WIRE IRELAND 2014/15 by Amnesty International Ireland

f o r p e o p l e p a s s i o n a t e a bo u t human rights

TogeTher, we lighT up The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s darkesT corners

inside This wire good news & updaTes News and updates from around the world. page 4.

Young activist, Lola Tallon sitting on top of a tank in Dublin during our 2014 campaign asking the USA to Stop Arming Israel. We called on the US Government, the leading arms exporter to Israel, to stop continuing its supply of the type of arms being used by Israel’s armed forces to violate human rights.

how does aMnesTY sTop TorTure? Our researchers give a snapshot of their work in two very different countries. page 6. First published in 2014. all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

‘a wiTch hunT againsT poor woMen’ Abortion is completely banned in El Salvador. Lawyer, Dennis Munoz Estanley explains. page 8.

unless otherwise stated, all images are copyright to amnesty international.

real righTs Will the Government agree to add economic, social and cultural rights to the Constitution? page 10.

amnesty international ireland, séan macbride house, 48 fleet street, Dublin 2, tel: 01 863 8300 email: info@amnesty.ie www.amnesty.ie

‘where’s The JusTice?’ Irish teenager and prisoner of conscience, Ibrahim Halawa, has been imprisoned in Egypt since 2013.

Cover image: Students lighting lanterns decorated with pictures of prisoners of conscience from the Letter Writing Marathon. © Amnesty International

page 12.

can wriTing a leTTer change a liFe? Yes – and here’s how! page 14.

The warning signs are clear

we are FaMilY We talk to the next generation of Amnesty supporters at University College Cork. page 17.

Making iT happen Your support has a global impact. page 18.

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The Mediterranean sea has become a cemetery, with a record number of refugee and migrant deaths. page 16.

ediTorial Welcome to the first edition of WIRE IRELAND, our magazine for people who are passionate about human rights – for you. From our offices here in Dublin, to your homes across the country, we are all united in our commitment to defend human rights. It is this dedication and support that has made it possible for us to reach out to torture victims in countries such as Nigeria where police and military routinely torture women, men and children – some as young as 12 – using a wide range of methods including beatings, shootings and rape. Find out about our Stop Torture campaign on page 6. Your support has also helped us work with women across the world whose lives are destroyed by restrictive abortion laws. Discover how one lawyer in El Salvador is singlehandedly defending women and their reproductive rights on page 8, and read about my experience in El Salvador meeting brave, inspiring women who are determined to change the law. At Amnesty International, pens are our weapon of choice. See how your letters have supported prisoners of conscience all over the world and made a real difference in their lives on page 14. Despite being separated by borders and seas, as part of a global movement we are united with Amnesty supporters all over the world. Supporters such as Kusha Bahrami, an Iranian refugee who was imprisoned and beaten in Greece, yet calls himself lucky and is hugely committed to our human rights work. Read his incredible story on page 16. Inspiring individuals like Kusha remind us why we continue our work, however you support Amnesty International – through campaigning, activism or by reaching into your pocket and donating. Together, with our combined efforts, we are making a difference, shining a light on the darkest corners of the world. In solidarity,

Colm O’Gorman Executive Director, Amnesty International Ireland

good news updaTes a Million Voices supporT MeriaM More than one million people worldwide supported our call for Meriam Yeyha Ibrahim, a Sudanese Christian and mother of two, to be released. Meriam was charged with ‘adultery’ after her relatives allegedly reported her for marrying a Christian man – illegal for Muslim women under Shari’a law. She was also charged with ‘apostasy’ for saying she was Christian while her father was Muslim. She was sentenced to death by hanging for ‘apostasy’, and to flogging for ‘adultery’ on 15 May 2014. She was eight months pregnant at the time and was forced to give birth in chains. Meriam was released on 23 June after her sentence was reversed. Amnesty is urging Sudan’s government to change the law so no one else will go through the same, and to take steps towards abolishing the death penalty and the punishment of flogging.

ales BialiaTski is Free Ales Bialiatski, a Belarusian human rights activist featured in our Write for Rights 2013 campaign, has been released from prison after almost three years. Ales was surprised to be told of a general prisoner amnesty on 21 June 2014 and immediately put on a train to Minsk. His wife and a large crowd of supporters welcomed him home. Ales, who believes Amnesty activists’ campaigning led to his release, said: “The thing that made a real difference were the letters I got from ordinary people, and I want to say a special thank you to your activists for that.”

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AMNESTY SUPPORTERS… WRITING THE GOOD NEWS STORIES

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Freedom Not Available Everywhere: Amnesty International members marched on the streets of Ireland’s capital for the Annual Dublin Pride 2014 in solidarity with gay men hunted in Russia; LGBTI people persecuted and imprisoned in Cameroon, in Uganda and in Iran; and, with men, women and trans people across the world who are murdered by mobs, or executed by their States simply for being who they are. Thousands joined the march to demand full and equal protection for the human rights of LGBTI people across the globe.

prisoner oF conscience released Ángel Colón, a Honduran migrant who was tortured and imprisoned in Mexico for nearly six years, was released unconditionally on 15 October, when the Federal Attorney General agreed to drop charges against him. Amnesty named Ángel a prisoner of conscience in July 2014 and over 20,000 people took action to demand his release. Ángel was arrested by police in Tijuana, northern Mexico, while travelling from his home in Honduras to the United States in March 2009. He was then tortured

by police and soldiers: beaten, asphyxiated and racially abused. He was forced to sign a false statement which was used to implicate him in criminal activity. Ángel retracted the statement when brought before a judge and reported his torture to the authorities, who failed to take any action. To ensure this doesn’t happen again, Amnesty is calling on the Mexican government to overhaul its current approach to forensic medical examinations of alleged torture victims.

