Amnesty International Salisbury Group

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting on Thursday 11th July 20197.30 pm at 4 Victoria Road

1 Chairman’s Welcome Present: Andrew, Fiona, Tony, Eddie, Peter and LesleyApologies: Ria and Effie.

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 EU/Belarus, Saudi Arabia, the USA, Sri Lanka, Iran and the UK.

Of particular note:

The President of Sri Lanka signed warrants for the executions of four prisoners convicted of drug-related offences, and two executioners were hired. Following a temporary injunction, they have received a reprieve until at least October. These would be the first executions to take place in the country since 1976.

Following the decision that Murtaja Qureiris, the 18-year-old facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia for offences allegedly committed at 10 or 11, would not be executed but remain in prison, Adam Google, Senior Middle East Researcher for Human Rights Watch, has called on the Saudi Government to extend the Juveniles Act to all offences, including those defined under their interpretation of Islamic Law that carry specific penalties.

The execution by lethal injection took place in Georgia (USA) of Marion Wilson, convicted of murder. Mr Wilson protested his innocence as he said he not fired the shot which had killed the victim.

The Press Secretary of the European Foreign Service condemned the use of the death penalty in Belarus, the only country in Europe to apply capital punishment, stressing that

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it is contrary to the country’s international obligations. He referred in particular to the execution of Alexander Zhilnikov, and the high probability of that of Viachaslau Suharka, but reaffirmed its strong resistance to the death penalty in all circumstances and called on Belarus to impose a moratorium as a first step towards its abolition. Note: 2,531 people were sentenced to death in Belarus in 2018.

A retired Detective Sergeant in the UK has called for the reinstatement of the death penalty on the basis that it would ‘give justice to families of the deceased, save the country a great deal of money and ease the overcrowding in prisons.’

Some 56% of Conservative Party members surveyed favour bringing back the death penalty for ‘certain crimes’, with 37% not backing the return of capital punishment.

NOTE: Amnesty issued the following Public Statement on 26.6.19 – FAIR TRIALS FOR IS SUSPECTS CRITICAL TO JUSTICE FOR ATROCITY CRIMES

‘Amnesty International is concerned by reports that the USA and some European States have facilitated the rendition of people alleged to be former fighters in the armed group calling itself Islamic State (IS) from Northern Syria to Iraq. IS suspects in Iraq have been tried and sentenced to death in proceedings which have been so grossly unfair that the use of this punishment may constitute summary executions. International law prohibits rendition and transfer to torture, unfair trial and the arbitrary imposition of the death penalty …… (Follow the link to read the full statement.)

Urgent Actions

Iran – UA83/19 – Danial Zeinolabedini (pictured) , an 18-year-old imprisoned in Mahabad prison, is at risk of execution. He was sentenced to death following an unfair trial in which he was convicted of a murder which took place when he was 17. (Circulated to DPLWG 19.6.19.) This month’s Group Urgent Action. Follow the link to take action.

Sri Lanka – 28.6.18 – UA 45/19 – Update – Reports have been received that President Siresena has signed four, and

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is now due to consider signing the remaining execution warrants of the 13 prisoners convicted of drug-related offences. These would be the first executions to take place in the country since 1976. (Circulated to DPLWG 28.6.19) Note: Following a temporary injunction on 5th July, the prisoners have a reprieve at least until October.

Campaigning

Anti-Death Penalty Project – On 26.6.19 the monthly report was received. This referred to:

o Taking action on behalf of Danial Zeinolabedini in Irano The Singapore campaign (reservations have been

expressed by members of the Salisbury group in respect of the excessively emotional tone of the materials)

o A briefing produced by Amnesty drawing attention to concerns on the grossly unfair trials of IS suspects in Iraq, and the role of the USA and some European States in the rendition of people alleged to be IS suspects.

o The departure of Asia Bibi to Canadao The extension by the Sultan of Brunei of the

moratorium on the death penalty to cover the new legislation that would have included same sex relationships.

o Events - US Embassy Protest at 1.30 pm on Sunday

30th June against the continued use of the death penalty by the USA.

Belarus - discussion, exhibition and short film on the brutal reality of Europe’s last executioner.

(Note: Information on the above two events was received too late for the Minutes of the July meeting but was posted on the website).

North Korea

Follow the link for Amnesty’s website on Human Rights in North Korea.

The Australian student Alek Sigley, detained by the regime, was released with the support of Sweden.

The son of a high-profile South Korean defector was reported to have moved to North Korea.

Refugees

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The Group discussed the difficulties of knowing how best to pitch our campaigning in this area. The possibility of doing so on behalf of the children on the Mexico border was raised. AH will research any current guidelines from AIHQ.

5 Social Media Report

Web and other media statistics, June 2019 A much busier month on all platforms. Facebook continues to show the greatest activity.

