Please write for 40 Prisoners of Conscience in danger in Russia

FROM Amnesty International:
"...recent reports of torture and ill-treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses while in custody of [Russian]law enforcement officials. At least 40 people, including minors, were arrested during raids of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ homes in Surgut on 15 February."

"Amnesty International has examined evidence and carried out interviews with several persons who claim they were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment while in custody to extract “confessions” of participation in an “extremist organization”. Some victims reported threats of rape."

"Jehovah’s Witnesses Sergei Loginov, Artur Severinchik and Yevgeniy Fedin remain remanded in custody and are at serious risk of further torture and other ill-treatment. They are prisoners of conscience, detained solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of religion."

"Write a letter in your own words...to a Russian Government official.
You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.

Yuriy Yakovlevich Chaika
Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Prosecutor General’s Office
ul. B. Dmitrovka, d.15a
125993 Moscow GSP- 3
Russian Federation
Fax: +7 495 987 58 41; +7 495 692 17 25
Electronic form in Russian: https://bit.ly/2HxUenq
Twitter: @GenprocAmbassador Anatoly Antonov

Embassy of the Russian Federation
2650 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington DC 20007
Phone: 1 202 298 5700 I Fax: 1 202 298 5735
Email: rusembusa@mid.ru
Twitter: @RusEmbUSA

EXAMPLE OF EMAIL OR LETTER:

"Salutation: Dear Ambassador

"Dear Chairman of the Investigative Committee,

I am writing to express my utmost concern following recent reports of torture and ill-treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses while in custody of law enforcement officials. At least 40 people, including minors, were arrested during raids of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ homes in Surgut on 15 February.

Amnesty International has examined evidence and carried out interviews with several persons who claim they were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment while in custody to extract “confessions” of participation in an “extremist organization”. Some victims reported threats of rape.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Sergei Loginov, Artur Severinchik and Yevgeniy Fedin remain remanded in custody and are at serious risk of further torture and other ill-treatment. They are prisoners of conscience, detained solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of religion.

I therefore urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Sergei Loginov, Artur Severinchik and Yevgeniy Fedin; and ensure that they are protected from torture and other ill-treatment, that allegations of torture and other ill-treatment against Sergei Loginov, Artur Severinchik and Yevgeniy Fedin, and other Jehovah’s Witnesses, are promptly, effectively and impartially investigated, and all responsible brought to justice.

Yours sincerely,

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION: Word or PDF
GET INSPIRED: Read about the people you have helped
READ TIPS for writing effective letters and emails
CONTACT US: uan@aiusa.org
See more at https://www.amnestyusa.org/take-action/urgent-action-network/
--



Stand up for the oppressed, imprisoned,abused, and impoverished,

Daniel Wilcox

Write for Prisoner of Conscience Nassima al-Sada, Imprisoned by Saudi Arabia

FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL:

"URGENT ACTION: SAUDI ACTIVIST HELD IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT (SAUDI ARABIA: UA 21.19)
Woman human rights defender, Nassima al-Sada, was placed in solitary confinement since early February 2019, in al-Mabahith Prison in Dammam.

Nassima has been detained since July 2018 without charge or trial. Nassima’s detention was part of a recent wave of arrests that targeted Saudi human rights activists. Since May 2018, at least 15 human rights activists, including several women human rights defenders have been detained without charge in Saudi Arabia. Amnesty International calls on the Saudi authorities to release Nassima al-Sada and all other human rights activists immediately and unconditionally.

Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.

His Majesty King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques
Office of His Majesty the King
Royal Court, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: +966 11 403 3125Ambassador Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz

Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
601 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington DC 20037
Phone: 202 342 3800
Contact Form: https://bit.ly/2KScqag
Twitter: @SaudiEmbassyUSA
Salutation: Your Royal Highness
Dear King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud,

Nassima al-Sada is a woman human rights defender who has been arbitrarily detained since July 2018. According to trusted sources, Nassima al-Sada has been placed in solitary confinement since early February 2019 in al-Mabahith prison in Dammam. Nassima has been detained without charge or trial since July 2018.

Nassima has been campaigning for civil and political rights, the rights of the Shi’a community in the eastern province, and women’s rights, in particular, the right of women to drive and for the end of the repressive male guardianship system. Prior to her arrest, Nassima al-Sada had been repeatedly targeted, harassed, and placed under travel bans for her human rights activism.

I urge you to release Nassima al-Sada and all other activists, including all women detained without charge, immediately and unconditionally, as she is a prisoner of conscience, solely detained for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression, assembly and association."

