Burma: the misery continues


Six decades of attacks and airstrikes continue

February 2026

Burma, or Myanmar, has slipped out of the news in recent months but the brutal activities of the military Junta continue. Violence has lasted for 6 decades now during which massacres have been carried out and around 800,000 have been forced to flee. Elections are promised which will be sham. There is considerable resistance, both peaceful and armed to the regime. As part of the election process some of the 20,000 political prisoners will be released according to the latest edition of the Burma Campaign News (Issue 49, 2026). Political prisoners are subject to horrific treatment, held in appalling conditions, subjected to torture and denied medical care. Children as young as 2 years old are held as proxies for their parents.

Amnesty reports that the military Junta has committed widespread repression and abuse in every facet of life in the country since seizing power on February 1, 2021, Amnesty International, Fortify Rights, and Human Rights Watch said last month. The military’s atrocities since the coup, which include war crimes and crimes against humanity, escalated over the past year as the Junta sought to entrench its rule through abusive military operations and stage-managed elections.

The UN Special Rapporteur said in London in December:

“The people of Myanmar have shown extraordinary courage. They deserve an international response that matches their determination the United Kingdom can play a decisive role and now is the moment to act”.

Following a submission by Gambia, the International Court of Justice has in January, commenced hearing evidence of genocide against the Rohingya people many of whom fled the country. The ICJ issued provisional measures to protect the Rohingya which have been ignored by the Junta.

The UK government is criticized for not having made any new, targeted sanctions since 2024 and there is also a concern that the Junta is allowed to host a military attaché in London.

China’s role

The role of the Chinese is significant in the future of the country. Currently, it is reported by Foreign Affairs that China is ‘supporting both sides but with the hope that the Junta will win through in the end’ despite its appalling record of human rights abuses. It can tolerate a divided Myanmar as long the the main power holders remain dependant on China for trade and energy. It is also reported that China has provided $3bn of aid to the Junta.

Although it is true that the UK can play a role, the resource rich country is attractive to China which exhibits little interest in human rights within its borders or in foreign countries. It is their role which is probably crucial and as long as it continues to support the military then the current path of violence will likely continue.

As well as the Burma Campaign, another organisation of note is Advance Myanmar.

Ming Aung Hlaing, leader of the Junta

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UK Government’s Inaction on Palestinian Rights Criticized


Bishop’s letter “incredulous” at lack of government action over Gaza and West Bank

February 2026

Three Anglican bishops have today (2nd February) written a letter published in the Guardian in which they express dismay at government inaction over Gaza and events on the West Bank.

“Having returned from another visit to Palestine, we are incredulous that the UK government has still not published its legal response to the international court of justice’s advisory opinion in July 2024. This inaction has contributed to a culture of impunity that the Israeli government has used to accelerate its de facto annexation of the West Bank.

“Its instruments are administrative changes, continuous settlement expansion and growth, intensifying violence by Israeli troops and settler militia, the localised system of road closures, house demolitions, tightening access to water and electricity, deepening legal segregation and an unequal system of governance.

“While world leaders met in Davos to debate futuristic plans for the reconstruction of Gaza, which are largely disconnected from reality, we visited and listened to Palestinian Christian communities across the West Bank on their lived experience. Once more, we have heard from families living in fear and torment – an unending nightmare where they are denied even minimal dignity. The violence has robbed them of the ability to earn a living and provide for their families.

“Terrorised to the point of fearing for their lives, there is no one to protect them. Faced with such abandonment, and denied any agency as to their future, many now feel they have no choice but to leave or to die standing. This seems to be the Israeli government’s intentional strategy.

“The international community must uphold its obligations under international law to protect Palestinians. The only way is to uphold the ICJ advisory opinion. Having formally recognised the state of Palestine, the British government must publish its response and take all necessary measures “not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”, as the court stipulated.

“The situation in the West Bank is a tragedy foretold. We must stand up and do the right thing before it’s too late”.


The Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani Bishop of Chelmsford; The Rt Rev Rachel Treweek Bishop of Gloucester; The Rt Rev Graham Usher Bishop of Norwich

Readers of our earlier posts about British government’s complicity in the violence and its continued political, military and diplomatic support will be aware of the shameful role our government has and is playing in the genocide taking place there.

Image: Al Jazeera.

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Fragile ceasefire in Gaza holds


Vigil number 113 held in Salisbury

February 2026

The vigils continue in Salisbury and around 25 braved the cold and rain on Saturday 31st January to hold the 113th such event. A fragile ceasefire continues to hold and plans are continuing for the Board of Peace. 492 have died since the October ceasefire and the total dead is now put at 71,660 by the Hamas Health Ministry. On this, news this week that the IDF has now accepted this as a correct figure having decried the statistics since 2023. A further 10,000 are thought to be under the rubble unaccounted for. Throughout the conflict, Israel has claimed it is engaged in targeted strikes and reports of indiscriminate attacks are according to Netanyahu, a ‘blood libel’.

The UN has reported that the ceasefire is making a difference as more aid is getting in to the territory. They say the famine is being reversed although aid is insufficient to meet all needs. Foreign media have not been allowed into Gaza preventing verification of claims and the reporting of facts on the ground. The Foreign Press Association has launched a claim in the Israel Supreme Court to allow journalists in now that a ceasefire is in place. They argue it is absurd to prevent journalists from entering.

We have noted in previous posts that despite 113 vigils having taken place, there has been no sign of the local MP Mr John Glen at any of them and he has never mentioned their existence in his weekly column in the local paper the Salisbury Journal. About 2 weeks ago, an attendee of the vigils wrote to him for an answer but has not received a reply. Mr Glen is thought to be a member of the influential and well-funded Conservative Friends of Israel organisation as are a number of Labour and LibDem MPs. About 80% of conservative members are thought to be members. The question is whether being a member of this group overrides his role as the local MP employed to represent his constituent’s interests, not those of a foreign power?

Images courtesy of Peter Gloyns. A video of the vigil is available here.

Sources: BBC, Guardian, Al Jazeera, factually, UN.

