Activism Newsletter, July Edition

Hi there,

Julian Assange freed, Picnics Against Apartheid in full swing...it's been a busy month! Please find below updates on our campaigns and human rights work, opportunities to take direct and immediate action, interesting resources, and more!

Email [email protected] with any questions.

News

The Right of Peaceful Assembly is Under Severe Attack in Europe

Our new report reveals a sweeping pattern of systematic attacks and restrictions that undermine peaceful protest across Europe.?

We have also seen a sustained and brutal assault on the rights of people who are demonstrating their solidarity for Palestine. Spurious ‘public order’ or ‘public safety’ grounds have been used to ban or severely restrict these demonstrations and, in cases, excessive force has been used.

Ireland too is not immune to this onslaught. For instance, allowing Gardaí to use facial recognition technology - as our government is proposing - will undermine the right to peaceful assembly here, and enable mass surveillance and discriminatory targeted surveillance of protesters (and everyone else). This must be stopped.?

We must and we will demand that protest be respected, not silenced, across Europe, including here in Ireland. Read the report for more.

Reaction to Government's Intention to Designate Egypt as a 'Safe Country of Origin'

It is appalling that the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, intends to place Egypt on Ireland’s list of ‘safe countries of origin’.

This categorisation is particularly shocking, given the protracted human rights and impunity crisis in Egypt, where thousands are arbitrarily detained, and where Amnesty International has consistently documented the use of torture and other ill-treatment and enforced disappearances. Read our full reaction here.

Activism Opportunities

It's Time to #ShowUpForAbortionRights

Abortion is a human right. Most people support abortion rights, but they do not always talk about it.

Ireland has come a long way since the historic Repeal the 8th Amendment but the fight is far from over. Since the 2018 abortion law came into operation, serious gaps and barriers have been identified.

Pregnant women are forced to travel overseas to access abortion care and still experience stigmatisation for something that is their human right. This is unacceptable.

You can show your support by reminding Minister Donnelly that the Irish government is obliged to protect everyone’s human right to access healthcare! Sign the petition today.

You also show your support for abortion rights by posting a photo on social media, tagging us and using the hashtag #ShowUpForAbortionRights.

Galway Local Group to Host a Letter-Writing Workshop

If you find yourself near the Ballinfoyle Community Centre in Galway City, check our Galway Local Group's letter-writing workshop on Saturday 20 and 27 July! The sessions will focus on Aleksandra Skochilenko, a Russian artist and prisoner of conscience. She was sentenced to seven years in prison for replacing price tags in a local supermarket with information about Russia’s war against Ukraine.

For more information, follow them on IG.

What's Been Happening

We Protested with Pride!

We were delighted to march alongside thousands for Dublin Pride on 29 June and Trans and Intersex Pride on 13 July.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and showed your solidarity!

You can check out how Dublin Pride went here and Trans and Intersex Pride here.

We also sat down with two activists to discuss the past, present and future of Pride as both a celebration and protest.

Check out the video.

First Picnic Against Apartheid of the Season!

Our Wexford group held one of the first Picnics Against Apartheid this year. The community came out in force to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis in Gaza and Israel, and Israel's apartheid. Performances on the day were by Bloco Garman, Ayday Whyte (pictured), Abigail and Michael Way, Rachel Grace, Aaron Barry, and Paula O'Reilly.

A big thank you to our Amnesty Wexford group for organising. If you would like to find out more about Picnics Against Apartheid, or host your own, please click here.

Textile Exhibition organised by Letterkenny Local Group

Our Letterkenny Local Group recently launched the textile exhibition “From Displacement to Empowerment” in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny.

This collection of textiles and sculpture invites us to consider the experiences of people forcibly displaced from their homes due to conflict, persecution, hunger and environmental degradation.

The exhibition runs until 7 September - don’t miss it! For more info, see here.

Campaign Updates

Good News but the Fight isn't Over: Death Sentence Overturned in Iran

Iranian rapper and and activist Toomaj Saleh's death sentence has been overturned. Toomaj had supported the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in Iran and, for that, was faced with execution.

Campaigning around the world, including 4,000 people in Ireland who signed the petition, helped overturn this conviction.

However Toomaj remains arbitrarily detained for peacefully exercising his human rights and continues to be subjected to a litany of human rights violations.

14 others are still at risk of execution in connection with the protests.

Call for their release now!

Good News: Julian Assange is Free!

After many years of fighting for his freedom, including five years in a high security prison in the UK, Julian Assange has finally been freed.

Amnesty International campaigned tirelessly for Julian's release alongside lawyers, press freedom organisations and importantly, his family.

We will always stand by society's right to information and justice.

In solidarity,

Alice Regis, Talha Alali & Rosina Conte

Activism Team

[email protected]