Amnesty International Salisbury Group

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting on Thursday 14th

February 20197.30 pm 4 Victoria Road

1 Chairman’s Welcome Present: Andrew, Ria, Tony, Fiona, Eddie, Peter and LesleyApologies: None were received

AH

2 Minutes of previous Meeting – These were agreed LC

3 Treasurer’s Report – None was received. MP

4 Campaign Reports

Death Penalty

Please see the Salisbury Group Website www.salisburyai.com for the full international update covering the USA, Belarus, Pakistan, Canada/China, the UK, India, the Philippines, Yemen, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Of particular note

The Supreme Court in Pakistan upheld the acquittal of Asia Bibi, the Christian woman who had spent 8 years on death row following a charge of blasphemy. The Court rejected a challenge to the October ruling brought by an extreme Islamist party. She had been held in a secret location. Two of her children are reportedly in Canada, which has offered her asylum.

In the UK, the mother of the alleged member of Isis, El Shafee Elsheikh, lost her legal challenge against the Home Office decision to share evidence with the US without seeking assurances that her son and a second alleged terrorist will not face the death penalty.

The Chair of the Commons Procedure Committee has reprimanded the Home Secretary for failing to respond to the written enquiries from Caroline Lucas regarding the fate of the two young men at risk of extradition to the USA.

The Death Penalty Information Centre published its annual report for the USA in 2018. Key findings were that Washington became the 20th State to abolish the Death

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Penalty; fewer than half of Americans believe the death penalty is applied fairly; for the first time in 25 years, fewer than 2,500 people face active death sentences; and no US County imposed more than two death sentences for the first time in the modern era. (Follow the link DPIC Annual Report )

Two days after the authorities in Belarus imposed a death sentence on Alyaksandr Asipovich, found guilty of murder, the European External Action Service called on the Country to abolish capital punishment, and to impose lesser sentences on Mr Asipovich and all prisoners on death row.

In Sri Lanka, President Sirisena has vowed to end the country’s 42-year moratorium on capital punishment, and to reinstate the death penalty within two months. Applications are being sought for the appointment of two hangmen.

Urgent Actions

Saudi Arabia - An email UA was received from Amnesty on behalf of Israa al-Ghomgham, whose trial was about to begin. (Circulated to DPLWG 12.1.19) A further email was received on 2.2.19 with the information that – following massive outrage – the authorities had dropped their call for Israa to be executed. Thank you to all who took action on her behalf. She, and her four fellow prisoners are, however, facing long prison sentences. Action on her behalf will continue and further updates are expected.

Yemen – an email was received from AIUK calling for a Twitter Action on behalf of Asmaa al-Omeissy, a 23 -year-old mother sentenced to death by the Huthi-aligned Specialised Criminal Court. The final verdict was expected on 4th February but there has been no news. Asmaa faces a separate sentence of 100 lashes for travelling in a car with her male co-defendants. She has been tortured and illtreated and was subjected to a grossly unfair trial. (Circulated to DPLWG 26.1.19.)

Campaigning

The NCADP are currently promoting a new film In the Executioner’s Shadow which ‘casts a penetrating look at the consequences of the death penalty through three powerful stories – a former state executioner who comes within days of executing an innocent person; a Boston Marathon bombing victim who struggles to decide what justice really means; and the parents of a murder victim who choose to fight for the life of their daughter’s killer.’

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The producers of the film, Sideways Film, who can be contacted in London, have been approached for further details. Their response regarding options and prices for use by the Group was discussed and it was agreed it would be better to approach the Anti-Death Penalty campaign organisers in London with a view to the possibility of AIHQ’s obtaining a copy for use around the country.as required.

Following an article which appeared in the Salisbury Journal on 17th January, contact has been made with the local artist James Earley, who will be travelling to the USA in June, where he has been commissioned by the Charity Witness to Innocence to paint a series of portraits of death row prisoners who have been exonerated. It is hoped that the local Group might be able to link with him in some way, or that he might be prepared to meet with the Group and speak at an event.

The group participated in the Twitter campaign on behalf of Asmaa al-Omeissy on 29.1.19.

North Korea

An Urgent Action has been received for Hwang Won, A TV Producer held in North Korea for 50 years. He had not been allowed to return to his home country after arriving involuntarily in the country on a hijacked plane on 11th December 1969. Since then, the authorities have refused to release information on his status or whereabouts. South Korean authorities are urged to call on the North Korean authorities to provide accurate information.

TM had been in contact with Kenny Latunde Dada, who had responded that he did not have any positive news. Things had gone quiet on the prosecution front from the UN. However, the upcoming Universal Periodic Review for DPRK, due to take place at the Human Rights Council in May, will yield a number of criticisms and recommendations. Amnesty International have made a submission to the process.

An article had been published in the Independent on 11th January highlighting the lack of change despite Kin Jong-Un’s promised reforms to the country’s dire human rights record.

An article in the Guardian highlighted a report – drafted with the International Bar Association’s support and billed as an unofficial follow-up to a UN investigation in 2014 – which found reasonable grounds to conclude crimes against humanity had been committed in North Korea. The report of the three Judges concludes that Kim Jong-un and other

TM

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officials should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity committed in the camps for political prisoners. It notes that North Korea ‘continues to deny the very existence of these political prisons’ despite detailed satellite imagery and the corroborated testimony of former prisoners and ‘state actors’ with first-hand knowledge.

AI’s most recent annual report notes the continued secrecy surrounding North Korea’s use of the death penalty, with no official statistics released to Amnesty’s knowledge, and there are concerns regarding lack of transparency, unfair trials, public executions and executions for crimes not punishable by death under domestic law.

The possibility was raised of linking the Group’s North Korean and Refugee Campaigns. This could involve a film and speaker and will be explored further.