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Imminent execution of ‘Ronnie’ Heath


Appeal for clemency in Florida

January 2026

Florida plans to execute Ronald “Ronnie” Heath on February 10, despite overwhelming evidence that execution would serve no purpose of justice, fairness, or accountability. Ronnie has spent nearly 35 years on death row for the murder of Michael Sheridan, a devastating crime that ended a human life and caused immeasurable harm to the people who loved him. Nothing in this request diminishes that loss or the gravity of the violence that occurred.

Ronnie has endured decades of incarceration, survived extreme trauma, and demonstrated profound growth and change. Meanwhile, his equally culpable co-defendant — his own brother — is alive, incarcerated, and now eligible for parole. Clemency exists for cases exactly like this: when punishment has become disproportionate, when juries never heard critical life-shaping evidence, when modern science changes how we understand culpability, and when execution would only compound harm rather than serve justice.

The Governor and Florida’s Clemency Board have the power and the responsibility to stop this execution. Your letter can help make that difference.

The above text by Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. The petition to sign can be accessed from this link.

FADP is a Florida-based, state-wide organization working to end the death penalty in Florida. Their network includes dozens of state and local groups and thousands of individual Floridians, including murder victims’ family members and other survivors of violent crime, law enforcement professionals, families of the incarcerated, and death row exonerees. 

Amnesty is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. It is not a deterrent and mistakes, which are not infrequent, cannot afterwards be rectified. We deprecate what appears to be the Florida state governor, Ron DeSantis using the penalty to demonstrate he is ‘tough on crime’ as part of his alleged desire to be the next president of the USA.

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Is the Board of Peace a sham?


The board consists of a large number of doubtful characters
Our vigils continue

January 2026

The ‘Board of Peace’ was announced last week and a row of potential members lined up at Davos to be photographed. It appears to consist of a collection of some doubtful characters and leaders of countries some with dire human rights records. Perhaps the name ‘Tyrants R Us’ might be more appropriate.

It’s chances of success seem minimal. The chair – in perpetuity it seems – is president Trump of America

who decides on membership, the agenda and his successor. This must be unique in the history of international organisations. Those invited include a range of leaders and royalty many of whom have blood on their hands, who suppress opposition, arrest human rights defenders, execute large numbers of their citizens, do not allow a free media to operate and whose police and security services regularly use torture. That the word ‘peace’ is attached to them is an oxymoron.

Since the board was supposed to be concerned with Gaza and the future of Palestine, the absence of a Palestinian representative at a senior level is beyond absurd. A fundamental question is whether Israel wants peace and it certainly does not want a Palestinian state. Their reaction to the proposal from Netanyahu’s office who have said this was “not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy“. Not to have involved Israel seems also to be absurd.

Of much greater significance however is the future of what was the rules based world order instituted after the war and led to the foundation of the UN. It appears that the Board of Peace is not just confined to the future of Gaza but is to become a kind of ersatz UN. The Charter, published by the Times of Israel, makes no mention of Gaza in the preamble. Most European countries have declined membership and see it as an alternative UN and controlled by Trump. The logo is modelled on the UN but with the USA at its core. Many will agree with Mark Carney who said in his Davos speech that we were ‘in the midst of a rupture not a transition’.

This does not bode well for Gaza or indeed other conflicts around the world. What if the president of this Board of Peace decides to invade Greenland? Will the other board members pass a motion to force him to resign? It looks as though they would not be able to since he appoints himself and them.

Salisbury vigil

Our vigils continue and Saturday was our 112th. Despite the cold and wet, around 25 turned out. We see no end to the misery which is Gaza. More have been killed despite the ceasefire.

Photo courtesy of Peter Gloyns. Salisbury CND

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Author and journalist Peter Oborne visits Salisbury


Talk to the Salisbury group about his new book ‘Complicit’

January 2026

The Amnesty International Salisbury Group invited the noted journalist and author Peter Oborne to speak about his recently published book* ‘Complicit: Britain’s Role in the Destruction of Gaza’ which describes in detail the extent to which British governments and media have supported the Israeli government presentation of events in Gaza since the massacre in October 2023.  The event, held in the Methodist Church, was very well attended, with an audience of around 80.  Following his presentation there was an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.  Thirty copies of his book quickly sold out.

Asked about the motivation for writing the book, Mr Oborne (on the right of the picture) said that the drive came to him while in Nablus in October 23, as a continuation of his previous work as a political journalist and critic of lying in politics and the pro-Israel lobby. He noted that the former prime minister Rishi Sunak had declared unequivocal support for Israel, and the current prime minister Sir Keir Starmer notoriously agreed that the Israelis ‘had the right to deny fuel and water to the Gazans’. This brought them into an alliance with the far right and right wing media.

The role of the United States as a factor was considered. This has affected the language that is used in the conflict. Sir Keir Starmer, it was noted, was a human rights lawyer, and a Corbynite [reference to Jeremy Corbyn, a previous leader of the Labour Party], who changed as soon as he became leader.

Asked how influential the Conservative Friends of Israel were, Mr. Oborne noted that as MPs they must be compromised and should not be part of the debate if receiving funding from them (Note: the Salisbury MP Mr. John Glen is a member of this group).  The funding is significant and amount to around half a million pounds by some estimates.  He observed that during the committee stage of a related bill, only pro-Israeli MPs were called.

Media bias

The discussion moved on to the question of misrepresentation of events in the media.  The claim that Hamas had ‘beheaded babies’ was reported as fact in the Daily Mail and the Times, and such stories were used as a justification for deliberate targeting by the IDF.  In general, war has always led to misreporting historically: the first casualty in war is truth.  Lurid stories of baby killings were repeated in the Independent (!) and the Daily Express and repeated by the Israeli Ambassador and other politicians. 

Q: how many babies were killed and beheaded?  A: Two were killed, none beheaded.  In his book Peter Oborne quotes research by the Israeli paper Haaretz which revealed one had been shot through a door and a second infant had died after delivery by Caesarean section and the mother had died as well.  Terrible events but not the mass killing of babies which the British media had swallowed whole. 