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good news & updaTes

We Welcome your feeDback anD iDeas! Write to us: WireirelanD@amnesty.ie

connecT wiTh us >>> @amnestyirelanD /amnesty internationalirelanD

sparking educaTion

li Yan’s deaTh senTence oVerTurned Thanks to the 85,000 of you who kept the pressure up on the Chinese authorities, Li Yan is no longer facing a death sentence. Amnesty launched a petition and generated widespread news coverage of her plight. In 2011, Li Yan was condemned to death for killing her husband after enduring appalling abuse. He beat her, stubbed out cigarettes on her face, and hacked off one of her fingers. On 23 June, Li Yan’s brother learned that the Supreme People’s Court had overturned her death sentence in May. She now awaits a re-trial. sign up to join our urgent action network: amnesty.ie/join-urgent-actions-network

VicTorY For roMa righTs Over 100,000 of you called on the European Commission to take action to tackle discrimination against the Roma community. Over a year and a half ago, Amnesty called on the Commission to engage with the Czech Government to tackle education discrimination against Romani children. Currently, in Czech schools, segregation of Romani children and persistent discrimination is tolerated. In good news, the Commission has decided to initiate the infringement procedure against the Czech Republic for failing to address this discrimination. A victory for human rights and justice!

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It’s easy to take the roof over your head for granted. Every year in cities around the world, hundreds of thousands of families are thrown out of their homes. Here, a young girl amid the chaos of a forced eviction in Marseille, France.

Executive Director, Colm O’Gorman ran, kayaked, and cycled 67km as part of Team Amnesty at Gaelforce West. The group raised over €10,000 to support Amnesty’s human rights work. Have you got what it takes to get active for human rights and join our team for Gaelforce West 2015? Get in touch: teamamnesty@amnesty.ie

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Children all over the country raised money for women and girls in Afghanistan as part of the annual event Friendship Week. Primary school students raised over €40,000 through the sale of Friendship Bracelets and learned about the discrimination and violence women face in this country. Educate the next generation and take part in Friendship Week 2015: friendshipweek@amnesty.ie

Amnesty’s flagship education project, Right Sparks, brings human rights and development education to the classroom. Diverse topics such as fair trade, food security, poverty, globalisation, and diversity are all taught as part of these workshops in human rights. Funded by Irish Aid, the free Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunity is a great way for primary school teachers, with practical classroom experience, to share their invaluable skills with other teachers. These workshops, run by teachers for teachers, introduce a range of human rights education methodologies and resources. All of these CPD workshops are free and can be held for groups of five teachers or more. book a skillshare session for your school or let us tell you more about this fantastic programme for teachers: hre@amnesty.ie

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sTop TorTure

how does aMnesTY sTop TorTure? perseVerance in The philippines There’s a dark underbelly to the colourful festivals and palm–lined beaches which characterise the Philippines. Hazel Galang (pictured below), Amnesty’s researcher, knows it well. “Growing up there gave me an awareness of the injustices around me. When I joined Amnesty, my main motivation was to contribute to positive changes in the lives of my fellow Filipinos.” Amnesty has worked to highlight torture in the country for over 30 years, with some notable successes: “Amnesty has helped shape public debate and lobbied for legal changes,” Hazel says. Yet despite recent laws criminalising torture, it remains rife. Hazel knows this partly from speaking directly to victims, their families and lawyers. “People give us a lot of trust and goodwill and share very personal information: their ordeal – which is often the worst time of their life; their

To stop torture anywhere, you need a clear picture of when, why and how it happens. Two amnesty researchers give a snapshot of how they craft careful strategies to fit the situation in two very different countries.

feelings; names of people that have hurt them; and, locations. I then normally find a relevant contact to help us verify the information and try to check with other sources.” She stresses the importance of also engaging with certain government officials: “We do formal interviews with civil servants and often offer anonymity. Building rapport is usually more effective than an aggressive approach. That would only make people defensive and then you won’t get your information.” By speaking to a wide variety of people, Hazel discovered how police continue to torture people, particularly criminal suspects. Yet it was hugely under-reported. “The focus had been on the military torturing political activists. I realised that more people have contact with the police, and that more criminal suspects were therefore possibly being tortured.” So why, despite strong laws, is torture still so common? “Firstly, because it still goes unpunished,” explains Hazel. “Not one person has been convicted of torture since the 2009 Anti-Torture Act came into force.” Secondly, people rarely report it. “Victims are usually from very disadvantaged backgrounds. Often they don’t know that what happened to them was torture and therefore a crime. They don’t know they have the right to justice or how to access it.” “To stop torture and achieve real, lasting change, we must make sure laws are implemented and people who break them held accountable. We can do that by engaging with people in government – it’s important to keep in contact. Perseverance is also key; often it takes decades before we can move things in a country. We have to be in it for the long haul, and that requires creativity – finding new ways to drive change.”

