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Amnesty International Salisbury Group
Minutes of the Monthly Meeting on Thursday 8th March 20187.30 pm 4 Victoria Road
1 Chairman’s WelcomePresent: Andrew, Tony, Fiona, Ria, Eddie, Peter, LesleyApologies: Michael P
AH
2 Minutes of previous Meeting – These were agreed. LC
3 Treasurer’s Report - £1,069.74 (Bank Account*) £30.06 (Cash)
*This includes 2 generous donations for the Human Rights Celebration – for which, many thanks.
MP
4 Campaign Reports
Death Penalty
Please see the Salisbury Group Website www.salisburyai.com for the full international update, covering Iran, Egypt, USA, Indonesia, Gambia and Iraq.
Of particular note:
The Amnesty International Report for 2017-18 – The State of The World’s Human Rights – has been published and contains reports on the current situation in countries and territories which continue to retain the death penalty.
Reports were received that in Iran three child offenders were executed in January -Amirhossein Pourjafar for the rape and murder of a 3-year-old girl when he was 16; Ali Kazemi for a murder allegedly committed at the age of 15; and Mahboubeh Mofidi, married at the age of 13, for the alleged murder of her husband.
Attempts to repeal the death penalty failed in two States in the USA: in Washington State the Bill passed the first stage but went no further, and in Utah the Bill was abandoned for lack of support; however, in Iowa the Bill to reinstate capital punishment for the murder of a peace officer and first-degree murder involving kidnapping or rape was taken off the agenda.
The President of Gambia, Adama Barrow, has announced a
LC
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suspension of the death penalty as a first step towards abolition.
Following a mass trial in Iraq, at least 15 women of Turkish nationality were sentenced to death by hanging at a criminal court in Baghdad for being members of Isis.
Death Penalty Urgent Actions
Saudi Arabia – UA 182/17 – Twelve Saudi Arabian men are at imminent risk of execution after the Supreme Court ratified their death sentences. They were accused of spying for Iran and were sentenced to death after a grossly unfair trial. (Circulated to DPLWG 16.2.18.) This month’s Group Urgent Action
USA – Guantanamo Bay – UA 42-18 – The US Authorities are preparing for possible transfers to the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay. Two detainees said to be under consideration for transfer are Alexandra Kotey, who was born in the UK, and El Shafee Elsheikh, who grew up in the UK. Both are alleged members of IS and were taken into custody in Syria in early February. They may be subject to the death penalty. (Circulated to DPLWG 28.2.17.)
Saudi Arabia – An email was received from Reprieve with a petition addressed to the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (pictured: Wikipedia), who was meeting with Teresa May in London on 7th March. The petition calls on the Crown Prince to stop the executions of 18 young people who could face death at any time, found guilty of the ‘crime’ of protesting against the Saudi Government. (Circulated to DPLWG 1.3.18. and on Facebook on 6.3.18)
USA – Ohio – UA 47118 – William Montgomery is due to be executed on 11th April for a murder which he says he did not commit. Six Federal Judges argued he should have had a new trial because a police report, contradicting the State’s theory of the case, was withheld from the defence. (Circulated to DPLWG 6.3.18.)
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Campaigning
RW will be attending the Amnesty AGM in April and plans to participate in any Workshops on the Death Penalty Campaign. She will report back on developments within the Death Penalty Project.
North Korea
As a result of the snow, numbers attending the Cathedral Service were reduced and the speaker, Benedict Rogers, was unable to be there. He has, however, indicated his willingness to participate in a future event. The Vicar of the Close gave the address in Ben’s place. Numbers available to sign the petition, asking the Chinese Government to cease sending escapees back to North Korea, were also limited, but further signatures will be sought at a future event.
TM was thanked for his hard work in organising the event.
Refugees
It was agreed that the Amnesty petition to the Government, requesting refugee children’s rights to register as British citizens without incurring prohibitive costs, will be used in a future event where it will be possible to provide a clear explanation of what people are being asked to sign.
The Exhibition of Refugee Photographs has been offered to the Five Rivers Leisure Centre and is in the process of being considered by the Board.
Suggestions from AI in London regarding possible activities for Refugee Week (18th-24th June) will be circulated amongst the Group and discussed at the April meeting.
