Amnesty International, Eastern PA

Our Philadelphia area Denounce Torture specialist, Barbara, directs our attention to the case of Adel Hamad (Detainee ISN 940), who has been imprisoned at Guantánamo for over five years.

Amnesty International case sheet for Adel Hassan Hamad

Sudanese national Adel Hamad is a hospital worker, teacher, and refugee aid worker. He was taken from his home in Pakistan at gunpoint in July 2002. He was transferred from a Pakistani prison to Bagram and then to Guantánamo, enduring very poor conditions along the way. Project Hamad, an advocacy organization formed on his behalf, says that “no allegations have been made against Adel Hamad that he engaged in terrorism, acts supporting terrorists, violence against the United States or any belligerent act.”

Amnesty International calls for Adel Hamad to be released from Guantánamo unless he is charged and tried in accordance with international standards.

The latest news from Project Hamad is that “Hamad’s lawyers have just now learned, from their recent trip to Sudan, that he was cleared for transfer in November of 2005, TWO YEARS AGO. The U.S. government never shared this information with his own defense team and obviously do not seem to feel any obligation to expedite the release of a man that they have charged with no crime.”

“Guantánamo Unclassified” (YouTube link) is a video about Adel Hamad’s case. In it, investigator and attorney William Teesdale interviews people who know Adel Hamad personally. This video is highly recommended as a touching portrait of one of Guantánamo’s prisoners.

Please also visit the website of Project Hamad for further information, as well as how to write a letter to Adel Hamad.

“BRUSSELS - The U.S. is leading efforts to resist a complete ban on cluster bombs, human rights activists have complained.

“But a conference called by European governments in Brussels Tuesday is regarded as a step towards an international agreement on eliminating cluster weapons — in which hundreds of small ‘bomblets’ are packed together.

“Although an accord appears likely to be reached during 2008, activists are concerned over diplomatic manoeuvres by Washington to ensure that it will not be too stringent.”

– Read more: “US Resisting Ban on Cluster Bombs,” CommonDreams.org, October 30 2007

Please participate in Amnesty International’s call-in day next Monday, November 5:
Ask Senator Specter to help pass the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act

This is not an Amnesty International event, but may be of interest to AI supporters.

Muhlenberg College in Allentown is holding a speaking event entitled “Darfur: It’s Time To Globalize Our Responsibility.” The speaker, Stephanie Nyombayire, is a Rwandan student at Swarthmore College who has worked tirelessly to help end the genocide in Darfur. She speaks from experience, having endured the trauma of losing dozens of family members in the Rwandan genocide of 1994.

This event will be on Wednesday, November 7 at 7:00 pm at Miller Forum (Moyer Hall). For more information, call 484-668-3270 or email hillel@muhlenberg.edu.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007
7:30 pm

Muhlenberg College
Miller Forum (Moyer Hall)
Allentown PA

This is not an Amnesty International event, but may be of interest to AI supporters.

NOTE: The time has been changed to 7:30 pm.

Speaker: Stephanie Nyombayire (Genocide Intervention Network)

Stephanie Nyombayire is a Rwandan student at Swarthmore College who has worked tirelessly to help end the genocide in Darfur. She speaks from experience, having endured the trauma of losing dozens of family members in the Rwandan genocide of 1994.

Co-sponsored by the Center for Ethics and Hillel. For more information, call 484-668-3270, or write hillel@muhlenberg.edu

Darfur Now is a story of hope in the midst of one of humanity’s darkest hours – a call to action for people everywhere to end the catastrophe unfolding in Darfur, Sudan. In this documentary, the struggles and achievements of six different individuals, from Hotel Rwanda actor Don Cheadle to a Darfuri woman who joined rebel forces. The film hopes to bring to light the tragedy in Sudan and show how the actions of one person can make a difference to millions.

The film opens to the general public on November 9th at the Ritz Five, 214 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. 99 minutes.

Learn more and view a trailer at myspace

If you are attending the regional conference and would like to volunteer your time to help keep things running smoothly, let us know! We need volunteers to:

• help with set up and pack up
• work the registration and information table
• usher attendees between sessions
• coordinate workshop evaluations
• help out with special programming logistics
• staff the Amnesty International Shop
• assist with the resolutions process

If any of these roles sound good or you’d like to hear more, let us know by Monday, November 5 by emailing cwilliams@aiusa.org or calling 202.544.0200 ext. 301.

We are having a rally at this year’s regional conference to repeal the death penalty. If your group plans on attending, we would really appreciate sign/poster making. Try to aim for 20! To make it easy, below is a list of slogans for your signs:

$$Capital Punishment is EXPENSIVE$$

Repeal the Death Penalty NOW!

Dear Governor O’Malley, Thank you for leading the way to repeal the death penalty

Innocence exists on death row!

People of faith oppose the death penalty.

Life Without Parole Works Better Than Death!

Coquette Nsinga, a student and supporter of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, the main opposition party of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested along with her mother and two other women on one year ago today, October 30, 2006. She was held for several weeks with out charge or trial and didn’t receive any medical treatment following her torture and rape, which exposed her to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections. Coquette is in need of urgent medical care as she suffers from the physical and psychological effects of the physical and sexual attack.

What Can You Do?

Please write a polite letter to Mr. Georges Minsay Booka, the DRC Minster of Justice on behalf of Coquette Nsinga and her mother with a copy to the DRC Ambassador in Washington. Please stress the following points in your letters:

• Express concern over Coquette’s health following her ill-treatment and rape in detention.
• Ask for Coquette to be given immediate medical care.
• Request for an independent investigation into the rape allegations and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
• Emphasize that Coquette and her mother must not be tried before a military tribunal.
• Ask that Coquette and her mother must be charged with a recognizable offense without further undue delay and tried before an appropriate civilian court or be immediately freed.

Address Letters to:
Minister of Justice
Mr. Georges Minsay Booka
Ministre de la Justice et Garde des Sceaux
Ministere de la Justice
228 Avenue de Lemera
BP137
Kinshasa Gombe
Republique Democratique du Congo
Email: minsaybooka@yahoo.fr
Salutation: Dear Minister

Get more background information about this ongoing issue in Congo.

UPDATE: Karen from the Bethlehem group drafted this sample letter (Word format) which you can modify, print and mail. Postage is 90 cents to Congo, or 41 cents to the DRC Embassy (for the CC).

Senate Bill 751, legislation that will ensure that persons with mental retardation will not be executed in Pennsylvania, passed the state Senate yesterday by a landslide vote of 45-3. We are hopeful that this decisive vote will give us momentum in the House. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Office is member of Pennsylvania’s for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, a group that has been working on this issue. PADP is also a partner with Amnesty in our work towards a death penalty moratorium in PA.

An engaging photo exhibit has been created to promote the passage of the Child Soldiers Prevention Act. We encourage you to think of creative ways to utilize this photo exhibit. Please let us know how you use the exhibit and remember to use the petition (PDF) with the slideshow as well.

Click here to download the photo exhibit (PowerPoint)

Below are some suggestions on how to use the exhibit.

• Give a short class presentation - Ask professors to take 10 minutes of class time to give a presentation using the slideshow and have the petition available
• Tabling in High Traffic Areas - Have the presentation showing on a laptop, with the petition and the Q&A info sheet available
• Panel Discussion event - Hold a discussion with experts in the field, utilizing professors if possible; use slideshow as background on the issue and the Act
• Physical photo display with selected photos - Display on bulletin boards or somewhere visible with petition available; create an outdoor/indoor display with photos on easels