Hazel Galang, Amnesty researcher speaking at the Stop Torture press launch in the Philippines. 6 [ wire ireland ]

sTop TorTure

under The radar in uzBekisTan Developing good relationships with the authorities to stop torture might work well in the Philippines, but in an authoritarian state like Uzbekistan, it is almost impossible. The country is effectively inaccessible to Amnesty. To enter, you need an official invitation, which is rare. Doing independent research inside the country would also put those interviewed at risk. Few dare speak out for human rights in a country where up to 10,000 people have been jailed and tortured for their perceived political and religious views since 1993. “There are 28 million people in Uzbekistan, but only a handful of independent human rights activists working on torture,” says Amnesty researcher Maisy Weicherding. “They live with the constant risk of repercussions from the authorities,” she adds. As a result, many activists have been forced into exile. Even there they are monitored by the security services, and worry about putting their

relatives at home at risk. “Few people are brave enough to stand up,” Maisy concludes. “We need to work together with them to build up confidence and expertise within the next generation.” To gather information on torture, the team had to think creatively. “We designed a questionnaire for local human rights workers, torture victims and their families, and people in exile.” It was distributed carefully, given the security risks. “Next, we had to get people out of the country for interviews. It was complicated – we worked closely with trusted partners and planned our strategy carefully. We decided on a country and city where it was safe to interview people at risk in Uzbekistan. We scheduled meetings and organised travel and accommodation. We were careful to protect the privacy of our interviewees: many wanted to remain anonymous. The risks are huge and everyone is fearful of reprisals.”

Above: Great news for our Stop Torture campaign! People worldwide demonstrated in solidarity with torture victims on 26 June – International Day in Support of Victims of Torture – including Irish activists pictured here on O’Connell Street in Dublin.

Happily, the highly choreographed operation went well. “Just the fact that Amnesty is paying attention and listening means a lot to people,” Maisy says. As pressure builds, the authorities will have to start listening too.

Your support has made the Stop Torture campaign possible. Thank you!

Take acTion >>> Join our campaign at amnesty.ie/stoptorture follow @amnestyireland and use #stoptorture on twitter.

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MY BodY, MY righTs

‘a wiTch hunT againsT poor woMen’

hen Isabel Cristina Quintanilla woke up in excruciating pain in a hospital bed in San Miguel, El Salvador, the first thing she noticed was the blue uniform of a police officer standing next to her. Cristina was around 40 weeks pregnant when she felt a searing pain and rushed to the bathroom. She lost consciousness and was found by her family, haemorrhaging and covered in blood. She was rushed to hospital where, far from being treated as a patient in distress, she was accused of being a criminal and asked, “why did you kill your child?” She was barely conscious when the officer began asking her questions. It was only then that she realised she had lost her pregnancy – and that she was being accused of murder. Almost immediately, her story became national news. Cristina was sentenced in August 2005 to 30 years in prison for aggravated homicide. The entire country pointed an accusing finger at the 19-year-old, who had a three-yearold son waiting for her at home. Law student Dennis Muñoz Estanley was struck by the young woman’s ordeal. “When I heard Cristina’s story I was immediately shocked. A couple of years later a friend gave me the full judgement against her and told me she didn’t have a lawyer. I read the

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judgement and was very surprised anyone could be convicted when the cause of death of the foetus was undetermined,” Dennis told Amnesty. He found Cristina in a local women’s prison and offered to act as her lawyer. That was the beginning of a long and arduous two-year legal battle through courts and government offices. Cristina was eventually released in 2009 after her sentence was greatly reduced. “I always thought she had been unfairly convicted and that she never should have been in prison in the first place. When she was released I was overwhelmed with happiness,” Dennis said. The victory turned Dennis into a household name in the battle for women’s rights in El Salvador. The work of the Citizen’s Group for the Decriminalisation of Abortion, with whom Dennis works, is increasingly recognised for its determination to expose cases of other women – all of them from the poorest sectors of society – imprisoned in similar circumstances.

TaBoos Abortion is banned in El Salvador in all circumstances, even if the foetus is unlikely to survive, if the life or health of the woman is at risk, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape.

el salvador is one of just a handful of countries in the world, where abortion is completely banned. in some cases, women who miscarry end up behind bars, accused of homicide. lawyer dennis Muñoz estanley, pictured here, has made it his duty to defend them.

“It was only then that she realised she had lost her pregnancy – and that she was being accused of murder.” In April 2014, the Citizen’s Group for the Decriminalisation of Abortion launched a campaign to pardon 17 women who, like Cristina, were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in connection with pregnancy-related issues. They are serving sentences of up to 40 years, and their cases raise serious concerns about their right to a fair trial, among others. Dennis became known globally after representing “Beatriz”, a woman who endured a painfully long battle with the authorities to allow her to have the medical treatment she needed to save her life. Her pregnancy was endangering her life by exacerbating the severe illnesses she already had, including lupus and kidney problems. The foetus also lacked a large part of its brain and skull, and would not have survived for more than a few hours or days after birth. For almost two months the Salvadoran authorities refused to provide her with live-saving treatment, while

MY BodY, MY righTs

on The Brink oF deaTh

Beatriz’s health deteriorated. In the end, they finally agreed to an early caesarean section. Dennis now believes Beatriz’ ordeal helped lift the veil on some of the most taboo issues in the country. “This is a witch hunt against poor women. The prosecutors and judges think women have to be heroes. Even though they might be dying – losing two litres of blood – they have to take care of their newborn, even if they are unconscious. They require a woman to conduct herself in a way that is completely unrealistic,” Dennis explained. Since working on one of the most controversial issues in the country, Dennis has been forced to face critics in the media and on the streets who call him “abortion lawyer”. In spite of criticism, he always tries to focus on the reasons why he does his job. “I have a daughter, many female friends and work colleagues, and I would not like any of them to face a situation like this, so I’m very sensitive to the issue. I continue to work on it because I cannot tolerate the lack of justice women have to face.”