TM
AH
5 Social Media Report
Web and other media statistics, February 2018
Interesting month with some highlights. Big increase in the number of Website followers and we now have over 330 for the first time. Passed 10,000 views in the month.
Web siteThe figures are: Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb 190 306 208 178 186 300 172
PC
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ViewsAll time: 10,071 and we breached 10 thousand during the month
Country views:Feb
UK 97
USA 52France 5Netherlands 4Top posts:
1. The item about the Salisbury refugee Reza Maghsoudi (again)
2. Genocide in Burma3. Violence against women in North Korea
Followers: a significant increase to 332. This is the biggest monthly increase since the site was formed.
A good month with over 3486 impressions. A slight decline in the number of followers to 138. It is odd that the website followers are increasing but the Twitter followers are static.
Impressions:
Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb 1857 3619 4118 1719 4277 3319 3486
Top tweet:
The sale of spyware to Honduras possibly by a local firm
FacebookA big increase in activity this month with a total reach1 of 260 and 561 ‘engagements2.’ The biggest item was the post concerning a call to free the chair of Amnesty in Turkey. No other noteworthy posts.
Tumbler
No change in the Tumblr statistics with the same 5 followers
YouTube & Flickr
1 Reach means anyone who has seen the post or has been sent it.2 Engagement means people are clicking, liking, commenting or otherwise reacting to the post. For us, this is more important than just ‘reaching’. 4 | P a g e
Total views of the North Korea video at 1.8k and still image exceeded 7,000 during the month.
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 Human Rights Celebration
Subject to references, we have been successful in obtaining a grant from Lush towards the event. This will enable serious planning to commence. A meeting with the Cathedral has been arranged for 13th March, which Farshid will attend, with PC, AH, FD and the Cathedral.
PC has prepared a draft plan for discussion at the meeting.
Events will take place over the week commencing 10th June.
Ice and Fire have confirmed their willingness to participate. Further speakers will be invited following the meeting.
It is hoped to link the Amnesty events with the Equaliteas event on 10th June.
No response has been received regarding the banners at St Thomas’s.
PC
7 Taner Kiliç
The group participated in the social media solidarity action for Taner Kiliç by taking a group photograph with good wishes for his birthday on 11th March. This will be posted on Social Media and sent to the Salisbury Journal.
All
8 Monthly Action
I Welcome Families Together Campaign – individuals are invited to urge their MP’s to attend the debate on 16th March. AH has contacted John Glen on behalf of the Group.
FD
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Chile: Solidarity with Rodrigo Mundaca - Letters can be sent on 22nd March (World Water Day) telling Rodrigo and his colleagues that we stand in solidarity with them in their defence of people’s access to water.
9 South West Regional Conference
Chris Ramsey, Regional Representative for the South West has invited members of the Southern Region to attend their Regional Conference.
The Conference will take place on Saturday 17th March from 10.00 to 16.00 at Mint Methodist Church, Fore Street, Exeter. The charge, to include lunch, is £8.00 (students and young people £3.00). Anyone wishing to attend should email [email protected] or phone 07805 130706.FD will send thanks on behalf of the Group.
FD
10 AOB – Fundraising and Data Protection Issues
New labels are required for our collection boxes – FD will request a supply.
All petitions must include a statement to the effect that any personal details will not be retained.
Fair Processing Notices must be displayed FD will request information on advising people as to how to
opt out.
For information – This year is the 60th anniversary of National CND. Salisbury CND is planning to approach the Salisbury Cathedral authorities with a request to site a CND symbol plus initials outside the Cathedral later in the year. They hope also to hold a Vigil for 2 days while the sculpture is in the Close.
FD
11 Forthcoming Events
Market Stall – 23rd June (please continue to collect items!) Human Rights Celebration – June, exact dates TBC Arts Centre Film – November? TBC
Next Meeting: Thursday 12th April 2018 Time: 7.30 pm Venue: 4 Victoria Road
www.salisburyai.com www.twitter.com/salisburyaiCampaign box and candle: AH; replacement/temporary banner: P&LC
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Group shot wishing Taner Kilic in Turkey a happy birthday
