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Amnesty International Salisbury Group
Minutes of the Monthly Meeting on Thursday 11th
April 20197.30 pm 4 Victoria Road
1 Chairman’s Welcome Present: Andrew, Tony, Eddie, Fiona, Peter and LesleyApologies: Ria
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 Taiwan, Turkey, The USA, Brunei, The UK, Sri Lanka and Amnesty International.
Of particular note:
Amnesty International have issued a new report which shows that global executions fell by nearly a third last year. The figures – from 993 to 690 – are the lowest for at least a decade. China remains the world’s top executioner – followed by Iran, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Iraq; however, several countries saw a rise in executions - including Belarus, Japan, Singapore, South Sudan and the USA, and more than 19,000 people still languish on death row worldwide . Follow the link for the full report Death Sentences and Executions 2018.
Brunei is to begin imposing death by stoning as a punishment for gay sex and adultery. A new Penal Code has come into force which will include the amputation of a hand and a foot for theft. Such sentences will need to be ‘witnessed by a group of Muslims’. The Code follows on from the Government’s announcement in 2013 of its intention to introduce the Islamic legal system of Sharia Law.
A recent poll conducted by YouGov shows that 53% of Leave voters in the UK would like the death penalty to be brought back.
LC
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In Texas a Republican Representative has introduced a Bill that would ban abortion in the State and charge women who have abortions with homicide, which can carry the death penalty.
The President of Sri Lanka announced that a date has been set for the Country’s first execution to take place, which would end a forty-year moratorium on the death penalty. 1,299 prisoners are currently on death row, including 48 convicted of drug-related offences.
Urgent Actions
Iran – UA 33/19 – Eight detained conservationists could face the death penalty, or long prison sentences, following a grossly unfair trial, in which they were accused of trumped-up spying charges. These charges stem solely from their conservation activities, including carrying out research into Iran’s endangered wildlife. They have said they were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment. (Circulated to DPLWG 26.3.19.)
USA – Nevada – (Final Update) The State of Nevada was set to carry out its first execution in over 11 years. A prisoner who had waived his appeals was due to be executed on 14 November 2017. Amnesty International called for a moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolition. According to the Nevada Department of Corrections officials, the State of Nevada did not resume executions after the individual on death row was found dead in his cell of an “apparent suicide” on 5 January 2019. The individual’s execution had previously been stayed due to pending litigation initiated by a manufacturer of one of the drugs used in Nevada’s lethal injection protocol. No further action to be taken.
Vietnam – An email Urgent Action was received from AI Australia. Ho Duy Hai is facing the death penalty following an unfair trial. His mother believes the authorities tortured him into signing a confession for theft and murder, and – following an unfair trial in which the Court disregarded his alibis and other vital evidence - he is now facing the death penalty. (Circulated to DPLWG 10.4.19 and this month’s Group Urgent Action – please sign Save Ho Duy Hai’s life.
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Campaigning
Anti-Death Penalty Project –
o The First Annual Report by the Chair of the Project, Mike Quinn, is available on line
o Follow the link to the blog post of 19th March by Mike Quinn, on the Death Penalty in Britain.
‘In the Executioner’s Shadow’ – A follow-up email was sent to Mike Quinn regarding the possibility of a copy of this film being acquired for the use of Local Groups around the UK. Mike has contacted Sideways Film to discuss costings.
An update has been received from James Earley, who will now be going to the US in September, where he will be meeting 6 ex-prisoners who have been on death row. James will keep us informed as soon as he has more information.
Dates for the calendar –
o World Day Against the Death Penalty – 10th October
o 50th anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in the UK – 16th December
North Korea
TM gave an update on the current situation with North Korea. An attack on the NK embassy had recently taken place in Madrid. On Wednesday a group committed to ousting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the Cheollima Civil Defense, said it carried out the raid. The importance of the raid is that the normally secretive North Korean government publicly condemned it. There are allegations that the FBI may have been involved and that it has to do with the North Korean’s attempts to get nuclear materials for its weapons programme.
TM also drew attention to the Open Doors Organisation and the desperate situation of Christians in NK. There are thought to be between 200,000 and 400,000 Christians in the country, with around 50,000 incarcerated for their beliefs. They believe NK to be ‘the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian.’
As part of St Thomas’s Service on Good Friday, which will focus on the Stations of the Cross, TM will responsible for
TM
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the first Station, and will make reference to the recent decision to introduce execution by stoning in Brunei, and to North Korea which is No. 1 on the Watchlist of the worst places to be .