Read more details about this prisoner of conscience at
https://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent-actions/urgent-action-saudi-activist-held-in-solitary-confinement-saudi-arabia-ua-21-19/
--

"Human rights are rights that are inherent to all human beings, whatever ones nationality, place of residence, sex, ethnic origin, religion, language, or any other status. Everyone is equally entitled to human rights without discrimination.

These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible. All human rights are based on the notion of human dignity. These rights are often guaranteed to us by law in the form on international treaties, customary international law, general principles and other sources of law.

International Human Rights Law places obligations on governments to act in a particular manner and to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, not only for individuals but also for groups."
https://alqst.org/eng/about-human-rights/

In the Light,

Daniel Wilcox

Support free speech: Request that Indonesia release Meliana for false charge of blasphemy

from Amnesty International:

"URGENT ACTION: 18 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR MOSQUE NOISE COMPLAINT (INDONESIA: UA 161.18)
Meliana, an ethnic Chinese Buddhist woman, has been convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to 18 months in prison for complaining about the loudspeaker volume at a local mosque.

Amnesty International considers her a prisoner of conscience who must be immediately and unconditionally released.

Meliana, an ethnic Chinese Buddhist woman, has been convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to 18 months in prison for complaining about the loudspeaker volume at a local mosque.

1) TAKE ACTION
Write a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet:

Immediately and unconditionally release Meliana and all other individuals who have been convicted of blasphemy;
Ensure that Meliana and her family are given effective protection from violence or threats of violence;
Repeal or amend all blasphemy provisions set out in laws and regulations which violate the rights to freedom of expression and of thought, conscience and religion.
Contact these two officials by 10 October, 2018:
Ministry of Law and Human Rights
Minister Yasonna Laoly
Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said Kav 6-7
Jakarta Selatan, DKI
Jakarta, Indonesia 12940
Fax: +62 (0)21 525 3004
Email: rohumas@kemenkumham.go.id
Salutation: Dear Minister

Ambassador Budi Bowoleksono
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
2020 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036
Phone: 202 775 5200
Twitter: @KBRIWashDC @b_bowoleksono
Salutation: Dear Ambassador

--
Read the rest of this urgent action at AI:
https://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent-actions/urgent-action-18-months-in-prison-for-mosque-noise-complaint-indonesia-ua-161-18/

--

MORE INFORMATION from THE STRAITS TIMES about the basis for the blasphemy charge:

"Criticism mounts in Indonesia against jailing of woman for complaining about volume of mosque speaker

"Wahyudi SoeriaatmadjaIndonesia Correspondent
JAKARTA - Criticism has mounted, even among Muslims, against the jailing of an Indonesian woman of Chinese descent for complaining to a neighbour about the volume of the azan (call to prayer) from the speaker of the community mosque.

"Civil society groups and lawyers denounced the verdict as excessive and silly while the two biggest Muslim organisations in the country, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, questioned the use of the blasphemy clause against the woman.

"I do not see how saying 'azan is too loud' is an expression of hatred or hostility towards a particular group or religion," Mr Robikin Emhas, head of the legal, human rights and legislation department at Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Muslim organisation with more than 80 million members, was quoted as saying in a statement.

"The blasphemy clause should not be used to "bulldoze" anyone's right to express opinions and Muslims should consider such opinions as "constructive criticism in a plural society", he said...

"Meliana, 44, a Buddhist, was found guilty on Tuesday (Aug 21) of blasphemy by the Medan district court in North Sumatra and sentenced to 1½ years in prison. The mother of four is a resident of Tanjung Balai sub-district in the eastern part of the province. Her husband, a labourer at a local swallow's nest farm which supplies bird's nests to restaurants, lost his job because of her trial.

"On July 22, 2016, Meliana was speaking with the owner of a small convenience store, who was her neighbour, when she referred to the volume of the speaker at the nearby mosque, saying that it had become louder than previously...This quickly spread on social media, which then triggered riots as Muslims, offended by the remarks, went on the rampage. Several Buddhist temples were burnt in what was believed to be the worst bout of anti-Chinese violence in the country since 1998...Meliana became a victim of a mob who descended on her house...who then vandalised and burned her house...

"Dozens of people, including former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, have been sent to prison under Indonesia's controversial blasphemy laws, the Jakarta Post reported."