Even the BBC and broadsheet newspapers were guilty of misreporting, sometimes by omission rather than commission.  In his book, Oborne describes the BBC’s coverage as ‘a reporting disaster and a moral calamity‘ (p51)

For example, no mention was ever made of the “Dahiya doctrine” of military destruction of civilian entities.  The doctrine itself calls for the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in order to induce suffering and severe distress throughout the targeted population.  By targeting indiscriminately, the IDF hopes to deter further military attacks against Israel, destroy its enemies, as well as influence the population to oust the militants seen as the primary target.  This seems to contradict Israeli claims of targeting actions against Hamas not civilians, a claim endlessly repeated by the media.

Why did British media consistently misreport events in the Gaza war Peter was asked?  The fear of being called anti-Semitic is a factor in bias among reporters. The Israel lobby will respond immediately to critical comment and not all journalists recognize the rules of the game. The IDF will regularly challenge reporting of actual events. With most newspapers being pro-Israel, it is easier to report from that angle.

Israel accused UNRWA of employing and harbouring Hamas terrorists among its 17,000 staff. As a result, the British government immediately withdrew its support. UNWRA was the largest agency operating in Gaza and by closing their warehouses and distribution work it had a devastating effect on the lives of those living there.  In the past few days, their HQ was demolished by Israel, and, although the UK reinstated its connection, the myth of Hamas involvement was never rejected.

Questions from the floor

Questions from the floor included the makeup of the IDF (the Israeli national army, but one with a substantial number of foreign volunteers) and the influence of Israel had over the USA and UK policy.  He thought some but is was not overwhelming.  In answer to a question, Mr. Oborne praised Mrs. Thatcher for her support of international law, something not sustained today,  We are being let down by politicians, but some who have been supportive of the Palestinian cause were named along with alternative media. Asked about President Trump’s “Board of Peace”, it was considered to be not a serious venture, not least because there is still no genuine ceasefire.

On the question of whether the political classes will be held to account, the speaker’s view was that if not, then might would be right. If the International Court of Justice concludes that genocide has taken place, British politicians may be liable – although, since the Attorney-General was a government appointment he would have to take the case up and this is unlikely to happen.  The possibility remains that other countries might decide to prosecute.

Mr. Oborne was thanked for coming to Salisbury and discussing his book.

*OR Books (pub) ISBN: 9781682194263

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Peter Oborne now writes for Middle East Eye and Byline Times.

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Latest arms trade news


Latest CAAT newsletter reveals UK role in killing around the world

January 2026

The Winter 2025 edition of the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) news discusses the many issues to do with the supply of arms by the UK and others internationally. The government frequently claims to employ ‘robust’ measures to control the trade which has much potential to cause misery around the world, but the facts seem to suggest otherwise: CAAT reveals the top two purchasers of weapons are two nations which have abysmal human rights records. In the period 2020 – 2025, the top country for our weapons was Saudi Arabia at £6.4bn and second was Qatar at £4.1bn. Further down the list, is UAE at £825m.

All these countries do not permit opposition to exist, torture is widely practised, human rights lawyers and activists are routinely arrested, and women are not equal citizens. Foreign workers are treated dreadfully and the gleaming towers which feature in their promotional videos involve the deaths of many hundreds of indentured labourers.

Needless to say, Israel features and the UK governments continued support for arms sales despite the genocide taking place there. Interestingly, they report that Spain has ceased all arms sales and Germany likewise. It had been reported that the German Chancellor has reduced sales but CAAT report that no new exports have been approved.

The claim by the UK government that it has ‘robust’ controls is contradicted by the use of the secretive Open General Export Licences (OGEL). Looking at the list of restricted destinations [accessed 23 January] one finds that Israel is not listed. CAAT say that around half our exports to Israel are by this method.

Revolving door

The scandal of the revolving door continues. This concerns senior individuals in government or the forces taking up roles for arms companies following their retirement. There is a set of rules, which are largely sidestepped, to prevent abuse by people using their contacts to further the interests of the arms companies. These are set to be abolished this year and a new system introduced following a long list of scandals. We await to see how effective the new system will be. CAAT reveals the names of two new entrants to this hall of shame: Sir Simon Bollom, Head of the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support, and Sir Mark Poffley formerly Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff. They will be joining Elbit Systems the Israeli arms firm which has facilities in the UK. They can use their influence to promote the interests of Elbit Systems. CAAT say there is no suggestion of impropriety.

A lengthy Private Eye report on this corruption, lists many names of politicians and others involved.

RAF flights over Gaza

The RAF continues to overfly GAZA and there are reports that the information gathered is being used to assist the Israeli IDF. The Ministry of Defence maintains that these flights were “solely to locate hostages,” yet the scale, timing and persistence of the flights raises questions as to how much they aided Israel’s military operations despite being conducted under the banner of humanitarian intent. It is not clear that any hostages were identified by the RAF.

The CAAT newsletter, together with previous newsletters and reports, paints a picture of the UK government which is more interested in supporting sales of weapons as part of its growth policy, than in the humanitarian effects these weapons have on the millions who suffer from their use. The high use of open licences means few meaningful controls are in place. They also proudly promote and support the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) each year in London with the innocent sounding claim that it ‘promotes the UK’s defence ethos, agenda and leadership while encouraging opportunity and cooperation with our global allies‘. ​(Source, DSEI 2027 Home page).

The sums involved are large and defence (defense) firms are a key part in some local economies. Controls based on a sense of moral purpose and a proper exercise of end user certificates would curtail their activities and hence employment. It is a tail wagging a somewhat compliant dog.

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Iran adds to the turmoil in the Middle East


Severe turmoil in Iran with grievous human rights abuses

January 2026

Events are moving fast on the world stage. Last week saw huge uprisings in many towns and cities throughout Iran with security forces using violence in an attempt to quell them. Numbers of dead are unknown due to the internet and phone cut offs but are estimated to be at least 2,000. Help was promised by the US president but so far none has appeared and it is difficult to imagine how outside help of any kind would improve matters.

In Gaza, violence continues and 450 have died since the ceasefire. Life for people living there is desperate with inadequate food and medical supplies and living in tented communities. Over 71,000 dead who are known about, thousands more lie in the rubble. Israel is reported to be considering a fresh assault on Gaza City.

News of the Board of Peace was available and names include Donald Trump as chair and other are Tony Blair, Marco Rubio. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. There are no Palestinian names on the lists of the Board itself or on the subcommittees. Prospects for its success are dim. Vladimir Putin is reported to have been invited.