Web site

The view figures are: Dec Jan Feb Mar April May June 166 132 135 157 281 176 280

ViewsAll time: 13,529

An slight increase in followers to 389.

Top 24 country views:June

UK 169USA 24US 14Hong Kong SAR 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.

Top posts:

1. Paul Mason’s visit (cancelled)2. Trump and human rights

=3.Yemen and Britain’s hidden war

Israel/Palestine concert

Market stall

Twitter

A busier month with no particular tweet identified.

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Impressions:

Dec Jan Feb Mar April May June 1593 1401 1550 4870 2710 1376 3570

The top tweet:

Market stall we did last Saturday

An increase in followers to 155.

FacebookA very much busier month with a reach of 463. This is the highest for some time.

Feb Mar April May June

160 376 250 106 463

Top posts:

The Market stall Paul Masons visit

Tumbler

We have 9 followers and 17 following – no change

YouTube & Flickr

No major changes to report. The YouTube North Korea video has had 2,100 views and 1,097 views on Flickr and the still image, 5,250. So total video views are 3,197.

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

Groups are invited to take action on behalf of Marielle Franco by calling on the Brazilian President to ensure an immediate, impartial and independent investigation, to identify everyone involved in Marielle’s killing and bring them to justice. Follow the link to sign the petition.

Groups are requested to email Poland’s Interior Minister

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and call for the investigation into the accusations made against Elzbieta Podlesna of ‘offending religious beliefs’ to be stopped immediately. Follow the link to sign the email.

Amnesty celebrate the Court of Appeal decision that continuing to export weapons to Saudi Arabia was unlawful, and will keep Groups posted on the campaign’s next steps. A YouTube video by Andrew Smith of CAAT can be viewed here.

There is an appeal from the Reading Group for anyone able to volunteer at their stall at the Womad Festival.

Groups are asked for feedback on any events held during Refugee Week.

Note: There will be no August Local Groups email.

7 Coffee Morning

This will take place at St Thomas’s on the morning of Saturday 7th September. All contributions of cakes and offers of help will be gratefully received. Helpers to be at St Thomas’s at 8.45 for a 9.30 start.

An Amnesty Human Rights or the Wiltshire Refugees film will be shown on a loop, and there will be a petition for signing.

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FD

8 Paul Mason

Paul Mason’s talk has been provisionally re-arranged for 7.30 pm on Thursday 8th October at Salisbury Methodist Church. Once it has been confirmed, PC will arrange for the circulation of publicity and contact Waterstones.

PC

9 World Day Against the Death Penalty

This will take place on 10th October. Further information is awaited from the Anti-Death Penalty Campaign group.

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10 Citizenship Day

This will take place at BWS on Thursday 24th October. PC is completing the final amendments to the presentation. A final run-through meeting will be held at FD’s at 2.00 pm on Monday 9th September.

AH and FD will follow up their contacts with FE Colleges and Sixth

AHFDRW(PC)

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Forms in September, with a view to offering sessions.

11 The Cathedral

AH has attended a meeting with the new Canon Precentor to discuss dates for the Amnesty Cathedral Service. As a result of existing Cathedral commitments, it will not be possible to hold it before December. In the meantime, AH will contact Benedict Rogers to ask whether he might be available as the speaker.

AH and PC will be attending a meeting at 11.00 am on 15th with the Outreach and Education Officer to discuss ways in which the Group might work with the Cathedral, and the possibility of a venue for this year’s Write for Rights.

AH

12 The Amnesty Film

The film Nae Pasaran will be shown at The Arts Centre on 13th November. (Follow the link for a brief clip). It is regretted that the Amnesty logo has not been included, but the brochure contains very little information on any of this season’s films.

FD will order posters. It is hoped to include a petition with a link to the Yemen and the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia.

FD

13 Amnesty Carol Singing

This will take place on Tuesday 17th December. FD is in the process of organising the permit from the Council.

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14 Group Finder

It was agreed that FD should be listed as the contact, with SP1 7NH as the venue.

FD

15 AOB

The Amnesty BBQ – This will take place from 1.00 pm on Sunday 4th August at P and LC’s. All supporters are welcome. Please RSVP to welland2@btinternet.com. Please note it will not take place in poor weather – phone 01722 782382 to check.

Prisoner of Conscience – St Thomas’s – TH reported on what appears to be a very positive response to this month’s Prisoner of Conscience leaflets. He was congratulated on having set it up so successfully.

P/LC

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16 Forthcoming Events

Coffee Morning – 7th September Pau Mason – 8th October? TBC World Day Against the Death Penalty – 10th October Citizenship Day – 24th October Evensong - TBC Arts Centre Film – 13th November 50th Anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in the

UK – 16th December Write for Rights – TBC Carol Singing – 17th December

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Next Meeting: Thursday 12th September 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

Please note there will be no August meeting – all supporters welcome at the Amnesty Barbecue on 4th August.

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