Colm O’Gorman describes his recent mission with Amnesty to El Salvador, a country here suicide accounts for 57 per cent of all deaths of pregnant girls aged under 19.

Above: A mural at a women’s community centre in Suchitoto, El Salvador. Above right: Colm standing alongside Amnesty’s Erika Guevara Rosas outside of the prison where Maria Teresa is serving her sentence.

donaTe TodaY >>> our supporters are the heartbeat of the work that we do, for example working with the women of el salvador. help us continue this work by making a donation on page 20 or at amnesty.ie

It’s difficult to describe the conditions in the women’s prison in San Salvador. You would have to see it yourself to believe it. Built to hold 400 women, crammed to bursting point, holding over 2,000, as well as 105 children under the age of five. Most of the prisoners sleep on the floor. A bed is a luxury for those who can afford to pay. I visited the prison in early October to meet Maria Teresa Rivera, a young single mother serving a 40 year sentence for having a miscarriage. She told me that she sleeps in a dormitory, with more than 200 other women. She sleeps on a sheet on the floor, she can’t afford a bed. Maria Teresa’s only ‘crime’ is that she is a woman living in poverty. After presenting at hospital following a miscarriage in November 2011, she was charged with aggravated homicide, and following a grossly unfair trial, she was condemned to prison for 40 years. El Salvador is one of only nine countries in the world that has a total ban on abortion. It is poor, young, rural women and girls who are most harmed by this law. Middle class and wealthy women travel to access abortion services in private clinics. But that’s not an option for those who live in poverty, resulting in an estimated 20,000 clandestine abortions in El Salvador every year. According to the World Health Organisation, 11 per cent of such abortions result in the death of the woman or girl. El Salvador’s abortion laws are killing poor women and girls. As I saw first-hand on my visit, the scale of human rights violations suffered by women and girls in El Salvador is horrific. It’s why our My Body, My Rights campaign is so vitally important, and why we need your help.

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real righTs

economic, social and cultural rights are real rights which affect the way we live and the quality of our lives. is the government ready to acknowledge this?

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ÂŠ Amnesty International Ireland

econoMic, social and culTural righTs

Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EU banking bailout ended with a whisper. Without international fanfare and of no further interest to the banks and cabinet tables of Europe, it was business as usual. The politics became local again, the headlines no longer about bond-holders and bank guarantees, but about property prices and pay-offs. This Government had promised reform, and across the Oireachtas benches and late-night panel discussions heads had nodded in agreement that reform was vital. Yet left to our own devices again, the prospect of doing things differently seems ever more remote. Findings from the Edelman Ireland Trust Barometer, published in January 2014, suggests little public confidence in how the Government makes difficult decisions. Only 5 per cent trust Government leaders to make ethical and moral decisions, with just 4 per cent trusting them to solve societal or social issues. Yet the Irish State was founded upon the principle that the Government exists to serve the

econoMic, social and culTural righTs

Left: Amnesty supporters call for justice on the streets of Galway.

common good and its people’s welfare. Since then, Ireland has ratified six of the nine core UN human rights treaties, making itself legally bound to fulfil the rights in each for everyone in Ireland. This includes the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural (ESC) rights ratified by Ireland in 1989, which safeguards everyone’s rights to things like an adequate standard of living, housing, and physical and mental health. ESC rights require that governments take steps over time, to deliver human rights outcomes to its people without discrimination, in line with international law. But where are those human rights referencepoints in how the Government makes decisions? We hear much about the Government’s economic policy, but where is the linking of economic policy and budgets with people’s human rights?

doing Things diFFerenTlY In February 2014, the government-established Constitutional Convention spent a weekend debating whether Ireland’s Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, could and should be amended to better protect ESC rights. Made up of 66 ordinary people, 33 politicians and a Chair, the Convention had spent 2013 reviewing and making recommendations on diverse issues chosen by the Government, from the removal of the blasphemy provision in the Constitution to marriage equality. At the final session in February, the group had one final agenda item that they could select to consider. And they chose constitutional ESC rights. Both Amnesty International and the Irish Human Rights Commission presented on why ESC rights should be given greater constitutional protection. A counter argument was presented by former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell. Following deliberation, it emerged that 85 per cent of the Convention voted to amend the Constitution and strengthen protection of ESC rights.

neXT sTeps Back in March 2014, the Constitutional Convention’s report was submitted to the Government, with four months set aside for a response. This time has since lapsed and at the time of print, we are still waiting to hear the outcome of the delayed response. At Amnesty, we hope for its acceptance. In the case that a working group or taskforce is established to consider this recommendation, we hope that appropriate terms of reference and a strict timeline are set so these important rights do not drop off the public and political agenda. In the meantime, we continue to remind Government ministers and department officials that ESC rights are real rights just as deserving of constitutional protection as civil and political rights, like the right to a fair trial. That in making decisions about public policy, in allocating resources, in deciding who to prioritise and how, Irish governments should comply with a set of constitutionally enshrined human rights. That these ESC rights are human rights conceived, negotiated and agreed to by states themselves, including Ireland. Ireland is several steps behind other states in this regard. Of its 27 fellow EU member states, 23 already make some constitutional provision for these rights. So too does the Irish public. In public polling we commissioned in 2014, 71 per cent of respondents believe the constitution should protect human rights like the right to heath and an adequate standard of living, including housing. Putting ESC rights into Bunreacht na hÉireann will not cure all our ills. But it could help address those well-identified deficiencies in our current system. It would require better and more accountable planning by governments, with recourse to the courts where necessary as a last, rather than a first, resort. At a time when people in Ireland, especially the most vulnerable, are suffering the harsh consequences of financial instability and the economic crisis, the protection of ESC rights has never been so crucial. Let’s hope the Government has the courage to agree.