Vigil

We continue with our vigil and we held the 111th on Saturday with around 40 in attendance. One of the regular attendees has written to the local MP Mr John Glen to ask why he has never responded to emails about the vigils:

“You seem to have taken a policy of not responding to these emails.  I would be interested in your thoughts on the current situation in Gaza and to learn something of the extent to which you are able to transmit these messages from a group of your constituents to your parliamentary colleagues.  As you are my MP, this doesn’t seem a lot to ask.  I will put this letter on Salisbury CND’s website and add your reply to it, should such a reply be forthcoming“.

Mr Glen has never acknowledged the vigils in his weekly Salisbury Journal and a search of They Work for You website reveals that he has made no meaningful contribution in Parliament to the grievous situation there. He is reported to be a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel, the largest such lobby group in Parliament. A previous post analysing our three MPs and their voting record on this topic can be read here.

A video of the vigil can be accessed here. Video and image courtesy of Peter Gloyns.

Past event

Talk by Peter Oborne on Wednesday at 7pm. Copies of his book will be available at the discounted price of £10 (cash only).

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Talk about ‘Complicit’


Past event

January 2026

THIS EVENING

This evening, Wednesday the 21st, we shall be welcoming Peter Oborne, the journalist and author, who will be discussing his new book ‘Complicit’ which discusses the role successive British governments have played in the destruction of Gaza. A review of the book by Byline Times explains the main arguments in it and for those used to getting their news from mainstream media and the BBC, it will come as something of a shock the extent to which the facts have been seriously distorted by misuse of language and highly selective reporting. The book has not been reviewed by mainstream media.

It takes place in the Methodist Church in St Edmund’s Church Street tomorrow, 21st, starting at 7pm. It is free with a parting collection.

A report about this event appeared in the Salisbury Journal on 15th.

Copies of the book will be on sale at the discounted price of £10. We can only take cash unfortunately or a cheque.

Article about the talk is in the Salisbury Journal online

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The vigils continue


Another strong turn out for the 110th vigil

January 2026

On a cold evening around 35 turned out for the latest vigil. Peace talks seemed to have stalled according to several media outlets. Killings continue albeit at a slower pace. 425 have now been killed since the October ceasefire. Eight were killed in Khan Younis a few days ago including 4 children when an Israeli drone hit a tent. Thirty Canadians, including 6 members of parliament, were denied entry to the West Bank for security reasons it has been reported.

The Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, in a Daily Mail article has hit out at critics of Israel for calling their actions in Gaza genocide. He said it reduces humanity’s greatest crime to a ‘political insult’. He repeated the assertion that the current war started with the October 7th massacre. He lashed out, the Mail reports, at ‘so-called ‘human rights‘ organisations who appear to revel in misappropriating the term genocide because it has proven such an effective rallying call for them. The Mail did not seek comments from any of the human rights organisations.

Genocide occurs where there is specific ‘intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group’. The UN has concluded that is the case.

The local MP, Mr John Glen has never appeared at any of the 110 vigils. He has never referred to them in his weekly column in the Salisbury Journal. He is reported to be a member of the largest parliamentary lobby group, Conservative Friends of Israel [a Declassified report]. A video of the vigil is sent to him after each week.

Picture courtesy of Peter Gloyns

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Florida kicks the year off with an execution


Florida continues its record breaking run

January 2026

Last night (January 10th), Governor DeSantis signed the first execution warrant of 2026. Ronald Palmer Heath is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm on Tuesday, February 10th for the 1989 murder of Michael Sheridan in Alachua County. Last year saw a record number of executions in Florida exceeding all others in the US. Several US papers refer to the killings as a ‘spree’.

If the execution proceeds, it will mark the 28th execution under Gov. Ron DeSantis — part of an unprecedented escalation in Florida’s use of the death penalty. The murder of Michael Sheridan was a tragedy, and his loss is still being grieved to this day. But, killing Ronnie will not bring Michael back.

It seems to be part of the Governor’s desire to show he’s tough on crime and help in his desire to become president.

Amnesty is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. It is not a deterrent. Mistakes, and there are many, cannot be rectified. The justice system in the State is less than satisfactory and the jury in this case was split on the subject of execution.

Source: Floridians Against the Death Penalty and AP. On the FADP site there is the opportunity to sign a petition. We are grateful to FADP for some of the text used in this post.

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Group minutes and newsletter


January minutes and newsletter with details of forthcoming events

January 2026

We are pleased to attach our latest minutes and newsletter thanks to group member Lesley for compiling them and for other members Andrew and Fiona for their contributions. We do not produce a newsletter as such so they contain more material than you would ordinarily find in minutes. They contain notice of forthcoming events which you will find at the end. The next meeting is on 12th February at 2pm in Victoria Road.

January minutes and newsletter (Word)Download

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Human Rights Concerns in UK Protest Laws


Concerns about latest bill and affects on right to protest

January 2026

Liberty and other human rights organisations argue that proposals in this bill, currently going through the Lords, will block countless people from exercising their fundamental right to protest, risk criminalising marginalised communities, and prevent meaningful change.

Repeat Protests 

Clause 372 of the Crime and Policing Bill would give police the power ban repeat demonstrations in a designated area. If this is voted into law, senior police officers must consider the “cumulative disruption” caused by previous – or even future – protests in the area as a reason to ban a demonstration, regardless of whether they were organised by the same people or focused on the same issues. They would also decide what area is restricted, with no clear rules on its size. This means there could be borough or city-wide bans on protests, simply because a different demonstration took place the week before. This won’t just impact frequent large-scale marches; it could restrict emergency demonstrations on issues of grave importance, or the right to organise counter protests.

Since change is rarely achieved by a one-off demonstration outside Parliament (votes for women took nearly a century to achieve, as did a two-day weekend) this clause is viewed as inhibiting persistent lawful protest.

Face coverings at protests

Sections 118-120 of the Crime and Policing Bill will make it a criminal offence to wear a face covering at designated protests, and police will have the power to arrest or fine anyone breaching this condition. The lack of adequate safeguards in the Bill will particularly impact anyone who has to wear a face covering for health, religious, or privacy reasons. This could result in Muslim women, disabled people, and political dissidents being criminalised for attending protests with face coverings. Police already have the ability to require people to remove items if they believe they’re being used to hide their identity.

