Amnesty International Salisbury Group

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting on Thursday 7th June 20187.30 pm 4 Victoria Road

1 Chairman’s Welcome Present: Andrew, Tony, Ria, Michael S, Fiona, Eddie, Peter, LesleyApologies: Michael P

AH

2 Minutes of previous Meeting - These were agreed AH

3 Treasurer’s Report - £589.05 (Bank Account) £30.06 (Cash)

£25.00 will be required for the Market Stall.

MP

4 Campaign Reports

Death Penalty Campaign

Please see the Salisbury Group Website www.salisburyai.com for the full international update, covering Malawi, Mauritania, Pakistan, the USA, Sudan, Kenya, Belarus, Algeria, Malaysia, UAE and Burkina Faso.

Of particular note:

Burkina Faso’s Parliament has abolished the death penalty by adopting a new penal code removing it as a possible sentence.

21 national and international NGO’s called on Mauritania to reverse the recent adoption of a law on apostasy-related crimes which made the death penalty mandatory for ‘blasphemous speech’ and ‘sacrilegious acts.

In the USA State of New Hampshire, organisers of an anti-death penalty coalition say they have delivered over 56,000 petition signatures to Republican Governor Chris Sununu, urging him to sign a bill to repeal the State’s capital punishment law. The Bill was passed by the House and the Senate but it is unclear whether they have a two-thirds majority of votes in both, which would be needed to over-ride the Governor’s veto.

In the Sudan, Noura Hussein, aged 19, had her death sentence confirmed following her conviction of killing the

LC

1 | P a g e

husband to whom she had been forcibly married, and who she says raped her. Her case, which was taken up by Amnesty, has caused an international outcry. (See Urgent Actions below.)

In Kenya it has been announced that a proposal for wildlife poachers to face the death penalty will be fast-tracked into law.

The EU has warned Belarus over reports of ‘secret’ executions, stating the country’s continued use of the death penalty would be ‘key for shaping the EU’s future policy towards Belarus.’

Death Penalty Urgent Actions

Iran – UA 171/17 (2nd Update) – Ramin Hossein Panahi, an Iranian Kurd sentenced to death after a grossly unfair trial, had been transferred back to the general ward of Sanandaj prison and was believed no longer to be at imminent risk of execution. A further update was received on 22.5.18 stating that his execution is now expected to be carried out soon after the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan on 15th June. (Circulated to DPLWG 22.5.18.)

Sudan – UA 95/18 + Email Action – Noura Hussein Hamad Doud, was sentenced to death for killing her husband in self-defence after he tried to rape her for a second time (see International Update above) (Circulated to DPLWG 15.5.18.)

Texas – UA 100/18 – Clifton Williams is due to be executed in Texas on 21st June for a murder committed in 2005. The Courts have rejected the claim that he has an intellectual disability. His lawyers are seeking a further review on this issue and are also pursuing executive clemency. (Circulated to DPLWG 18.5.18.)

Egypt – UA 243/14 – Update – The Cairo Criminal Court has set 30th June as the date for issuing the verdict in the case against Mahmoud Abu Zeid ‘Shawkan’ and 738 other defendants. The verdict will come after Shawkan has been held in pre-trial detention for 1781 days. Amnesty recognise him as a prisoner of conscience detained solely for carrying out his role as a journalist. (Circulated to DPLWG 1.6.18 – This month’s Group Urgent Action.)

Campaigning

The letter sent to the Salisbury Journal expressing concern

2 | P a g e

that trade appeared to take priority of Human Rights issues in the UK Government’s approach to Saudi Arabia, was published on 3rd May.

No updates have been received regarding the Death Penalty Project, and no advice issued for Local Groups. It is hoped that a national action will be put forward by the Group in time for this year’s World Day Against the Death Penalty.

North Korea

An exchange of emails had taken place with Kenny Latunde Dada regarding a letter sent from Amnesty to Donald Trump in connection with the proposed forthcoming meeting with Kim Jong-un. The letter expressed the wish that the President should raise Human Rights issues as well as those of nuclear disarmament.

Those wishing to donate to organisations helping people to leave North Korea will need to do so as individuals rather than as members of Amnesty.

Ideas and suggestions for the Group’s North Korea Campaign would be gratefully received.

Refugees

The Group will take action on the Update to UA 9/18 regarding an 18-year-old student at risk of deportation to Afghanistan.