whaT are esc righTs? economic, social and cultural (esc) rights affect the quality of our lives. rights such as health, housing and education are contained in the international covenant on esc rights. this is a legally binding treaty that ireland has ratified, but never properly implemented. it protects: n the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain their living by freely chosen or accepted work and to just and favourable conditions of work; n the right of everyone to form trade unions, join a trade union of one’s choice and the right to strike; n the right to social security; n protection and assistance of the family; n the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for them and their family, including food, clothing and housing, the continuous improvement of living conditions and the right to be free from hunger; n the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; n the right of everyone to education; and, n the right of everyone to take part in cultural life, to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress, to benefit from the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he/she is the author.

learn More >>> read amnesty international’s submission to the constitutional convention on esc rights: amnesty.ie/escrights

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prisoner oF conscience

‘where’s The JusTice?’ From his prison cell in egypt, irish teenager and amnesty prisoner of conscience, ibrahim halawa asked, ‘where are human rights?’

brahim Halawa, an 18-year-old Irish citizen, should be starting university this year furthering his dreams of becoming a pilot or an engineer. Ibrahim’s plans have all been put on hold, and instead of college life, he finds himself sitting in a jail cell in Egypt. The teenager, from the Dublin suburb of Firhouse, was arrested for his alleged role in violence during protests that took place in August 2013 in the Ramsis area of Cairo. The Dublin native, whose father is Ireland’s most senior Islamic cleric, was just 17 years old at the time of his arrest. He and his three sisters were on a family holiday in Egypt when they were arrested after taking refuge in a mosque. While his sisters have since been released on bail, Ibrahim is detained awaiting a new trial date. Close family friend, Fr Seamus Fleming, was saddened to hear that that over one year on from his imprisonment, Ibrahim is still in jail. “Ibrahim who is only 18 years of age and a brilliant student, was due to start an engineering course in Trinity College Dublin,” he said. “When qualified, he would be a tremendous asset to his native Egypt or Ireland if he decided to live and work here.” Outside of school, Ibrahim is an all-round sportsman. “He excelled in rugby and soccer in Clonskeagh (where he went to school),” explains Fr Fleming. “He also excelled in equestrian sports, especially showjumping.” 12 [ wire ireland ]

The enthusiastic sportsman is now languishing behind bars in Egypt. Alongside almost 500 other protestors, Ibrahim is being charged with: n Murder; n Attempted murder; n Disturbing public order; n Hindering the work of national institutions; n Protesting without authorisation; n Destroying public property (police station, public companies and police vehicles); n Preventing people from praying in Al Fath mosque; n Possessing weapons; and, n Attacking security forces. If convicted, he could face the death sentence.

“He asked me where I was from and I said ‘Ireland’ then he goes, ‘so you’re not Egyptian’. I said to him ‘no’. He picked up a metal chain and whipped my shoulder taking my back with it.” ibrahim halawa in letter from tora prison in egypt, august 2014.

expression and assembly. It is for this reason that we have declared Ibrahim Halawa a prisoner of conscience and are calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

escaping Fire

selecTiVe JusTice

At Amnesty, we conducted a thorough investigation of Ibrahim’s case. Researchers who were present at the time of the protests have established that there is no way that he could have fired at the security forces as the Egyptian authorities allege. The alleged incidents took place at the minaret entrance to the Al Fath mosque. Ibrahim and his sisters were all locked in the inner part of the mosque where they fled to try and escape the security forces’ gunfire. We are satisfied that he did not, and could not, have committed the long list of crimes with which he is charged. He is being detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of

Ibrahim was one of 494 people, including 11 children, who were due to go on trial in August 2014. The three judges who were due to hear the case, walked out of the trial on account of objections raised by the defendants’ lawyers. He and his fellow detainees now await a date for another criminal trial. We believe that mass trials such as those in Egypt cannot possibly be fair. For instance, even those defendants allowed to be present in court cannot adequately participate in the proceedings. A huge percentage of the witnesses due to be called in the trial are police officers or government officials.

e g n e l l a h c F l e s Yo u r prisoner oF conscience

Make a diFFerence TodaY, geT creaTiVe and raise Funds For aMnesTY!  sponsored eVenTs – swiMs, cYcles, and runs, anYThing goes

 hosT an aMnesTYTea – no BeTTer reason To puT The keTTle on  pack Bags aT Your local superMarkeT

Ibrahim cannot possibly get a fair trial in Egypt and we are not alone in thinking so. The European Union too has criticised Egypt’s ‘selective justice’ and called for fair and timely trials. Recently, Egyptian courts have been handing out mass death sentences based on little evidence and following deeply flawed trial proceedings. In April 2014, for example, a judge recommended the death sentence for 683 defendants in a mass trial. Crowds outside the courtroom chanted ‘Where’s the justice?’