Read the rest of the news on Meliana at:
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/criticism-mounts-in-indonesia-against-jailing-of-woman-for-complaining-about-volume-of

Shine the light of goodness, justice, and compassion,

Daniel Wilcox

Write for Amal Fathy, an Egyptian Woman Arrested for Writing Against Sexual Harassment

FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL:
"On 21 June, Egyptian authorities upheld the decision to release woman human rights defender Amal Fathy on bail in one of the two cases against her. However, she remains detained in the second case for 15 more days. The prosecutor has two weeks to decide whether to renew Amal’s detention on the second case or release her.

"1) TAKE ACTION
Write a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet:

"Immediately and unconditionally release Amal Fathy as she is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for peacefully expressing her opinions;
Recognize the legitimacy of the work of human rights defenders, like Amal Fathy, and in particular the right to carry out their activities without any restrictions or fear of reprisals, as set out in the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
Contact these two officials by 7 August, 2018:

President
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Office of the President
Al Ittihadia Palace
Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt
Fax +202 2391 1441
Email: p.spokesman@op.gov.eg
Twitter: @AlsisiOfficial
Salutation: Dear President

Ambassador Yasser Reda, Embassy of Egypt
3521 International Ct NW, Washington DC 20008
Phone: 202 895 5400
Fax: 202 244 4319 -OR- 202 244 5131
Email: embassy@egyptembassy.net
Contact Form: http://www.egyptembassy.net/the-embassy/ambassadors-corner/
Salutation: Dear Ambassador

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent-actions/urgent-action-amal-fathy-remains-in-jail-for-charges-in-one-case-egypt-ua-98-18/
--


In the Light of the Enlightenment, stand up for the oppressed, the suffering, the impoverished,

Daniel Wilcox

Ensaf Haidar pleads with Saudi Arabia at the UN

Ensaf Haidar holds a picture of her husband Raif Badawi






Seek the release of prisoner of conscience Raif Badawi who was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for writing a blog for freedom in Saudi Arabia.

Urge the U.S. to suspend all treaties and contracts with the Saudi government until it honors freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech.

Ask the UN to remove Saudi Arabia from the Human Rights Council immediately!


Speak up for human rights, justice, and freedom of speech.

Work for the freedom of all prisoners of conscience.

In the Light,

Daniel Wilcox

Write for Nazanin Zghari-Ratcliffe, a Prisoner of Conscience in Iran

from Amnesty International:

Write for the freedom of falsely imprisoned charity worker in Iran, Nazanin Zghari-Ratcliffe.

URGENT ACTION
FEBRUARY 23, 2017

"British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is suffering with severe arm, neck and back pain and needs urgent hospitalization. An appeal court has upheld her five-year prison sentence for the charge of “membership of an illegal group” in connection with her work with the BBC and Thompson Reuters Foundation."

"British-Iranian prisoner of conscience Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been suffering from severe neck, arm, and back pain and has extremely limited movement in her arms. On 4 February, she was seen by a doctor in Evin prison’s clinic, who referred her to a neurology specialist."

"However, the Office of the Prosecutor refused to authorize her visit to the specialist until 19 February, when she was finally taken to a hospital outside prison. There, the neurologist advised that she needed immediate admission for tests and treatment, without which there was a risk of permanent damage to her right arm and hand. Despite this, she was returned to prison the same day."

"On 22 January, during his weekly press conference, judiciary spokesperson Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje'i announced that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s five-year prison sentence has been upheld by an appeal court."

"She had been convicted of “membership of an illegal group” in connection with her work at the BBC’s Persian Service and Thompson Reuters Foundation (TRF), a charity organization promoting socio-economic progress, independent journalism and the rule of law."

"Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested on 3 April 2016. In September 2016, following an unfair trial held before a Revolutionary Court in Tehran the previous month, she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment."

"1) TAKE ACTION
Write a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet:
Calling on the Iranian authorities to release Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe immediately and unconditionally, as she is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for her work in connection with peacefully exercising the right to freedom of expression and association;
Urging them to ensure that she is immediately granted access to specialized medical care outside prison;
Calling on them, pending her release, to allow her extended visits with her daughter in a suitable environment, which takes account of the best interests of the child in line with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Iran has ratified;
Requesting that she be granted access to British consular assistance."

