Friday 11th November 8pm

at The Brunswick Hotel, 199 Malmesbury Park Road, BOURNEMOUTH,  BH8 8PX
Our quizzes are informal but competitive! We are returning to one of our favourite venues, The Brunswick Hotel. Please help planning by reserving your tickets via Eventbrite. As ever you pay on the night, but we need to ensure we don’t exceed the room limit.  Teams of up to 6, entrance £5 a person. If you aren’t in a team they can be adjusted/formed on the night to ensure no one’s on their own.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/amnesty-international-quiz-night-tickets-408167298377

Can’t wait?! Try the 2018 quiz

Poland: Drop the appeal against Elżbieta, Anna and Joanna’s acquittal

In January 2022, Elżbieta, Anna and Joanna were again acquitted after spending months on trial accused of ‘offending religious beliefs’, simply for distributing posters of the Virgin Mary with a rainbow halo, the colours of the LGBTI pride flag. This was their second trial. The activists had been already acquitted in March 2021 by a lower court , however the authorities appealed that verdict, bringing the activists back into court.
The not guilty verdicts were a moment of huge celebrations, but their relief was short-lived. The Polish authorities appealed their second acquittal, at the Court of Cassation, so the three women’s fight for justice continues. Once again, they now face up to two years in prison, just for standing up for LGBTI rights in a climate of hate and discrimination in Poland.
Tell the Polish Prosecutor General to drop the appeal and ensure that Elżbieta, Anna and Joanna are able to carry out their peaceful actions without harassment or reprisals.
Please take Action, send an email to the Polish Prosecutor
https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/poland-activist-elzbieta-podlesna/

Europe Newsletter September 2022

The latest Europe Newsletter has just been put on our website. As well as more information about Elżbieta, Anna and Joanna (see above) there are updates on France, Hungary, Malta and Turkey.  The Turkey update includes the prison addresses for the “Gezi 7”, encouraging us to send solidarity messages. They are human rights defenders whose participation in a protest led to long (18 years +) prison sentences for attempting to overthrow the government’
https://amnestyat50.co.uk/europe-newsletter-september-2022

Amnesty Anti Death Penalty Project

Your editor receives the Projects newsletter each month, and they had a timely recap of how far the UK has come during the 70 years of Queen Elizabeth ll.  There were 25 executions in 1952, the year she came to the throne, and they outline the journey to abolition and now opposing extradition without assurances that the death penalty will not be sought.
Whilst in the USA:-

October 10 is World Day against the death penalty. The newsletter has a link to write/email Governor Stitt of Oklahoma and tell him your thoughts on the death penalty and tell him to halt this schedule.
https://email.amnestyuk.org.uk/q/1eYV3K9eYjfIyCWoDby89nx/wv
If you want to receive the newsletter contact deathpenalty@amnesty.org.uk

Events Summer 2022

So that was summer! It was nice to be able to hold and attend outdoor events again. We had a successful Amnestea in June and yet another significant presence at Bourne Free, the Bournemouth Pride event. The latter had transferred to Meyrick Park and we did have doubts as to whether it would match previous events in the Lower Gardens. But, despite now paying a £20 entrance fee, the crowds flowed in. Read more about both evets and see more pictures.
https://amnestyat50.co.uk/bourne-free-and-amnestea-2022

Morad Tahbaz

In April, following the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori after years of detention in Iran, we reminded you of the blight of Morad Tahbaz and Mehran Raoof, They are both British nationals still arbitrarily detained in Iran.

Amnesty International is still campaigning on behalf of both. Morad Tahbaz was part of a group of conservationists who were tracking endangered wildlife in Iran. He was arrested,4 years ago, and unjustly charged with “cooperating with a hostile state against the Islamic republic” and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He is currently detained in the notorious Evin prison in Iran.

Morad is also unwell. He has cancer and his family are increasingly worried for his welfare. He has lost a significant amount of weight and is denied adequate medical care and treatment. Please add your name to an online petition to the new Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to help free Morad.
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/FreeMorad