For information – A useful link is available for Amnesty’s campaigning in respect of North Korea, with information on
o Detention and imprisonmento Freedom of expressiono International justiceo Tortureo The United Nations
Refugees
The Refugee Vigil took place in the Market Square on 25th March. It appeared on That’s TV and a YouTube clip can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKk7v9GDhWw
Please see Monthly Action below for an update regarding the Football Welcomes initiative – 27th-28th April
At this stage there is no further information regarding proposed activities for Refugee Week – 17th-23rd June. A follow-up Vigil would be a possibility.
AH
5 Social Media Report
Web and other media statistics, March 2019 A busier month with some more content. All platforms showing greater activity.
Web siteThe figures are:
Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar486 193 177 166 132 135 157
ViewsAll time: 12,869A good increase in followers to 382, so we may have 400 before long.
Top 2 country views:February
UK 56USA 22Other countries showed very small numbers of 2 or less.Top posts:
PC
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1. Yemen: Britain’s hidden war. This was a write up of the Despatches programme on C4
2. Yemen – a further post noting the decision by the US Congress to end support for Saudi.
A much busier month with several tweets gaining a lot of interest. A threefold increase on last month. Impressions:
Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar17k 1310 1624 1593 1401 1550 4870
The top tweet:
- The tweet about the Breadwinner film which received 1241 impressions alone. A pity so few came to see the film!
An increase in followers to 150.
FacebookA much busier month with a reach of 376
Feb Mar
160 376
Top posts:
1. The refugee vigil which achieved 912. The post about John Glen MP’s low-level interest in human
rights as revealed on the ‘They Work for You’ website which showed he ‘generally voted against laws to promote equality and human rights’
3. =3 refugee vigil and a post about a woman’s rights defender detained in Saudi
Tumbler
We have 9 followers and 17 following – no change
YouTube & Flickr
No major changes to report
Group Web site: www.salisburyai.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/salisburyai
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Facebook: www.facebook.com/salisburyai
Tumblr: www.salisburyai.tumblr.com
Content always welcome!
6 Monthly Action
Refugee Week – Groups are asked to celebrate by writing a poem to tie in with the Families Together Campaign. The poems will then be collated for handing in to the Government
Football Welcomes Weekend – The possibility has been discussed between the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme and Salisbury Football team that local refugees might receive an invitation to attend a match.
New Families Together Video – A new video is available – Family Free Zone – which highlights the ridiculousness of the UK’s restrictive refugee family reunion rules.
Knit a Chain of Solidarity for Nazanin – Groups are invited to hold a ‘Knit for Naz’ night and to knit a symbolic chain. Each link should contain 1,190 stitches to represent the no. of days Nazanin will have spent in prison by 7th July, the date of Cardiff Amnesty’s Stand Up in the Park comedy night.
Pride – Groups are invited to check when their local Pride is to take place, and how they might get involved.
All
7 AGM 2019 – 13th-14th April
RW will attend and report back to the Group.
RW
8 Market Stall
The date is confirmed for Saturday 8th June.
All
9 Talk by Paul Mason
This has been confirmed for Monday 24th June at 7.30 pm at Salisbury Methodist Church. The event will be free with a retiring collection.
PC will co-ordinate publicity and produce a handbill.
PC
10 Coffee Morning All
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This will take place at St Thomas’s on Saturday 7th September. The cost will be £45.00. FD will check the Insurance with JP. Cards to sign or a petition will be available, together with an HR film running on a loop.
10 Citizenship Day
A further meeting will be arranged to enable PC to co-ordinate the slides.
AHFDRW
11 Evensong
AH is awaiting a response from the Dean, and the new Precentor taking up her post. Benedict Rogers has been suggested as the Speaker.
AH
12 Arts Centre Film
FD is awaiting a response from the Arts Centre regarding the suggested film. It is hoped that it can be shown in November.
FD
13 Write for Rights
AH has written to the Dean regarding a possible venue for the card signing and is awaiting a response.
All
14 AOB
AH has written to Ice and Fire regarding items within their programme which might be suitable for schools, and is awaiting their reply
PC will continue to explore options for a replacement banner.
All
15 Forthcoming Events
Market Stall – 8th June - am Refugee Week – 17th-23rd June Paul Mason’s Talk – 24th June Coffee Morning – 7th September World Day Against the Death Penalty – 10th October Citizenship Day – TBC Evensong - TBC Arts Centre Film – November – film and date TBC 50th Anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in the
UK – 16th December
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Write for Rights – TBC Carol Singing - TBC
Next Meeting: Thursday 9th May 2019 Time: 7.30 pm Venue: 4 Victoria Road
www.salisburyai.com www.twitter.com/salisburyai
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