Amnesty International Salisbury Group

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting on Thursday 9th January 20207.30 pm 4 Victoria Road

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

AH

2 Minutes of previous Meeting – These were agreed LC

3 Treasurer’s Report - £1,660.47 (Bank) £30.06 (Cash)

Note: £515.82 was collected in the course of the December Carol Singing – the Group expressed grateful thanks to the Farrant Singers.

MP

4 Campaign Reports

Death Penalty

Please see the Salisbury Group Website www.salisburyai.com for the full international update covering the USA, Bahrain, India, Pakistan, Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Sudan and Egypt.

International Update

Two reports have been issued on the Death Penalty in 2019 in the USA – The Death Penalty in 2019 – A Year of Incredible Progress, Marred by Unconscionable Executions published by Vanguard Davis, and The Death Penalty in 2019: Year End Report published by the Death Penalty Information Centre. Fewer States now have the Death Penalty, numbers on Death Row are at a 27-year low; the Death Penalty has been abolished in New Hampshire;d a moratorium is in place in California, but executions continue and issues such as racial discrimination remain a problem.

Executions took place in Belarus and Japan.

The High Criminal Court of Appeal in Bahrain had set 25th December to issue its verdict in the cases of Mohamad Ramadhan and Ali Moosa Hussain but delayed this until 8th January, when their death sentences were confirmed. They were convicted of alleged involvement in the Al Dair

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bombing following confessions believed to have been obtained under torture. Reprieve continues to call on the UK Government to acknowledge its responsibilities in providing training to institutions linked to Bahrain’s justice system.

A Pakistani Court convicted the Muslim Professor Junaid Hafeez of blasphemy, and sentenced him to death for allegedly spreading anti-Islamic ideas. Professor Hafeez had been held for six years, awaiting trial, mostly in solitary confinement, because - according to local media - of the risk to his life. Authorities are yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy, but allegations of blasphemy can cause riots, and human rights groups say such accusations are often used to intimidate religious minorities and to settle personal scores.

A follow up email was received from Reprieve in connection with Egypt’s Periodic Review at the UN, and in particular their recommendations that as many countries as possible should call for the closure of the loophole in its Child Law allowing for death sentences to be imposed on children. They report that 30 countries have made recommendations against the death penalty, with many calling for a moratorium, and that 7 have used their wording to call for Egypt to amend Article 122 of its Child Law. (Note: The 7 Countries were Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, France, Mexico, New Zealand and Portugal. Disappointingly, the UK were not among either the 7 or the 30 - and did not follow the recommendations of Reprieve)

Urgent Actions

None were received.

Campaigning

16th December was the 50th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Death Penalty in the UK. Follow the link for the post on the Salisbury Amnesty Group’s website.

Members of the Group were invited to send messages of support to Marita, the wife of Kris Maharaj who has spent 33 years fighting to establish his innocence in Florida.

North Korea

TM had received a response from Kenny Latunde Dada that he could see no issues in the Group sending money raised at a talk on North Korea to the New Malden Korean Group. With regard to how it might best be used, it was agreed that

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TM would contact the New Malden Amnesty Group for advice. JoP suggested the possibility of using the money for the translation of NHS materials.

TP had contacted Kenny in respect of the emails Group members had received from a South Korean Amnesty Group. He had also received these and confirmed that they appeared to be in connection with Write for Rights. TM had also forwarded the emails to IS.

TM notified the Group of the Korea Future Initiative, the website of an organisation documenting human rights issues in North Korea, and in particular sexual violence against women and girls. Their path for 2020 has been inspired by the work of survivors and ensuring they receive appropriate health care once they have reached sanctuary.

The International Coalition to Stop Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK0 and 76 non-governmental groups and individuals from 22 countries) had sent a joint open letter to the South Korean President, Moon Jae-in, calling on the South Korean Government to stand up for Human Rights in North Korea, and to stop disengaging from HR abuses taking place there.

Refugees

Concern was expressed at the Government’s watering down of protections for child refugees. No response had as yet been received from Amnesty.

It was agreed that a careful eye would need to be kept on developments within Government policies to inform any Group actions in respect of refugees.

It was agreed that a Vigil should be planned for Refugee week in June, with the possibility of an earlier one in April. Linking the Group’s Vigils with the Climate Strike demonstrations was discussed, together with the possibility of inviting 6th Form/College students to participate – how this would fit within the academic year would need to be taken into account.

AH

5 Social Media Report

Web and other media statistics, December 2019.

Web siteThe figures are:

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June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec280 109 187 246 192 211 227

ViewsAll time: 14,737

The new, combined statistic has appeared which seems to be a combination of Website followers and Facebook followers and says it is now 554. This is an increase of 4 from last month.