RW provided information on events taking place organised by the Swindon and Marlborough Group during Refugee Week (18th-24th June)

The Salisbury Group are not planning a specific action in the course of the week but the I Welcome Refugees Vigil will be repeated in September (Date TBC). This decision was taken in order not to clash with any events arranged by WC over the course of the Summer.

Cards for the Campaign to Re-Unite Refugees with their Families will be available for people to sign on the Market Stall.

Please refer to Monthly Action (below) for information regarding actions individuals might wish to take.

AH will contact Swerve Dance regarding the possibility of a display in the Autumn

TM

AH

3 | P a g e

5 Social Media Report

Web and other media statistics, May 2018

Another increase in followers who now stand at 347. This is a further small increase and in April 2017 we had 200. The puzzle is that this does not show up in the view figures.

Web siteThe figures are: Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May178 186 300 172 182 186 198

ViewsAll time: 10,623

Country views:May

USA 87

UK 69France 10Netherlands 7

Top posts:1. The case against human rights published on 5 December

2014 and which continues to attract interest. The total number of views is now 101. The post can be accessed at https://wp.me/p4jvwE-eh

2. Kate Allen’s visit to the 6th form conference at the Cathedral3. The data protection post re GDPR

Twitter

A quiet month with only 1420 impressions. This is due mostly to the lack of posts. An increase in the number of followers to 143 which is encouraging after several months of decline. Impressions:

Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April May

1719 4277 3319 3486 2666 2138 1420

The top tweet was the item about Windrush and the disgraceful treatment of these immigrants by the government. The post was a reminder of the Ice and Fire item.

FacebookAnother big increase in activity this month with a total reach1 of 635

PC

4 | P a g e

an increase of 40% over last month. Engagements also showed an increase to 785.

Facebook seems to be growing quite strongly of the three platforms we run.

Tumbler

No change in the Tumblr statistics with the same 5 followers. 17 are following

YouTube & Flickr

Total views of the North Korea video increased to 1.9k.

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

Facebook: www.facebook.com/salisburyai

Tumblr: www.salisburyai.tumblr.com

The Group will participate in a tweet for Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe’s daughter’s birthday on 11th June.

Content always welcome!

6 Arts Centre Film

‘Hooligan Sparrow’ is to be shown in the Arts Centre at 7.30 pm on Thursday 14th June. Tickets can be collected from the Arts Centre or will be available on the night for those who come sufficiently early. Entry is free but donations will be welcome.

FD will introduce the film. The petition urging China not to send people back to North Korea will be available for signing.

FD

7 Market Stall

This will take place on Saturday 23rd June. Group members are asked to arrive with their ready-priced items for sale before 7.45 am (unless a particular time slot has been requested.) Additional volunteers - for short or longer periods - will be warmly welcomed. The aim will be to finish at 12.00 mid-day.

AH

1

5 | P a g e

Donations are welcome and can be dropped off 28 Attfield Road, SP1 23R

8 Monthly Action

A new petition for the Families Together Action will be available mid-June

Take action by calling on the Iranian Authorities to release Esmail Abdi the teacher and trade unionist on hunger strike.

Send a photo with 4 candles to Amnesty at activism@amnesty.org.uk as part of the Solidarity Birthday Action on 11th June for Gabrielle Ratcliffe, daughter of Nazanin.

All

9 Films 2019

Unfortunately, the Wiltshire Creative brochure for 2019 had already been sent out and it was not possible for the Group to have a slot in November/December 2019 for showing in partnership with the Arts Centre. An offer had, however, been made for the showing of the animated film ‘The Breadwinner’ on 8th March 2019.

This will tie in with International Women’s Day, and the Group agreed to go ahead with this.

FD

10 AOB

The Group had learned from Rights Info that the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights was currently conducting an enquiry into public attitudes towards Human Rights. It was agreed that the Human Rights Act should, therefore, be reinstated as a regular item on the monthly meetings agenda.A summary of the proceedings can be accessed from the following link https://wp.me/p4jvwE-1lj

All

11 Forthcoming Events

Film ‘Hooligan Sparrow – Arts Centre (White Room)14th June – 7.30 pm

Market Stall – 23rd June - am Amnesty Supporters’ BBQ – provisional date of 18.8.18 –

TBC Refugee Vigil – September 2018 Citizenship Day – TBC World Day Against the Death Penalty – 10th October – TBC Arts Centre Film – 8th March 2019

6 | P a g e

Next Meeting: Thursday 12th July 2018 Time: 7.30 pm Venue: 4 Victoria Road

www.salisburyai.com www.twitter.com/salisburyaiCampaign box and banner: AH; replacement/temporary banner 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

7 | P a g e