Demos polling shows that 86% of people believe everyone has the right to voice their opinion and raise awareness of issues. The Crime and Policing Bill will strip this right away from those who can only protest safely with a face covering.

Protests outside places of worship 

Section 124 of the Bill also proposes giving the police powers to restrict protests ‘in the vicinity’ of places of worship. Police already have the power to restrict protests based on their intention; this prevents genuine harm or disruption to religious communities. This new clause would instead ban protests based on the fact there is a place of worship nearby, regardless of intention, with the only criteria being that these protests could be considered ‘intimidating’.

This very low threshold could capture almost any protest in towns or cities across the country. Regular demonstrations outside Parliament could now be restricted due to the numerous places of worship nearby, with no requirement to prove they are being targeted by protests.

Other amendments 382 A-D would make it harder to organise processions quickly in response to current events, and remove the vital “reasonable excuse” safeguard that helps prevent the criminalisation of peaceful protest.

CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS

The British Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah will not be stripped of his citizenship as, according to the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud. His ‘abhorrent’ social media posts of a decade ago do not meet the legal bar for revocation. The necessary criteria would include fraudulent acquiring of citizenship or terrorism charges or links with serious organised crime.

The British government helped secure the activist’s release from years in an Egyptian jail but after his arrival in London from Egypt on Boxing Day, opposition parties called for him to be deported and his citizenship revoked, citing tweets in which he called for Zionists to be killed. El-Fattah who was granted British citizenship while in prison in 2021 through his mother’s birth in the UK, has apologised for past social media posts.

Government sources said the bar on removing citizenship was set high to provide the necessary safeguards. There is a right of appeal against the decision to revoke citizenship. Shamima Begum’s appeal was rejected by the former home secretary Sajid Javid in 2019.

PROTESTS ON BEHALF OF HUNGER STRIKERS

A 500-strong protest was held outside Pentonville prison to express urgent concern at the government’s continued inaction in the face of the imminent death of three remaining hunger strikers of the so-called Filton 24. They have now been on strike for over 45, 59 and 66 days respectively (8 January). 800 medical personnel have signed a letter criticising the government’s handling of the hunger strikers.

Campaigners have called their treatment ‘punishment by process’ since none has yet been charged with a terrorist offence, only with burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder, relating to their entry into a factory run by Elbit Systems, the Israeli arms manufacturer.

While the CPS sets a maximum of six months on remand, the hunger strikers have already been imprisoned without trial since November 2024. Their actions took place before the banning of their pro-Gaza protest group, Palestine Action, a banning which is currently being investigated after an appeal supported by Liberty and Amnesty.

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On 21st January, we are hosting a talk by the author and journalist Peter Oborne about his new book ‘Complicit’. For details see the post about Britain’s role above. It is free with a parting collection.

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Asylum Seekers: UK Policy Changes and Impact in 2026


Some positive news on refugees and asylum seekers

January 2026

With the events in Venezuela, threats to occupy Greenland and continuing conflict in Ukraine, news about small boat arrivals and immigrants generally has dropped out of the news recently. Problems remain however.

Firstly, the final figure for irregular arrivals in the UK by small boats in 2025 was 41,000, the second-highest annual total ever.  The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act is now in force, with new measures allowing Border Force to seize phones and SIM cards from irregular arrivals, ostensibly to help in tracking down smugglers.  Seizures of cash and assets of convicted smugglers are up 33% in year to September, compared to the previous year.

More positively, 5 local councils in England and Wales have declared an interest in a pilot scheme to use new build and refurbished council homes for asylum seekers as a way of removing them from hotels. The homes would be built with government money, leased to the Home Office, and then added to LA stock. The views of other prospective council home tenants have not yet been noted.

In the EU, heads of state met on 8 January to discuss its Common European System for Returns, instituted last March.  The Commission claims that only 20% of those designated for deportation actually are removed.  The effectiveness of the new system is not yet clear.  The UK government claims to have removed 50,000 claimants since it came into office in July 2024.

On the global level, Sherif A Wahab has calculated that the numbers of Displaced Persons is now double what it was in 2012; one-third of them are refugees (i.e. outside their country). Likewise the number of refugees who have been in exile for more than 5 years has doubled over the last decade; reasons for this include conflicts lasting longer; lack of strategy at local and national levels; refusals of permanent residency and other repressive policies. Of the world’s 32 million refugees only 204,000 returned home or settled permanently in 2022 (latest figures).

‘failure of imagination and ambition’

The head of the UNHCR, Filippo Grandi – on retiring last month – expressed his views on what he saw as a failure of imagination and ambition; “the international community should invest in asylum systems to make them faster, more efficient and better able to return people who do not need the help”  In his view, governmental responsibility does not impinge on sovereignty, but is an extension of it.

The link below to an article from The Guardian looks at the working of community sponsorship schemes; it implies that the government is still committed to legal routes to resettlement.  The Home Secretary said last November that she hoped to develop this model further.

“With control [over Britain’s borders] restored, we will open up new, capped routes for refugees for whom this country will be the first, safe haven they encounter.  We will make community sponsorship the norm, so we know that the pace and scale of change does not exceed what a local area is willing to accept,” she said.

‘It takes a town to raise a family’: the community sponsors supporting refugees in the UK | Communities | The Guardian

On the campaigning front, Safe Passage International have produced for the new year a Resolutions Generator, which, when pressed, will offer a small way in which one can help or understand better.

And here’s a petition against deportations from WeMoveEurope:

Say No to Mass Deportations in Europe | WeMove Europe

AH

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Talk by Peter Oborne in Salisbury on 21st about his new book ‘Complicit’

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Latest death penalty report


January 2026

We are pleased to attach the latest death penalty report thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. Florida is a feature this month with the rapid increase in the number of executions. Saudi has executed a huge number of people – almost one a day. We note as ever that China executes more of its people than the rest of the world combined but details are a state secret.

