia were banned.

Those who defy this ban are often held incommunicado without charge and denied access to the courts to challenge the legality of their detention.

Critics of the Saudi Arabian government face gross human rights violations at the hands of security forces under the control of the Ministry of Interior.

They are often held incommunicado without charge, sometimes in solitary confinement, prevented from consulting lawyers and denied access to the courts to challenge the lawfulness of their detention.

Torture or other ill-treatment is frequently used to extract confessions from detainees, to punish them for refusing to “repent”, or to force them to make undertakings not to criticize the government. Incommunicado detention in Saudi Arabia often lasts until a confession is obtained, which can take months and occasionally years.

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. 

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Violent Libya : need for effective Arms Trade Treaty

Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 1:47 AM

TAKING ACTION TOGETHER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Image: Still from YouTube showing vehicles that appear identical to those manufactured by UK based NMS International, in use in Libya to crackdown on protestors. Dear Rector, Over the last few days we've been appalled by the violent and totally unacceptable crackdowns on peaceful protesters in Libya, Bahrain and several other countries across the Middle East & North Africa. And there's evidence emerging that the UK may have licensed security equipment to the Libyan authorities which has been used to crush protests across the country. Next weeks there will be negotiations at the UN on the proposed Arms Trade Treaty.The need for strong international export controls to prevent weapons, munitions and related security equipment from ending up in the hands of known human rights abusers is more vital than ever. Take action now to pressure the UK Government to press for a strong and effective Arms Trade Treaty We have long campaigned for a strong and effective control on the deadly trade in weapons. These licenses for Libya should never have been granted in the first place given the reams of credible information we and others have supplied to the UK government relating to the Libyan government’s extreme intolerance of all forms of dissent. We are also calling for a comprehensive arms embargo and an immediate suspension of any further shipments of equipment that pose a real danger of being used to violently suppress peaceful protests in Libya, and a halt to similar transfers to Yemen, Bahrain and other protest-hit countries in the region. Please take action now Thank you. Kristyan Benedict Campaign Manager - Crisis Response & Country Priorities

Help ensure Walid receives a fair trial in Iraq

Write for Rights Update: Walid Yunis Ahmad is finally charged. Help us ensure he receives a fair trial!

Dear Rector, Walid Yunis Ahmad has persevered through torture, enforced disappearance and solitary confinement in Iraqi prisons. After almost eleven long years of unlawful detention, Walid's case was finally referred to local courts only after Amnesty International highlighted his plight. This past fall, we highlighted the appalling case of Walid Yunis Ahmad in our Write for Rights campaign. Your letters made a huge difference in Walid's case — now that he has finally been charged with a crime, he has a chance to defend himself in court. Although this is a promising first step, it is not the end of the story.Walid is accused of serious offenses and faces the death penalty if convicted. The shortcomings of the judicial system in Iraq have been well reported. Evidential standards are poor, due process rights are frequently violated and corruption is widespread. Walid has faced so much injustice already. Demand that the Kurdish regional authorities respect Walid's right to a fair trial! Walid Yunis Ahmad's nightmare began in February 2000. He was arrested by the Kurdish security forces after he hitched a ride in a car that allegedly contained explosives. Although the driver of the vehicles was soon released, Walid was held in secret and shuffled off from prison to prison, simply disappearing from the outside world and his loved ones. For three years, Walid's wife and children had no idea where he was. Human rights violations in the name of security — including torture, indefinite detention and unfair trials — are widespread in Iraq. We can help make progress towards justice for all Iraqis by calling on the authorities to give Walid Yunis Ahmad a fair trial, without recourse to the death penalty. Justice is long overdue for Walid and his family. Already, your letters have made a difference in Walid's case. Now, go the extra mile and demand a fair trial for Walid Yunis Ahmad today! In solidarity, Michael O'Reilly Senior Campaign Director, Individuals at Risk Amnesty International USA  Share on Facebook  Share on Twitter Join us March 2011 in San Francisco for our 50th Anniversary AGM!

Let Uganda's community know that you stand with them.

Failure to secure justice in the brutal murder of Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato will send a chilling signal – it's open season on Uganda's LGBT community. Honor the life and support the work of this LGBT crusader and all brave activists who put their lives on the line to defend basic human rights.

David Kato was a prominent LGBT rights defender in Uganda until a few weeks ago, when he was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in his home. His death is the latest tragic example of the constant threat so many lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people face in Uganda. Uganda, indeed much of Africa, is a frightening place to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. An "Anti-Homosexuality Bill", a how-to manual for abhorrent human rights violations, looms in the Ugandan Parliament like a poisonous black cloud. The bill calls for life imprisonment for homosexual acts, three years in prison for failing to report a homosexual person, and, for so-called "aggravated homosexuality," death. Never intimidated by the culture of hate perpetrated by anti-LGBT forces in Uganda, David Kato fought tirelessly against this bill, and for rights for all Ugandans. If justice for David's murder is not pursued, it will send a chilling signal to Uganda's LGBT community and all who defend them. The situation in Uganda will surely worsen if the international community does not step up the pressure. The Ugandan government needs to hear loud and clear that it is wrong and against international human rights law to codify hate, discrimination and murder. Amnesty International is committed to demanding justice for David and an end to the violence against Uganda's LGBT community, but we need your support to make it work. Let Uganda's LGBT community know that you stand with them.  Will you become a member of Amnesty International and fortify our campaign to defend human rights in Uganda and throughout the world? Let Uganda's LGBT community know that you stand with them. Your donation will immediately bolster our lifesaving human rights work in Uganda and throughout Africa. David's voice was tragically silenced forever, but we can honor his memory and carry on his shared vision for a safer, more just world. Shine the light for David and for all who put their lives on the line to defend basic human rights. Click here to become a member of Amnesty International. In solidarity,   Sincerely, Larry Cox Executive Director Amnesty International USA