Free iBrahiM Ibrahim is an innocent man who has so far spent a year of his young life behind bars in Egypt living in horrendous conditions. Arrested at 17, he was a minor at the time of his arrest and yet was held in jail with adults, in contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Egyptian law. He was shot in the hand and never received medical attention, except from a cellmate who happened to be a doctor. His time in prison, far away from his homeland of Ireland, has been both physically and mentally difficult. After the abandoned trial, in a state of utter disillusionment, Ibrahim began a hunger strike. His family, who feared desperately for his health, were eventually successful in persuading him to start eating again. Since that fateful day in 2013, Ibrahim’s family here in Ireland has been consistently highlighting his case and working to ensure the

Above: Ibrahim Halawa, Irish prisoner of conscience.

Irish authorities do all within their power to help secure his release. Amnesty has been supporting their call on the Egyptian Government for his unconditional release and on the Irish authorities to make this demand to Egypt. Earlier this year, Ibrahim wrote a letter to his family and friends from prison: “Where is human rights? Where is the world to see what we are going through?” At Amnesty, we will continue to work to free Ibrahim. We will continue to press the Irish authorities to use their influence on his behalf. We will work with the Halawa family as they seek justice and an end to their ongoing torment. We will continue to ask for people to add their names to our petition calling on Egypt to release Ibrahim and ensure a fair trial for other defendants without recourse to the death penalty. We want people to also write directly to the Egyptian authorities. We must continue to fight on his behalf.

 hold a concerT, coMedY or quiz nighT

 collecT Funds aT school, work or in Your coMMuniTY  Join TeaM aMnesTY aT gaelForce wesT 2015

Take acTion >>> over 1,000 people have already taken action to release ibrahim. Join them in calling on the embassy of egypt in ireland to act to release ibrahim halawa immediately: amnesty.ie

For Your aMnesTY Fundraising pack or For More inForMaTion, call us 01 863 8300 or eMail Fundraising@aMnesTY.ie 13 [ wire ireland ]

leTTer wriTing

can wriTing a leTTer change a liFe? Yes it can. with your help, last year’s write for rights letter writing campaign led to the release of three prisoners, and many more people at risk of human rights abuses felt safer and more supported. worldwide, people from 143 countries took 2.3 million actions – sending letters, writing appeals and signing petitions. here’s just a snapshot of the difference you made.

BoosTing huMan righTs in honduras You sent more than 51,000 messages calling on the President of Honduras to protect a group of human rights activists from threats and intimidation. Campaigner Bertha Oliva said your messages helped to put pressure on the government: “We were able to see international support, which is so necessary for us to be able to continue our risky work.”

FreedoM For YorM Bopha in caMBodia Yorm Bopha was imprisoned for three years on trumped-up charges after protesting against forced evictions in her community. She was released on bail in November 2013, and authorities received nearly 253,000 appeals from Amnesty supporters in 54 countries. She continues to campaign for her community: “I am very happy now I know we are not alone.”

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released in russia Vladimir Akimenkov – who was detained alongside Artiom Saviolov and Mikhail Kosenko following a protest in Bolotnaya Square, Moscow – was released on 19 December 2013. After being sent for forcible psychiatric treatment in hospital, Mikhail is now able to continue treatment at home with his family. Mikhail’s sister, Artiom’s father and Vladmir all expressed their deep gratitude for your letters of support.

supporTing dr Tun aung in MYanMar You sent more than 120,000 messages to the Myanmar authorities calling for the release of Dr Tun Aung, who was serving a 17 year prison term after an unfair trial. Dr Tun has now been granted several reductions to his sentence, and a local NGO confirmed that he now has less than a year left to serve in prison.

JusTice For JaBeur MeJri in Tunisia Jabeur was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for Facebook posts deemed “insulting to Islam”. After more than 158,000 people petitioned the authorities, the blogger was released from prison. Sadly, following a confrontation with officials, he was arrested again. Jabeur’s sister Ines told us: “The letters make him feel remembered. They really helped lift his spirits.”

proTecTing opposiTion acTiVisTs in Bahrain Thirteen prominent activists were sent to prison following anti-government protests in March 2011. Their families were touched by the widespread support for the men across so many countries. More than 123,000 of you sent messages to the Bahraini authorities, and the UN and European Parliament have both recognised the importance of the case.

Internationa l

ternational

nal y Internatio

leTTer wriTing

Left: Amnesty supporter Sinead Mercier thanks those who wrote to take part in our previous Letter Writing Marathon. Above: Just some of the letters sent to Ihar Tsikhanyuk, the Belarus activist beaten by police. Right: Write a letter and save a life! Amnesty activists stand in solidarity with prisoners of conscience at the Letter Writing Campaign in Dublin.

pressure For eskinder nega, eThiopia Journalist Eskinder was sentenced to 18 years in prison after making speeches and writing articles which criticised the Ethiopian government. Eskinder’s wife, Serkalem, was overwhelmed by your messages of support: “The regime will be forced to release him and other prisoners of conscience. That kind of pressure, they can’t resist forever.”

