This Newsletter contains a very urgent action https://www.amnesty.org.uk/urgent-actions/chechen-man-faces-deportation-russia and the shocking news that Eren Keskin has been sentenced to 6 years in prison. Please find more information and suggested actions below.
The trial against Elzbieta, Joanna and Anna should come to a verdict on 2 March. Please continue highlighting the case on social media and post messages of solidarity. We are also continuing to campaign for the right to protest in France, see updates.
Urgent appeal to all teachers and activists with connections to schools or Roma communities. The deadline for settled status applications for EU migrants expires in June. Those who have not applied will loose access to public funds including medical care and face deportation to their countries of origin. Many Roma families have fled discrimination and racist persecution in their Central an d Eastern Europe and can not return. But language and literacy barriers as well as problems in supplying the right paperwork make the application very difficult for many. Please download the attached information provided by the Roma Support Group with detailed links on how to help with the application process and reach out to Roma families.
I am happy to share details about a great International Women’s day event introduced by Kate Allen focusing on Women Human Rights Defenders in Poland on 8th March at 6pm Please check facebook.com/AmnestyUKEurope for booking details.
We have some great news : We now have a country coordinator for Turkey again. Welcome Chris Ramsey:-
“I have been a member of AI for over 40 years and am currently Chair of the Truro and District Group in Cornwall. From 2009-2019 I was the
Regional Representative for the South West and really enjoyed my time working with hundreds of enthusiastic activists on AI campaigns and cases we were all committed to. I am looking forward to being part of the Europe team as the Turkey Country Coordinator and meeting (if only virtually!) as many as possible of you working on cases in this region.”
Solidarity with Eren Keskin
Eren Keskin was convicted in the Ozgur Gundem trial in which she was being prosecuted for ‘membership of an armed terrorist organisation’ since December 2016. This is the first time Eren was found guilty of membership. She received a sentence of six years and three months in prison.
Following the verdict (which is subject to appeal and Eren is NOT detained pending the appeals process), she tweeted this:
‘I am in the human rights movement for 30 years now. I’ve been prosecuted many times, imprisoned for my thoughts. This is the 1st time I have been considered to be a ‘member of an armed terrorist organisation’, and convicted. 6 years 3 months. I won’t go anywhere. I am here.’
We are asking sections to send her messages of solidarity – focusing on the message “We stand with Eren Keskin – we are not going anywhere either”, in line with the quote we issued yesterday.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/02/turkey-we-are-not-going-anywhere-either-activists-pledge-solidarity-with-prominent-human-rights-defender/
Please make messages of solidarity from activists public on social media tagging Eren (@KeskinEren1). Please use #ErenKeskininYanındayım (#IStandWithErenKeskin)
In addition, section directors from around the world are particularly welcome to tweet a message of solidarity with Eren, tagging her in their messages and using the hashtag #ErenKeskininYanındayım
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any queries.
For any questions please contact Chris Ramsey at chris.ramsey@amnesty.org.uk
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Marielle Franco was born and raised in a favela in Rio, Brazil. An elected councillor, she worked tirelessly to promote the rights of black women, LGBTI and young people.