"Contact these two officials by 5 April, 2017:
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani
c/o Public Relations Office
Number 4, Deadend of 1 Azizi
Above Pasteur Intersection
Vali Asr Street, Tehran, Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency

Office of the Supreme Leader
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
622 Third Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Fax: (212) 867-7086
Phone: (212) 687-2020
Email: iran@un.int
Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
Salutation: Your Excellency"

Read the rest of the URGENT ACTION post at:

http://www.amnestyusa.org/get-involved/take-action-now/urgent-action-update-uk-iranian-charity-worker-needs-medical-care-iran-ua-11716

Work for Human Rights, care for the suffering, rescue those falsely imprisoned,

Daniel Wilcox

Write for Human Rights Prisoner of Conscience, Nabeel Rajab in Bahrain

from Amnesty International:

"URGENT ACTION
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER CHARGED AND DETAINED
Bahraini human rights defender and prisoner of conscience, Nabeel Rajab,
was arrested on 13 June. He has been charged with “spreading false information and rumours in the aim of discrediting the State..."

Nabeel Rajab was arrested at home in the village of Bani Jamra, west of the capital Manama, on 13 June by 15 policemen in civilian clothing after the neighbourhood was surrounded by riot police at about 5am.

They showed him a warrant to search his house, for his arrest and for his transfer to the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID),
without giving any reason. His phone and computer were confiscated and he was taken to the East Rifa’ police station...He has been under a travel ban since November 2014.

--
Please write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language:
Calling on the Bahraini authorities to release Nabeel Rajab immediately and unconditionally and drop the charges
against him, as they relate solely to his peaceful exercise
of his right to freedom of expression;

Urging them to uphold the right to freedom of expression and repeal laws that criminalize the peaceful exercise
of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly including Article 216 of the Penal Code.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 28 JULY 2016 TO:
King
Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa
Office of His Majesty the King
P.O. Box 555
Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1766 4587 (keep trying)

Salutation: Your Majesty
Minister of Interior
Shaikh Rashid bin ‘Abdullah Al Khalifa
Ministry of Interior
P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1723 2661
Email: info@interior.gov.bh

Salutation: Your Excellency
And copies to:
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs
Shaikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Khalifa
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs
P. O. Box 450, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1753 1284
Email:
http://www.moj.gov.bh/en/default76a7.html?
action=category&ID=159
Twitter: @Khaled_Bin_Ali
Also send copies to:
H.E. Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Khalifa,
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, 3502 International Dr. NW, Washington DC 20008

Nabeel Rajab is the President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.

He previously served a two-year sentence in Jaw prison, for taking part in an “illegal gathering”, “disturbing public order”
and “calling for and taking part in demonstrations” in the capital, Manama, “without prior notification”. He was released in May 2014.

Repression is on the increase in Bahrain. On 12 June 2016 a group of five activists, including a former prisoner of conscience, were
prevented from leaving Bahrain to attend the UN Human Rights Council’s 32nd session in Geneva and the main opposition party, alWefaq,
was suspended on 14 June."
--

Please stand with those who are falsely imprisoned because of their stand for human rights and freedom of speech.

Thank you.


In the Light,

Daniel Wilcox

Urgent Human Rights Action for 7 Chinese

Please write email letters to the People's Republic of China appealing for the release of these prisoners of conscience:
Zhang Zhan, Wang Su'e, Qu Hongxia, Ran Chongbi, Li Meiqing, Wen Rengui and Sheng Lanfu.

From Amnesty International:

They "are currently detained in the Fengtai Detention Centre in Beijing on suspicion of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, a charge often used by the authorities to suppress freedom of expression."

"Six of the activists were taken away by plainclothes police officers on 14 December from outside Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court, where they had gathered with several hundred supporters of Pu Zhiqiang."

They were arrested "even though the crowd was peaceful." The individuals
had gathered to protest against the trial of Pu Zhiqiang who was imprisoned
"primarily on the basis of seven social media posts in which he criticized
the government."

"Qu Hongxia, Wang Su'e, Zhang Zhan and Li Meiqing have
been able to meet with their lawyers, while the other three
have not yet been allowed to do so."
--

Please write courteous letters requesting the release of these prisoners of conscience.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 15 FEBRUARY 2016
TO:

Director
Fengtai District Detention Centre
No. 6 Shagang Village
Yuanpingcheng Dongnanbu
Fengtai Distirct
Beijing, People’s Republic of China
100071
Telephone: +86 10 8368 0063 (Chinese
only)
Salutation: Dear Director
--

Minister of Public Security
Guo Shengkun
14 Dongchanganjie
Beijingshi 100741
People’s Republic of China
Email: gabzfwz@mps.gov.cn
Salutation: Dear Minister
--

And copies to:
President
Xin Jinping Guojia Zhuxi
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie
Xichengqu, Beijingshi 100017
People’s Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 6238 1025
--

Also send copies to:
Ambassador Cui Tiankai, Embassy of the People's Republic of China
3505 International Place NW, Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 495 2138 I Phone: 1 202 495 2266 I Email: chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn
--

Thanks. Also visit Amnesty International's website for more information about prisoners of conscience and A.I.'s other vital human rights work around the world.