JusTice For eVicTed coMMuniTY in nigeria More than 83,000 of you took action for the people of Badia East, after they were forced from their homes by the authorities. The government has now agreed to pay them compensation. “They never wanted to pay, but with your help and effort they agreed to give assistance to us,” said community activist Bimbo Osobe.

inspiring ihar TsikhanYuk in Belarus

Messages For MiriaM lopez in MeXico Miriam was kidnapped by soldiers, tortured and detained for months. She said that the thousands of letters, cards and Facebook messages she received are encouraging her to seek justice: “Thank you for supporting me, even though you don’t know me. For the cards, for the lanterns, for everything – thank you.”

solidariTY wiTh naBi saleh in occupied palesTinian TerriTories Every week, the villagers of Nabi Saleh protest peacefully against an illegal Israeli settlement which has taken over their farmland. They said that your messages have helped to raise awareness of their struggle. One villager, Nariman Tamimi, said that the letters she received had made her cry with happiness.

Activist Ihar was beaten by police after he and friends tried to register their organisation, which works on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) issues. More than 172,000 of you took action and helped to raise awareness of the challenges faced by the LGBTI community in Belarus. “When I feel I am left with no hope, I’ll get a letter out and it will inspire me,” said Ihar. “The confidence in myself returns!”

acTion For hakan YaMan in TurkeY Hakan was severely beaten by police near his home after demonstrations in central Istanbul in June 2013. More than 96,000 of you took action, and his lawyer is certain that this pressure helped to progress the investigation into his case. “I love you all,” said Hakan. “Thank you so much, it is so great that you are here.”

wriTe For righTs 2014 >>> We need your help to protect another 12 people and communities at risk of human rights abuses. take part in the letter Writing marathon by getting in touch with pina: act@amnesty.ie

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s.o.s. europe – people BeFore Borders

The warning signs are clear

over 2,000 people are believed to have died or gone missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean from north africa this year. Tragically, these deaths are entirely predictable.

The luckY reFugee

Those who attended our 2014 AGM may remember Kusha Bahrami (above left), the Iranian refugee and Amnesty activist who now lives in Greece. Here, Kusha talks about the Amnesty S.O.S Europe activism camp.

The past year has set a grim record with the highest number of refugee and migrant deaths ever recorded in the Mediterranean. For anyone paying close attention to the conflict and unrest in the Middle East and Africa – and we assume that those in charge of immigration police in the European Union were – the warning signs were clear. The war in Syria has resulted in one of the largest forced displacements of people in decades. Nearly 10 million people, more than 40 per cent of the country’s population, have been forced out of their homes. The vast majority of those who fled the country – more than three million – are concentrated in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. At Amnesty International, we are often asked why other countries should resettle Syrian refugees – aren’t they better off somewhere where they know the language and are closer to home? That may be true to a large extent, but the reality is that most refugees from Syria are barely able to make a living and face immense struggles with education, healthcare, and housing. Year after year, it is getting worse, not better. In 2013, globally there were more than 50 million people forcibly displaced from their homes, the first time this symbolic threshold was 16 [ wire ireland ]

Above: Activists send an S.O.S. signal from the Aegean Sea, asking European governments to stop human rights abuses against refugees and migrants along Europe’s borders. Lesvos, Greece, July 2013.

crossed since the Second World War. With conflicts continuing or worsening in Syria, Iraq and the Central African Republic, among others, the trend is likely to continue. Tragedies in the Mediterranean will continue unless much more is done to provide assistance to people who fled the horrors of conflict. The EU, and the international community, must offer more resettlement places and more humanitarian funding to refugee crises. But given the level of desperation that can drive people to risk their lives on these dangerous journeys, the EU must also invest more in search and rescue at sea. Without action, many more will die.

speak up >>> Join the conversation about s.o.s europe on twitter using #soseurope and follow @dontexisteurope

My name is Kusha Bahrami, a lucky refugee from Iran. I could have been the Syrian refugee I met on a Greek island, whose family was abandoned by smugglers in the middle of nowhere. He went to search for water for his children, and ended up being detained because he had lost his papers proving that he comes from Syria. I’m a lucky refugee – but maybe I’m not. When I arrived in Greece I tried to submit my asylum application to the police. I showed them my admission letter from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN refugee agency, in Turkey. The answer was beatings and three months of suffering in a detention centre. I was forced to go on full hunger strike to see my mother. I tried to commit suicide in fear of deportation. These days, even though I’m free now and this is several years behind me, I feel like a prisoner in my own home. I fear what might happen to me when I go out in the street. And this is not just a phenomenon in Greece – it is rising everywhere in Europe. Amnesty’s S.O.S. Europe campaign is trying to protect people like me. Last year we were in Lesvos, a Greek island close to Turkey, for a week of action to protest against what is happening to refugees and migrants at Europe’s borders. This initiative goes to the core of what Amnesty is all about: bringing passionate people together who believe in and push for change. After the camp, our participants became 10 times more active. There are many people like me out there who need a voice. We need people to stand with us, who will not accept how refugees and migrants are treated in Europe today. Together, I believe we can make a change.

leaVe a legacY >>> gifts in Wills from human rights supporters like you are going to be vital to our future campaigning work. find out more: legacy@amnesty.ie

aMnesTY YouTh

we are FaMilY

aving the next generation support our work is critical, not just for the future of Amnesty – but for the future of all humanity. Student groups in universities across Ireland volunteer their time to campaign, fundraise and advocate on behalf of Amnesty and human rights. Here, we talk to Samantha Cooney, activist with the Amnesty Student Group in University College Cork.

ucc amnesty Was recently aWarDeD the title of ‘most improveD society’ by the national boarD of irish college societies. tell us hoW this came about? It started with the committee’s decision to increase the number and variety of both campaigning and fundraising events in order to boost the society’s visibility on campus. In 2013, we held around 11 events. In 2014, we held 50. We also boosted our membership numbers by 350! As a group, we focused on the issues that we were most passionate about and built student-friendly campaigns around them. All of our campaigns had a visual demonstration to accompany them so it was hard to miss us.