Top country views:

Nov DecUK 136 153USA 35 35Somalia 7

Most views are from the UK and this has been a feature recently. USA were often level pegging but has dropped away in recent months. Other countries showed very small numbers. Seven views from Somalia is a surprise since we have not written about the country for some time.

Top posts: 1. Card signing in the Cathedral close2. Item on ‘sports wash’

For 2019 at a whole we had 2333 views which is down on 2018’s total of 2788. The top posts for the year were:

1. Yemen: Britain’s hidden war2. About us3. Hong Kong and Chemring

Twitter

Impressions:

June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

3570 967 1142 11,6k 2512 3208 2564

The top tweet:

Item about Arsenal and the Turkish footballer who spoke out about the Uighurs in China

No change with the number of followers at 160.

The tweet in September concerning Salisbury based Chemring and the supply by the firm of CS gas to HKPF has had a record number of impressions and now stands at 12,607 and significant increase on last month’s figure of 8,888.

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FacebookTwo interesting months and the platform is rapidly becoming our main means to promote the group and human rights. Again, the top post concerned the sports wash piece in Saudi.

June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec463 295 853 2,094 874 786 399

Top posts December:

1. Item on sports wash and the fight in Saudi 2. The Death Penalty report.

Tumbler

We have 9 followers and 18 following – an increase of 1.

YouTube & Flickr

No major changes to report. North Korean video has had 3351 views.

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 Monthly Action

None had been received.

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7 Evensong at the Cathedral

This will take place at the Cathedral at 5.30 pm on 12th March prior to the March meeting, with Ben Rogers as the speaker.

AH has written to the Cathedral requesting a meeting to finalise arrangements. He will then contact Ben Rogers.

TM will check with the Cathedral regarding the candles, drip shields and sand trays, and will notify St Paul’s of the details of the Service.

The possibility of a petition or cards for the Uighurs in China was suggested – FD will order cards.

The possibility of a second talk by Ben Rogers was raised – a room would need to be booked, and the date of the Group

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March meeting changed. AH will discuss with Ben.

8 Market Stall

AH will send the application form requesting Saturday 6th June.

AHAll

9 Arts Centre Film

FD will discuss the choice of film with the Arts Centre in due course. Possibilities for consideration might be ‘For Sama’ – nominated in the Baftas – and ‘Capernaum’.

Note: PG drew the attention of the Group to the Play – ‘The Thrill of Love’- which is to be performed at the Salisbury Studio Theatre from 23rd-28th March, and tells the story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the UK. PG will contact the Studio to ask about the possibility of the Group having a presence in the foyer with a death penalty petition.

FD

PG

10 Citizenship Day

This is now expected to take place in June – AH will make contact for further details.

AHFDAW

11 New Forest Group

FD had sent a message of sympathy and encouragement to the Group following their decision to suspend their activities for a year.

It was agreed that FD would contact the Group to ask for any information or advice they might wish to pass on, and the decision would then be made as to whether the Salisbury Group would ask for someone from AIHQ to come to Salisbury to talk about issues of concern around organisation and governance.

FD

12 Human Rights Act

The Group discussed concerns around any plans the Government might have in relation to amending the Human Rights Act, as outlined below by the organisation EachOther (formerly Rights Info.)

'Updating' the Human Rights Act

The government has pledged to “update” the Human Rights Act as well as judicial review – the means by which courts can assess the lawfulness of decisions made by public authorities. 

The proposed changes to the Act and judicial review will be

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recommended by a “Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission” (CDRC) which the government said it will set up this year. 

While the CDRC's changes will not be looked at until “after Brexit” – it will be important to pay close attention to, among other things, who is appointed to the commission, what their records on human rights issues are and how they arrive at their recommendations. 

(with thanks to: EachOther)

It was agreed that the HRA should continue as a regular item on the Group’s monthly agenda.

10 AOB

An article and photo of last year’s market stall had appeared in Group News

Ai Wei Wei has co-produced and directed a documentary film - ‘Human Flow’ about the current global refugee crisis. It focuses on 20 countries in an attempt to help people to understand both the scale and the personal impact of the massive human migration.

AH will research details of this year’s Gay Pride with a view to the Group’s support. JoP advised the Group of an LGBT group due to start in Salisbury which will be meeting once a month.

FD

JoP

AH

11 Forthcoming Events

Evensong – 12th March Refugee Vigil(s) – April/June? TBC Market Stall – 6th June? Citizenship Day – June? Arts Centre Film – TBC

Next Meeting: Thursday 13th February Time: 7.30 pm Venue: 4 Victoria Road

www.salisburyai.com www.twitter.com/salisburyai

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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