Refugees

A letter had been sent by AH as Chair of the Group to John Glen, MP for Salisbury, asking for his support at the second reading of the Refugees (Family Reunion) Private Members’ Bill. To date, no response has been received.

The Exhibition of the Refugee Photographs had been held at the Methodist Church over the month of January. No feedback has been received.

The Coffee Morning organised by BH had been very well attended, and the response of the families was very positive.

A meeting of the Organisation Our Turn will take place at 10.00 am on 26th February at County Hall, Trowbridge. RW will attend.

A meeting had been held on 30th January to agree arrangements for the Vigil. This will now take place alongside the Guildhall from 10.00 – 12.00 mid-day on Monday 25th March. Posters, life-jackets and tabards will be available.

No firm plans have as yet been made for Refugee Week. The lack of support from the public for the Group’s recent events is of concern.

AH

5 Social Media Report

Web and other media statistics, January 2019

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A quiet month due mainly to lack of content. Web siteThe figures are: July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan207 305 486 193 177 166 132

ViewsAll time: 12,527Followers: 375 an increase of 4. It is a little puzzling that we increase our followers but views to the site do not match those who are following us.

Top 3 country views:January

UK 60

USA 22India 10

Top posts: 1. Refugee exhibition2. Forthcoming events3. Human Rights act under threat again?

Annual figures:2014 (part)

2015 2016 2017 2018

(1386) 2829 2599 2745 2788

Top posts for 2018: 1. The plight of the Salisbury refugee2. Case against human rights see:

https://salisburyai.com/2014/12/05/the-case-against-human-rights/

3. About us

Countries: USA: 1,148; UK: 1,070; Canada: 69; France: 34

Twitter

A quieter month following the record number of impressions in September. Impressions:

July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan4493 2824 17k 1310 1624 1593 1401

The top tweet was the item on arms to Yemen. We have 146 followers – and increase of 1

FacebookFacebook was quiet this month after several months of strong following. We received 93 engagements. Top item was the

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question about whether the Human Rights Act was under threat again. [Link to Webpage item]

Tumbler

We have 9 followers and 17 following – no change

YouTube & Flickr

Little activity to report here.

Group Web site: www.salisburyai.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/salisburyai

Facebook: www.facebook.com/salisburyai

Tumblr: www.salisburyai.tumblr.com

Content always welcome!

6 Local Groups Monthly Actions

Groups are asked to tell TripAdvisor to stop listing or promoting properties, activities and attractions located in illegal Israeli settlements. Online and Offline actions are available.

Families Together Action – Groups are asked to lobby their MP’s to call on them to support the Refugees Family Reunion Bill prior to 29th March. (See Refugee Campaign).

All

7 Arts Centre Film

The film The Breadwinner will be screened at the Arts Centre at 7.30 pm on Friday 8th March. FD will provide a 5-minute introduction, and will make the link to International Women’s Day. The audience will be asked to sign the Refugee Families petition.

PC will send publicity information to the Salisbury Journal and the Salisbury Gig Gide.

Suggestions for the November Amnesty screening are under discussion.

FD

8 Amnesty AGM

This takes place in Nottingham on 13th-14th April. RW will attend and will choose any workshops available that are relevant to the Group – eg Write for Rights, the Death Penalty, Refugees, North

RW

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Korea, Human Rights Act.

9 Citizenship Day

A working version of the new presentation has been produced. PC will meet with the group at Fiona’s at 2.00 pm on Sunday 3rd March in order to incorporate the visuals.

FDAHRW

10 Evensong and Write for Rights 2019

AH is to send a letter to the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral to suggest a meeting with the Group to look at ways in which we might be able to work together. Issues to raise include possible dates for the Amnesty annual Evensong Service and the possibility of the Cathedral providing the venue for this year’s Write for Rights event.

All

11 AOB

AH had been in touch with AE at Bishops regarding the possibility of the school’s booking Ice and Fire. This would, however, depend on tutor preferences and budgets. The possibility of the Group’s making a financial contribution towards any shortfall was discussed.

A request from Salisbury Democracy Alliance had been received, asking for the Group’s endorsement and its agreement to the use of the Amnesty logo. It was felt, however, that this would not be possible as such agreements would need to be in relation to Amnesty International, not to an individual local Group.

TM reported that the PCC at St Thomas’s have given their agreement to the proposal for information relating to an individual Prisoner of Conscience to be displayed. Details to be confirmed.

It was agreed that, in view of the recent ‘ambiguous’ Government statement on protecting the Human Rights Act, the situation should be reviewed at each month’s meeting.

It was agreed that the Group would continue to work on its current campaigns – Refugees, North Korea, the Death Penalty and Human Rights Defenders. The possibility of working on behalf an individual prisoner would be discussed further at the March meeting.

Paul Mason has agreed to speak on 17th June at Salisbury Methodist Church. His talk will be based on his new book ‘Clear Bright Future: A Radical Defence of the Human Being’.

AH

AH

TM

All

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PC

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Waterstones have agreed to help.

12 Future Events

Arts Centre Film – 8th March Refugee Vigil – 25th March Cathedral Evensong – date TBC Market Stall – date TBC (provisionally 8th June) Paul Mason’s Talk – 17th June Refugee Week – 17th-23rd June Arts Centre Film – November – film and date TBC

All

Next Meeting: Thursday 14th March 2019 Time: 7.30 pm Venue: 4 Victoria Road

www.salisburyai.com www.twitter.com/salisburyaiCampaign box and banner: AH/P&LCRefugee Photographs: AH/FD/P&LC

Should you wish no longer to receive Minutes of meetings, or other communications from the Group, please let us know by emailing our Group Secretary at Donovan.fiona@gmail.com

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