Please find below details about dates for meetings, click on a date to download the minutes for that meeting. We meet at the Charing Cross Centre, 19 St John Maddermarket, NR2 1DN. Meetings start at 730pm; tea and coffee are usually available during the meeting.
May 20th (rescheduled for June 3rd)
June 17th
July 15th
August 19th
September 16th
October 21st
November 18th
December 16th
Due to the current advice and restrictions the January Open Meeting has been cancelled This is a brief summary of what we would have discussed at the meeting and actions that can be taken.
A decision on whether to hold an open meeting in February will be taken in early Feb but cancelation is likely. However an Open Meeting will take place on Wedneday 16th March at 7.30 pm at the new bookshop in St Benedict’s St and will be our 2022 Annual General Meeting. We hope that you will be able to attend
AIUK have advertised the new post of Regional Activism Representative. This replaces the former regional rep posts. We hope that a representative will have been appointed by our AGM in March.
The Norwich group continues to support the Amnesty North Africa region by working on cases mainly in Egypt ,and cases in Tunisia and Morocco. The North Africa Regional Newsletter for Jan 22 has been received and has information about 9 cases some of which we have been working on and with some good news about Aser Mohamed. See below?
The newsletter also had an item about our group at the Norwich Peace Camp last year.
Thank you to all of you who take action regarding the many urgent actions we send out. The Norwich group at an annual Peace Camp (a forum for local causes concentrating on the issues of peace and rights) held in the city on Saturday 25th September, focussed on urgent actions for Tunisian, Yassine Ayari and Egyptians Zyad el-Elaimy, Hassan Moanis and Hisham Fouad.
The Lord Mayor pictured, signed letters for the above and 30 letters in all were signed for each case.
We indicated that we were interested in taking on this case. We have now received the case file from AIUK and having reviewed it the committee have decided that we do not have the resources to take this case on at present and will return the case file We will be able to support the case, which is also being taken on by other Amnesty groups, by responding to Urgent Actions on the case and which we will receive from AIUK.
A sample Urgent Action letter was included in the December Summary on this horrific case and we will respond to any further UA requests.
An extract from the North Africa regional Newsletter is attached as an appendix and contains background information and a model letter about the case which you may wish to use.
The Norwich Group supports a variety of actions for individuals including an ongoing action for Aser Mahomed who was arrested when 14 years old and imprisoned in 2019 following a confession extracted under torture.
Aser’s lawyer filed a cassation request to the criminal court at the end of 2019 and after much delay this was heard on 2nd January 2022 . Norwich and many groups from the UK, France, Belgium, USA and Germany pressed the authorities in Egypt about the case I am pleased to report that he was acquitted of all the charges He is yet to be released and Amnesty is not making a public statement until his release is confirmed.
Norwich put forward a resolution at the 2020 AGM on the human rights situation in Indian administered Kashmir which was approved and passed to the International Secretariat who have to approve any international campaign. The IS were unable take any action, partly because the AI India office had been closed by the government. It is now being reopened
Also a UK activist led campaign is being planned by an Amnesty group based in Birmingham and which has been approved by AIUK and awaits formal approval by the AI International Secretariat. We are awaiting information about how the Norwich group might be able to contribute.
The Norwich group was founded in1972. Publicity in local media, a celebration and other activities are being considered by the committee. More information to follow. Any photographs or leaflets or other memorabilia about the early days of the group and the people involved would be most helpful. We hope to make this both a celebration of the work of the group and to attract new supporters.
A very successful day in spite of the shorter time we had available. St Peter Mancroft were very welcoming as usual. The Vicar and Assistant Priest turned up as did the Lord Mayor.
We wrote 61 cards/ letters and £73.60 was donated to postage costs.
These have done well with a total income of nearly £1200 from cards sold and the profit will boost our funds.
As noted above the next Open Meeting and our AGM in March will be held in the bookshop which the manager hopes will be a venue for other activities such as bookclubs and talks.
We hope to restart this popular fundraising event in the spring Date to be announced.
The Norwich Committee is pleased to welcome a new member who has taken over the vacant role of Group Secretary. This will allow us to improve our communications with members and supporters by developing our website and social media including starting an Instagram account and making more use of Twitter.
Amnesty UK is campaigning against this Bill including the recently added Clause 9 which gives the government the power to remove a person’s citizenship without notice or appeal.
A range of local activist groups are planning a Day of Action against the Bill, starting at City Hall at 1pm on Saturday the 5th February. Amnesty members and supporters may wish to attend as individuals and more information should be reviewed on the organiser’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/4869620579768213
We hope that you find this summary useful. Please contact us if you need more information or have comments.
David Bissonnet
Chair Norwich Amnesty on behalf of the committee
Due to the current advice and restrictions the December Open Meeting has been cancelled.
This is a brief summary of what we would have discussed at the meeting and actions that can be taken.
A decision on whether to hold an open meeting in January will be taken in early January
AIUK have advertised the new post of Regional Activism Representative. This replaces the former regional rep posts.
Activism Reps will have a vital role in building the Amnesty movement by helping Amnesty’s local groups to develop and maintain relationships with diverse people and organisations in their communities. They support our local groups to organise campaigns for human rights, connect local groups with each other and with other activist structures (student and school groups and workplace groups) in their areas. Activism Reps represent Amnesty International UK both in their respective communities and online.
If you are interested in this post please contact the chair. It is unpaid but expenses are paid
This has articles on activity by Amnesty including:
This action is to encourage Burkino Faso to implement its strategy to end Forced Chlld Marriage If you wish to help we can put you in touch with the Amnesty group who can provide sample letters.
