Open Meeting Summary – January 2022
Norwich Amnesty Open Meetings
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
News from Amnesty UK
New regional post
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.
Actions and letter writing by the Group
North Africa cases
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.
Norwich Group: Action for peace and rights
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.
Omar Radi Imprisoned Morroccan Journalist
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.
Sultana Khayer Morrocco / Western Sahara Human Rights Activist raped by Moroccan security forces
A sample Urgent Action letter was included in the December Summary on this horrific case and we will respond to any further UA requests.
Ibrahim Ezz el-Din Egyptian rights activist
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.
Amnesty Children’s Human Rights Network
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 Mohamed Acquitted
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.
Kashmir
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.
Norwich Amnesty 50th anniversary
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.
Write for Rights
11 December 2021 St Peter Mancroft
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.
Other Matters
Amnesty Christmas cards
These have done well with a total income of nearly £1200 from cards sold and the profit will boost our funds.
Amnesty Bookshop in St Benedict’s Street
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.
Quiz and Dips
We hope to restart this popular fundraising event in the spring Date to be announced.
New Group Secretary
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.
Stop the Nationality and Borders Bill – Day of Action
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