What are the groups plans for the neW term? Firstly, we plan to continue to boost our membership. Our members are the driving force behind the society’s success. They campaign and petition with us and are invaluable parts of the UCC Amnesty family.

What is the best thing about being involveD With ucc amnesty? We operate like a family – the ‘famnesty’. We strive to make the society a place where everyone fits, feels welcome and feels valued. The best thing about UCC Amnesty is easily the amazing people involved in it.

as an amnesty supporter, you’ve helped to create some of the greatest human rights landmarks in our history. here, we welcome the next generation of amnesty supporters – they are going to help create the human rights landmarks of our future.

Above: Amnesty has long campaigned to abolish the death penalty. Third year student and Amnesty activist, Samantha Cooney takes part in an action to highlight this ultimate denial of human rights.

What campaign has been the most interesting for you to Work on? All campaigns are equally interesting – I really enjoy developing campaigns that are creative, visual, informative and accessible to everyone. This year the society won ‘Best Campaign’ at the UCC Society Awards, which was very exciting for us!

tell us about some of your most memorable moments over the past feW years? It was really exciting to go from a relatively unknown and small society in UCC to a very active and recognisable society in just a few short months. We work with a lot of other societies on campus and engage with our student’s union wherever possible. We also established a volunteer group for students that wanted to campaign and petition with us.

if you Were to Describe the members of amnesty ucc in three WorDs, What WoulD they be? Amazing. Inspiring. Family.

Take acTion >>> Join amnesty youth and make a difference in the world. stand up for your rights: youth@amnesty.ie

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Your iMpacT

inenT iran releases proM r huMan righTs lawYe

LAWYER, Nasrin HUMAN RIGHTS Iran sed from prison in Sotoudeh, was relea 4 On . ren ild with her ch today and reunited s wa r ye law nt ne promi September 2010, the on n so pri in ars d six ye condemned to spen st g propaganda again din rea “sp of charges l na cting against natio the system” and “a the of hip ers mb me security”, including Rights Defenders. Centre for Human al adopted the 51Amnesty Internation nce a prisoner of conscie year-old lawyer as her for lly ba glo d mpaigne and supporters ca n, iso pr in ars three ye release. Following days strike of nearly 50 er ng hu a ing includ a thorities to repeal last year to force au was ung daughter, she travel ban on her yo nked tha n r release, Nasri released. Upon he took o wh ers ational memb all Amnesty Intern ve ha “I . se her relea action and called for lf efforts on my beha ur yo all of been aware ur yo all d u an and I want thank yo rk,” she stated. wo ur yo for s ue ag colle

Making iT happen as an amnesty supporter, you made this incredible good news story possible, helping to release this innocent woman and human rights defender. with your continued support – through donations, fundraising, or by taking action – we will see more good news stories such as nasrins. as an organisation we work on your behalf to make sure that your money is spent in the best way possible. we rely on your support as we remain politically and ﬁnancially independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion. This independence means that our work is not inﬂuenced or affected by outside parties. we can criticise and applaud situations with an objective and impartial standing.

donaTe >>> help us continue our human rights work by making a donation on the back page or at amnesty.ie

18 [ wire ireland ]

whaT Your MoneY has done inTernaTionallY

amnesty ireland is an important component of a global movement of more than 3.2 million people working in more than 150 countries around the world. internationally, we: n Champion the release of prisoners

of conscience, political dissenters and those in prison without due process e.g. campaigning for the release of Chelsea Manning. n Respond to crises such as the recent violence in Gaza and Iraq by drawing international attention to war crimes. n Work with local grassroots organisations for change such as women’s empowerment groups in El Salvador. n Carry out extensive research in areas experiencing human rights violations, such as arbitrary detention in eastern Ukraine. n Lobby for legislative and policy change at UN headquarters in New York, at the Human Rights Council in Geneva and the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands. n Engage with national governments and EU institutions on issues such as the thousands who die each year in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe's shores. n Highlight areas in the world such as Russia, Uganda and Gambia where the LGBTI community face harsh discrimination.

whaT Your MoneY has done in ireland it has supported our research and actions to promote and secure human rights in ireland, including: n Lobbying the Irish Government for not meeting its human rights obligations. For over a decade, we have campaigned for a fair legal process that protects asylum seekers’ human rights. n Engaging with the Irish political system to advance better human rights protection on a range of domestic human rights issues such as violence against women. n Promoting greater legal enforcement of economic, cultural and social rights in Ireland. Just last year, we achieved our objective of having the government-established Constitutional Convention include these rights. n Publishing reports to highlight our global priority campaigns such as horrific torture practices in Mexico and Nigeria. n Highlighting human rights violations in Ireland on international platforms. For example informing the UN Human Rights Committee and UN Committee Against Torture on how Ireland has dealt with past human rights abuses such as the current ‘mother and baby homes’ issue. n We also run Human Rights Education programmes that focus on teaching human rights in schools, educating the next generation of human rights defenders.

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