A report and video calling for the UK firm JCB to address the human rights risks and their role in providing equipment used in the illegal destruction of Palestinian homes and constructing illegal new settlements.
Information about an Introductory course on Equity and Inclusion and what anti-racism means for Amnesty UK
A course on Climate Change and Human Rights the way that they influence each other and how improving one issue can help the other.
For more information on all these items please contact the chair at chair@amnestynorwich.org.uk
The Norwich group continues to support the Amnesty North Africa region by working on cases mainly in Egypt,and cases in Tunisia and Morocco.
This is the Norwich Amnesty group’s new case.
We have received the case file from AIUK and action on this case will start in the new year.
A sample letter is below for Urgent Action on this horrific case.
The Norwich Group supports a variety of actions including an ongoing action for Aser Mahomed who was arrested when 14 years old and imprisoned in 2019 following a confession extracted under torture.
In October 2019, a criminal court sentenced Aser to 10 years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of membership in the banned Muslim Brotherhood group and attacking a hotel in January 2016. He was 14-years-old at the time of his arrest.
Aser’s lawyer filed a cassation request to the criminal court at the end of 2019 and after much delay this has been set for 2nd January 2022 . It is important to let the Egyptian Ambassador know that we are concerned as we understand that he does inform the authorities in Egypt about letters that he receives.
A Model letter to him is below, Please send as soon as possible.
Aser suffers from a chronic allergy which gives him respiratory problems.
In February 2021, Aser was transferred to Liman Tora prison to take his exams. His sister has visited him and reports him feeling desperate and sad, and being thinner with black rings round his eyes.
Norwich put forward a resolution at the 2020 AGM on the human rights situation in Indian administered Kashmir which was approved and passed to the International Secretariat who have to approve any international campaign. The IS have recently responded that they do not have plans to take any action, partly because the AI India office has been closed by the government. A UK activist campaign is being planned by an amnesty group based in Birmingham and we are awaiting information from them about how the Norwich group might be able to contribute.
The Norwich group was founded in1972. Publicity, a celebration and other activities are being considered by the committee.
More information to follow.
Any photographs or leaflets or other memorabilia about the early days of the group would be most helpful.
Please email us if you have anything at anniversary@norwichamnesty.org.uk
These have done well and will boost our funds.
Don’t forget to visit for your last minute presents.
For more details please visit the Amnesty Bookshop website.
Please contact us if you need more information or have comments.
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year from the committee.
Chair David B welcomed us to the meeting.
9 people present
Apologies None
Chair outlined roles of committee members and others. David B introduced Evie M-E as our new group secretary and Evie outlined her aims for the post which she will take up in the new year
David F gave a short review of how Amnesty UK, the Amnesty Charity and Amnesty International are related, their Board and management structures and how cases that we work on progress from research to work on individual cases by groups such as Norwich
Chair: David B welcomed us to the meeting.
9 people present
Apologies: Evie, Louise
Chair outlined roles of committee members and others.
Postponed until November.
Action for Alaa Abdel Fattah and Mohamed Baker in Egypt will go on the group website.
Day of Action to Defend the Right to Asylum in Europe, 23 October 2021. Action will focus on the Italian and Maltese Embassies and the Home Office.
According to UNHCR 21% of those who reached Europe via the central Mediterranean between January and March 2021 were children, the majority unaccompanied. On 22 April 2021, up to 130 men, women and children died in a shipwreck, despite documentation from the Alarm Phone showing that the Italian, Maltese and Libyan maritime authorities were first alerted about the migrant boat in distress and its location well over a day earlier.
Roz directed us to 3 online actions:
David Y will follow up in the new year.
Italian authorities are pursuing a trial, in absentia, of the alleged perpetrators from the Egyptian security services.
Activist led campaign underway. There have been two online meetings. The group will contact us when actions have been decided and approved by AIUK.
The shop is moving this Saturday 23rd October to St Benedicts Street. AIUK sent a press release to the EDP. We’ll have a Writeathon on the day 10-5.30. David Y circulated a rota for supporters and has submitted the event to the EDP What’s On.
30-40 signatures collected for each letter, including Mayor and Sheriff.
First Saturday of the month 12-1 outside St Peter Mancroft Church.
Saturday 11 December 10-3 St Peter Mancroft Church. Chair has invited the Mayor and MP for Norwich South. Children’s author Mitch Johnson will pop in during his lunch hour for a photo. We’ll submit to the EDP. His book Kick has been endorsed by Amnesty.
11 – 17 October Amnesty has joined with Liberty, Stonewall, Freedom from Torture, the British Institute for Human Rights. David F outlined the focus of the actions, The Police Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, The Nationality and Borders Bill and The Human Rights Act Review. David F circulated a detailed letter for MPs, based on the AIUK information. We are encouraged to send letters to a wide a circle of MPs as possible.
Assess viability of the bookshop.
Delayed until 2022
7 collectors £67 collected which include two large donations
Cards will be on sale at St peter Mancroft Church at the Charity Cards shop. (Note EDP reports it is now open until 18 December 10.30-2.30 Monday to Saturday)
A poster Shows details of regular monthly Open meeting with space to advertise specific events. Thanks given to Matt for designing it. It will be displayed at the bookshop.
Shan B. let us know about a Peace tree to be planted in Chapelfield. Any individuals may contribute to cost.
Norwich Amnesty, along with another organization at the CXC has received a scam letter asking for money to pay for unlicensed use of photos. David F has let AIUK know and not responded to the letter