Mid December to mid January. WordDownload
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Britain’s role in the destruction of Gaza


Talk by author and journalist Peter Oborne

PAST EVENT

January 2026

We have posted a number of items on this site about the horrific events in Gaza and the West Bank. 109 vigils have now taken place in Salisbury attended by many concerned at the scale of death and destruction which has taken place. The current phase started with the horrific attack by Hamas on 7th October 2023 in which over 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 hostages seized. The conflict has deeper roots however going back to the formation of Israel in 1948 and the ensuing killing and displacement of many hundreds of thousands of Arabs and Palestinians: the number is put at between 750,000 and 1 million. Many of those displaced ended up in Gaza. We can go back even further to the Balfour Declaration in 1917.

Gaza is now a wasteland. Over 71,000 have died and around 171,000 injured many with serious wounds. Israel has just revoked the licenses of 37 aid organisations including MSF. There is a peace arrangement of sorts but there does not seem to be any realistic prospect of a permanent end to the hostilities. Israel is the local super power with a considerable armoury of the latest weapons including the F-35 jet. About 15% of the parts for the fighter are made in the UK. Statements from leading Israeli politicians do not show signs of a compromise. The prospects for a Palestinian state look remote.

Complicit

Peter Oborne’s new book ‘Complicit’ looks at Britain’s role in the conflict and the destruction of Gaza. There are two main threads in his book: the role of the government and secondly, the treatment and reporting by the British press and media including the BBC. Part of the way it is reported concerns the language used. We have noted on this site that Hamas seized 251 ‘hostages’ which is correct, but seizures by IDF soldiers of Palestinians are referred to as ‘prisoners’ implying some kind of legal process has taken place. It hasn’t, and over a thousand have been imprisoned and tortured in a variety of prisons with no charges made and no judicial process taking place.

Oborne (pictured: image New Statesman) refers to what he term ‘two tier reporting’. For example the BBC used the word ‘massacre’ eighteen times more for Israeli victims than Palestinian despite the massive difference in numbers. Israel is always described as responding to violence never to initiating it. ‘BBC’s coverage of Gaza has been a reporting disaster and a moral calamity’ he says. They are not the only ones and the roll call of biased reporting includes much of Fleet St and the media more widely.

Chapters include ‘The Pro-Israel Lobby in Britain’, ‘British Complicity Before October 7th’, ‘Moral Panic at Westminster’.

The Event

The talk will take place today, Wednesday 21st January starting at 7pm. It will be held at the Salisbury Methodist Church in St Edmund’s Church Street and is free with a parting collection. There is disabled access and the car park is nearby.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the discounted price of £10. We can only accept cash or a cheque if you live locally.

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Israel revokes licences for aid organisations


37 aid organisations had their licences revoked on 1st January

January 2026

As if the suffering in Gaza was not enough, the Israeli government has announced the ending of licences for 37 aid organisations operating in Gaza and the West Bank. Unwra has already been banned. The latest batch include major aid organisations without which, much of the life of the Palestinians will become intolerable. They include Médicins sans Frontières who operate in most of what’s left of the hospitals, Norwegian Refugee Council, Action Aid and many others. These provide vital services and importantly provide logistical and distribution services in what is a wrecked environment.

Haaretz has summed up the situation well. Israel has pushed its responsibility onto aid organisations and then carried out a sustained smear campaign accusing them of collaborating with Hamas and placed endless obstacles in the way of bringing in aid including doctors and medical staff. This is the latest step in a policy which has been both ‘cruel and amateurish’ in its treatment of Gaza’s civilian population.

This latest move comes after what are familiar allegations made by Israeli spokespeople such as Amichai Chikli who is Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister. His and his government’s allegations have not been supported by evidence. Since journalists are not allowed into Gaza independent verification of the various claims cannot be made.

High death toll of aid and medical staff

Israel has demanded the names of all staff operating for the aid organisations which they have refused to do. Working in the territory is extremely dangerous. 579 aid workers and 1,700 health workers have been killed since October 7th 2023. 256 journalists have also died sometimes by sniper fire. To provide these names would put staff under extreme risk.

The situation in Gaza is unimaginable. Vast numbers are living in tented communities. Sewage systems have been destroyed. Clean water supplies are limited. Food is scarce. Thousands suffer medical conditions for which they cannot get treatment. Some aid is getting in but nowhere near enough. It may seem absurd but one item which Israel will not allow in is tent poles. These are classed as ‘dual-use’ and clearly means even erecting a tent extremely difficult. However there are reports of some dual-use materials being allowed in by commercial actors in a kind of organised black market system.

Vigils continue

The 109th vigil was held in Salisbury and around 30 attended in what seemed a very quiet City. A video of the vigil is available thanks as ever to Peter Gloyns.

109 vigils but still no sign of the local MP John Glen who is reported to be a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel. He has never referred to the vigils attended by many of his constituents, in his weekly Salisbury Journal piece. He has just become a board member of the Christian organisation Alabare.

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Surge in executions in Saudi


Almost one execution a day and a new record

January 2026

No less than 356 people were executed in 2025 exceeding the grizzly total of 338 in the previous year. Large numbers are foreign individuals. Many are executed for drugs crimes sometimes involving trivial amounts. Trials are notoriously unfair and the use of torture is routine. Most executions are thought to be by beheading.

Human Rights Watch refers to the ‘weaponising the penalty’ as a means to curb dissent. The de facto leader of Saudi is Mohammad bin Salman who was said to be keen to modernise the Kingdom. On this showing it would seem he has some way to go.

Sportswashing

A feature of the Kingdom is the vast amount being spent on sport in what has been termed ‘sportswashing’. Aided by leaders such as Boris Johnson and Donald Trump he has purchased the English football club Newcastle United and has secured the rights to the World Cup in 2034. This increase in largesse followed the murder of Khashoggi which sent huge shock waves around the world and was almost certainly ordered by MBS. We have noted before that there is no difficulty in recruiting sportsmen and women to compete in a wide variety of sports including golf, tennis, F1 motor racing, cycling and equestrianism.

He quoted as saying that “he does not care about sportswashing criticism” so long as the long-term diversification away from oil dependency is successful.

He need not worry. Western politicians are falling over themselves to visit and seek to secure trade deals. The British government’s desire for growth means human rights considerations are unlikely to intrude. The massive number of executions are unlikely to form more than a ripple on the UK government’s desire for exports, the sale of arms and investment in the UK itself.