In the Light,

Daniel Wilcox

Raise Your Voice for Those Who Have No Voice

Raise your voice for those denied millions of humans around our unfair sphere whose brave innocent voices have been silenced by intolerance, threat, punishment, torture, imprisonment, execution...

Why? Because they have stood up for human rights, justice, compassion, and ethical truth.

Here is one case among millions. Do what you can for this imprisoned human being of conscience whose voice has been silenced.

Amnesty International's News Post:

Saudi Arabia: Release Dr Abdulrahman al-Hamid (UA 102/14)

URGENT ACTION

"Saudi Arabian human rights activist Dr Abdulrahman al-Hamid, a founding member of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), has been sentenced to nine years in prison followed by a nine-year travel ban. He is a prisoner of conscience.

Please write immediately in English, Arabic or your own language:
Calling on the authorities to release Dr Abdulrahman al-Hamid immediately and unconditionally as he is a prisoner of conscience detained solely for exercising his rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly;
Urging them to ensure that Dr Abdulrahman al-Hamid’s sentence is quashed and his conviction overturned;
Urging them to ensure that he is provided with regular access to his family and any medical treatment he may require.

Support human rights with a donation to Amnesty today.
DONATE NOW
Sign Up
Get updates on Amnesty's work to protect human rights worldwide.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/get-involved/take-action-now/saudi-arabia-release-dr-abdulrahman-al-hamid-ua-10214

Dr Abdulrahman al-Hamid, 53, founding member of the independent human rights organization ACPRA, and its first
president, was sentenced on 13 October to nine years in prison followed by a nine-year travel ban, and a fine of 50,000
Saudi Arabian riyals (about US$13,300) by the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC). He was convicted of offences including
incitement against public order and spreading chaos by taking part in drafting and publishing a statement that called for
demonstrations, disrespecting the judicial authorities and participating in setting up an unlicensed organization
(understood to be ACPRA).

Dr Abdulrahman al-Hamid had been arrested on 17 April 2014 when he followed instructions he received by telephone to
go to the Criminal Investigation Department in Buraydah in the central province of al-Qassim. He went there, together with
his son, after the Asr prayer (afternoon prayer) and was immediately arrested. Days earlier, he and other activists had
signed a statement calling for the Minister of Interior to be put on trial “for his policy in suppressing public freedoms”. His
trial before the SCC started in early July 2014.

He was detained incommunicado at first, and was only allowed family visits after he went on a hunger strike in protest at
being unfairly detained. He has only been provided with intermittent treatment for his diabetes, for which he requires a
daily medical treatment. He is now detained in al-Qassim prison in Buraydah.

ACPRA was founded in 2009. Dr Abdulrahman al-Hamid is the ninth of its founding members to be sent to prison since
2012.

Please write immediately in English, Arabic or your own language:
 Calling on the authorities to release Dr Abdulrahman al-Hamid immediately and unconditionally as he is a prisoner of
conscience detained solely for exercising his rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly;
 Urging them to ensure that Dr Abdulrahman al-Hamid’s sentence is quashed and his conviction overturned;
 Urging them to ensure that he is provided with regular access to his family and any medical treatment he may require.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 26 NOVEMBER 2015 TO:
King and Prime Minister
His Majesty Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques
Office of His Majesty the King
Royal Court, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: (via Ministry of the Interior)
+966 11 403 3125 (please keep trying)
Twitter: @KingSalman
Salutation: Your Majesty

Minister of Interior
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin
Naif bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Minister of Interior
Ministry of the Interior, P.O. Box 2933,
Airport Road, Riyadh 11134 Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia
Fax: +966 11 403 3125 (please keep trying)
Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:
President, Human Rights Commission
Bandar Mohammed Abdullah al-Aiban
Human Rights Commission
PO Box 58889, Riyadh 11515
King Fahd Road
Building No. 3, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: +966 11 418 5101
Email: info@hrc.gov.sa

Also send copies to:
Ambassador Adel A. Al-Jubeir, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
601 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington DC 20037"

--

Then join Blog Action Day.
http://www.blogactionday.org/register-to-take-part/


Read about what other activists are doing around the world to move this sphere farther from fear and destruction and intolerance and closer to all that is good, true, and beautiful.