There is a small hint of concern in an Early Day Motion 1411 in June last year:

“That this House remains concerned about human rights violations in Saudi Arabia; welcomes the recent release of dozens of political prisoners, including University of Leeds PhD student Salma al-Shehab, human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani, and doctor Lina Alsharif; notes, however, that released individuals face continued restrictions, including travel bans; further notes that others remain arbitrarily imprisoned for peaceful dissent, such as Manahel al-Otaibi; is alarmed by the record number of death penalty executions, with 345 in 2024 and over 140 in 2025 so far, with a number of persons who committed their alleged crimes as minors facing execution; is concerned about labour exploitation and potential deaths of workers in connection with the 2034 FIFA World Cup and other mega-projects in the absence of fundamental labour rights reform; calls on the UK Government to urge Saudi Arabia to release all those imprisoned for defending or exercising their rights and to establish a moratorium on use of the death penalty; and further calls on the Government to actively raise such rights issues and cases of concern, including in connection with on-going discussions with Gulf Cooperation Council states on a Free Trade Agreement”. [Source House of Commons accessed 2 January]

There were 15 signatures, none of which were Conservative.

One execution is noteworthy and that is of Turki al-Jasser in June. He was a journalist who worked for the Al Taqreer newspaper which the regime closed down. He wrote articles exposing the corruption within the Royal Family. He was arrested and his home searched. Much of what happened to him was surrounded in secrecy. His family did not know of his execution until after the event.

We seem to have moved to a situation where a high level of gross human rights violations are the norm and the desire for trade effectively trumps any meaningful political concern. Sport is being successfully being used to sanitise the regime’s reputation and millions are happy to spectate with little concern for what takes place behind the scenes.

Sources: HRW, MSN, Guardian, Council on Foreign Relations, Amnesty.

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Death penalty in Florida


Surge in death sentences in the ‘Sunshine State’

January 2026

Florida is carving out for itself an unenviable reputation as the state with the worst record for executions in America. The US is the only country in the Americas to retain the penalty in some states at least and under Governor DeSantis, Florida is rapidly increasing the numbers heading for execution.

There is an organisation Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) which is seeking to end the use of the penalty in the state and is campaigning for that to happen. They have recently published a report ‘We the People’ – the opening words of the US Constitution – and this post draws largely on that.

It is 10 years ago we drew attention the legal process in the US and the work of the British lawyer, Clive Stafford-Smith who has campaigned for many years on behalf of those on death row. He wrote a book called Injustice and we discussed aspects from it in that post. Essentially the process is profoundly flawed which is of life and death importance to those caught up in it. Evidence favourable to the defendant is not always released to the defence and lawyers are sometimes ill-equipped to carry out trials of such importance.

If anything the situation has got worse. The rule now is that only 8 out of 12 jurors are needed for a conviction which clearly means those who have misgivings are ignored. Sex trafficking has been added to the list of crimes subject to the penalty which will increase the incentive to silence victims thus making the situation worse not better.

Another disturbing feature is that seven of the 19 who were executed were veterans and clearly indicates that these are not people who could be termed ‘the worst of the worst’. They may be disturbed as a result of their service – in Afghanistan for example – and execution is not an answer.

Barbaric and ineffective

With Florida responsible for 40% of the nations executions there is something happening quite outside any increase in criminality. It seems that the Governor, Ron DeSantis is a keen proponent signing orders almost as soon as the jury has left the court. It is suggested that this rise in executions is part of his drive to show he is ‘tough on crime’ and his desire to be the next President. Yet as we have pointed out on many occasions, there has been no evidence of the penalty having a deterrent effect. It is as barbaric as it is ineffective.

FADP reports that the executions take place in remote parts of the state possibly to discourage media reporting which seems curious in view of the Governor’s desire to show toughness.

The group produces a report on the death penalty around the world each month.

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Review of 2025


… and things do not look much better for 2026

December 2025

We have published 192 posts so far this year on a wide variety of subjects concerned with human rights. A key feature of the year has been the continuation of our vigils. We have held over 109 since the current conflict started and although there is some kind of cessation of hostilities, peaceful reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians seems a far away dream. Some food aid is getting in but Israel has seized almost all the cultivable land leaving those in Gaza hemmed into an even smaller part of their territory. We have commented on the poor reporting of events there and the unsatisfactory nature of so many interviews.

Arms sales

A feature of this conflict and other conflicts around the world is the role of the arms trade. It appears that this trade seems to determine British policy: truly the tail wagging the dog. The government frequently trots out that it has a ‘robust policy’ whilst granting licences – and in particular open licenses – to almost all who come. The effects on people at the receiving end of these weapons sales does not seem to worry the Foreign Office or government ministers. Recent government’s policies have focused on growth and if growth means selling arms to Israel and to the UAE so be it. There is considerable evidence that the latter are supplying the RSF in Sudan who are alleged to commit many atrocities.

At the height of the Yemen war we highlighted the role of British arms firms and their weapons sales to the Saudis. RAF personnel were involved just short of being labelled ‘mercenaries’.

Sport

Sport has featured in several of our posts and the ever increasing use by states with abysmal human rights records to use sport to burnish their images. Virtually all sports are involved, but especially football, boxing, motor sport, golf, tennis and cycling. The driver is money. China and the Gulf states are among those with almost unlimited resources to pour into sporting events with seemingly no difficulty in attracting sportsmen and women to compete in their countries with no moral qualms. They also invest in our football clubs again with no concerns about how tainted the money is.

It has become so part of the furniture now that it engenders little comment. Whereas some years ago a nation which executes significant numbers of its citizens – often after confessions extracted under torture – which imprisons or ‘disappears’ human rights defenders and journalists and treats its women as second class citizens denying them many rights, would raise eyebrows when seeking to sponsor or host a sporting event. Not today.

Refugees

And it is not just sport where issues of human rights have seemed to take a back seat. People entering this country by various means have generated a massive amount of political controversy here in the UK. It is probably true to say that immigration in one form or another is one of the dominant political forces at work. It is deciding elections. A number of politicians are using the ‘crisis’ to their political advantage (they hope). Egged on by sections of our media, they have created the impression that there is a crisis particularly around the numbers arriving in small boats across the Channel. Any concern for those in the boats and why they are risking their lives to get here does not seem to feature. The impression is sometimes created that if we could deport the migrants (however defined) our problems would be over. The connection between our arms sales and the instability of the countries they have fled from does not seem to enter their thinking.