In the Light,

Daniel Wilcox

Please Write to Saudi Arabia to Free Dr. Zuhair Kutbi

"Prominent Saudi Arabian writer Dr. Zuhair Kutbi has been detained without charge since 15 July, 2015. He was beaten during arrest and is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. He is in need of medical attention. He is a prisoner of conscience.

Dr. Zuhair Kutbi, a prominent Saudi Arabian writer, commentator and critic, was taken from his home in the city of Mecca on 15 July by members of the security forces...and then beat him with their rifle butts, forced him into a car and drove him away."

"He was finally moved to the Mecca General Prison. He has not yet been charged. He is in need of medical attention as he is recovering from an operation for cancer, and has diabetes and high blood pressure.

It is believed that he was arrested because of comments he made on 25 June on the TV show Fi al-Samim (To the Point), on the Rotana Khalijia satellite channel, in which he criticized political repression in Saudi Arabia and argued for reforms such as transforming the country’s political system into a constitutional monarchy."
Amnesty USA

Please send a courteous email today to the Government of Saudi Arabia.

Ask the government of Saudi Arabia to release Dr. Zuhair Kutbi because he is a prisoner of conscience, jailed solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.
Urge them to ensure that he is protected from torture and other ill-treatment, given immediate access to medical help, and that he be allowed to see his family.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 9 OCTOBER 2015 TO:


King and Prime Minister
Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques
Office of His Majesty the King
Royal Court, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: (via Ministry of the Interior)
011 966 11 403 3125 (please keep trying)
Twitter: @KingSalman
Salutation: Your Majesty
--

Minister of Interior
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Minister of Interior
Ministry of the Interior, P.O. Box 2933, Airport Road, Riyadh 11134 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: 011 966 11 403 3125 (please keep trying)
Salutation: Your Excellency

--
President, Human Rights Commission
Bandar Mohammed ‘Abdullah al-Aiban
Human Rights Commission
PO Box 58889, Riyadh 11515
King Fahd Road
Building No. 3, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: 011 966 11 418 5101

Email: info@hrc.gov.sa

--
Ambassador Adel A. Al-Jubeir, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
601 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington DC 20037
Fax: 1 202 944 5983 I Phone: 1 202 342 3800 I

Email: info@saudiembassy.net

A question sometimes asked: But will writing AI letters actually make any difference:

Yes! There are many cases where prisoners were released, or at least treated better.

One individual letter to one government usually doesn't help, but thousands of letters from various countries of the world to a government committing abuse, slaughter, or denying a person human rights, does
make a difference.

AI doesn't usually claim that a prisoner's release is because of AI letters. That can't be proven, and besides, would sound prideful.

However, governments are concerned with publicity. When they start getting lots of negative letters, even if they are very bad rulers, they usually will try and change a few things to look better, maybe even release one of thousands of prisoners. Just a blip to them.

And, amazingly, sometimes, human rights letters actually influence a leader in a bad government. The leader sees what his government is doing from a different perspective, realizes it is wrong.
Or the leader--for various reasons--has a huge change of heart and conscience, and the AI letter was one factor.

Remember the quote: "And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."

― Howard Zinn

Thank you.

In the Light,

Daniel Wilcox

Write to Help Free Saudi Prisoner of Conscience Raif Badawi.

From Amnesty International:

“Saudi blogger Raif Badawi was publicly flogged in front of al-Jafali mosque after Friday prayers. I call on you to immediately quash Raif Badawi’s flogging sentence, as it is a flagrant violation of the prohibition on torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under international law. Please ensure that he is not flogged again in the coming months.

I believe that Raif Badawi is a Prisoner of Conscience, held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. Please drop all charges against Badawi and ensure that he is unconditionally released without further delay."

"I am also deeply concerned about the number of activists in Saudi Arabia who, like Raif Badawi, are persecuted for openly expressing their views online. I call on you to stop arresting, charging, prosecuting and sentencing activists for simply exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.
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Raif Badawi continues to serve his sentence of 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes in Saudi Arabia.”

In solidarity,

Jasmine Heiss
Senior Campaigner
Amnesty International USA

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Please take time TODAY to write the Saudi Arabian government on this urgent action for human rights and peace.
Go to their website action page:
http://act.amnestyusa.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1839&ea.campaign.id=34661&ea.tracking.id=Country_SaudiArabia~MessagingCategory_CensorshipandFreeSpeech&utm_source=feature&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=raif


In the Light,

Daniel Wilcox