The contribution by immigrants (again however defined) is scarcely recognised. That large sections of our economy (horticulture and the food industry for example), the health service, hospitality and transport, would cease to function without them seldom seems to enter the consciousness of our senior politicians. We have commented on the strange fact that many of our senior politicians, including Rishi Sunak, Suella Braverman, Priti Patel, Shabana Mahmood, Kwasi Kwarteng and Danny Kruger are all descended from recent immigrants but are among the most aggressive about deporting those coming after them. We can offer no explanation.

Rights at home

Which brings us to another theme concerning the government and its own attachment to UK human rights. It was once hoped that the arrival of Sir Keir Starmer – an ex human rights lawyer and past Director of Public Prosecutions – would see an improvement in the human rights climate. Sadly, it has not come to pass. Laws against protests introduced by the Conservatives to clamp down on protestors, have not been modified or repealed and have even been added to. A more humane policy towards immigrants and refugees has not happened. Arrests have continued and as this is being written, those arrested on pro-Palestine marches are close to death on hunger strike. His continuing support for Israel has been shaming. He has issued critical comments but they have not been backed up by action, cutting arms supplies for example. No believable explanation for the hundreds of RAF flights over Gaza has been forthcoming. His most disgraceful comment that ‘Israel was right to withhold power and water from Gaza’ was widely condemned.

This year we have introduced a new regular feature reviewing the human right situation in the UK itself. This is probably something we would never have contemplated doing say, twenty years ago but a combination of poor leadership, aggressive home secretaries and many MPs with little interest in protecting human rights, has led to this move. Both Danny Kruger (MP for East Wiltshire) and John Glen (MP for Salisbury) are listed on They Work For You as generally voting against human rights is another factor. Mr Glen, who is listed as a member of the well-funded lobby group Conservative Friends of Israel has never once visited the Saturday peace vigil nor mentioned it in his weekly column in the Salisbury Journal.

Ukraine, Sudan, China, Palestine …

The world situation does not seem to get any better. The situation in Ukraine is critical and not just for the Ukrainians. We have one member of the Security Council, Russia gratuitously attacking an independent nation while another member, the US seems indifferent to their plight. The warm greeting by President Trump of President Putin on the tarmac in Alaska must be one of the more grizzly images of the past year. European nations have become almost powerless, in part because of their collective failure to invest in defence (defense) but also because they have become kind of vassal states to the US.

We must not forget that human rights in Russia are poor. There is no opposition and a leader who was a threat to Putin, Navalny, was probably murdered in Siberia. Others have been arrested or murdered along with many journalists. Children have been abducted from Ukraine. Ukrainian prisoners have been tortured.

We could devote a whole page to China. A million Uyghurs are persecuted and are forced to work while their culture is systematically destroyed by the Communist Party. Some call it genocide. Tibet has had a similar treatment and its culture largely eliminated. They are believed to execute more of its citizens than all the rest of the world combined. Freedom has been snuffed out in Hong Kong. Chinese nationals are intimidated overseas.

The future

The future is unpromising. The ‘New World Order’ created after the war is well and truly dead. Powerful interests act at will. Despotic leaders act in their own interests not in the interests of ordinary people. Europe is too feeble to act. It looks as though things will continue as they are. There is no hint that the current conflicts will end equitably but based on the whims of a handful of profoundly flawed men.

A large number of MPs of all parties are members of the Friends of Israel group and many also receive money from them. How can they be expected to act honestly, with integrity and in the best interests of the country (to be clear, the UK whose residents voted them in not a foreign state) if they are members of a powerful and well funded lobby group? Arms companies continue to sell their wares with few controls so desperate is the government for growth. The BBC has been cowed into silence on important topics.

In June of last year, the Institute for Government, recognising the serious loss of trust in the government, published its 7 steps to restore trust. One was the publication of an independent ministerial code. Another was to ensure lobbying was built on a clear coherent and transparent system. It has not happened. There is no rigorous or proper system of controlling the ‘revolving door’ which is a passport for corruption by ministers, ex-civil servants and military people retiring into lucrative appointments with arms companies.

Hope

The weekly vigils and the many hundreds of protests around the country for an end to the killing and genocide in Gaza is a heartening sign. It shows a significant number of people who care about what is happening, care that is not reflected by the government nor by chunks of the media. Despite their numbers, reporting is thin with a media all too keen gleefully to report flag waving disturbances outside hotels or army camps. If hope is to be found it lies with ordinary people who simply say ‘this isn’t right, this is not what I believe in’. Rutger Bregman in his Reith Lectures (2025) argues just this: that small committed groups can make a difference. However, whether they can achieve this at the international level is debatable. We can cite climate which will be having harmful effects on more and more of the world’s population and where progress if anything is going backwards.

We shall continue to campaign and we always welcome new members to the team.

Best wishes for the New Year to our small band of readers!

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25th Anniversary of HRA


Today marks the 25th Anniversary of the Human Rights Act

October 2025

Twenty five years ago this act was signed and ended the need to go to Strasbourg to get justice. It fundamentally changed the law by giving fundamental rights to citizens. It is currently under threat and it, and the European Convention which predates it, are disliked by many of the political and media class. In the next post we shall discuss this in more detail.

But today (2nd) we celebrate.

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We are 50!


The Salisbury group is 50 this year

September 2024

NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY

And we want to celebrate it with a photo. We were formed not too long after Amnesty International itself was created and we are, sadly, the last group left in Wiltshire.

We shall be assembling at 2:30 near the Guildhall in the market square tomorrow, October 3rd for a group photo. It should only take 30 minutes or so and we are inviting all members and supporters who can make it, to come and join in.

In some ways it is sad that we still need to exist. The hope after the Second World War and the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 was high. People believed human rights would become the norm in societies around the world. It hasn’t turned out that way. Atrocities still continue in Africa, the Uyghurs are still persecuted in China, war rages in Ukraine, bombing continues in Gaza and human rights violations continue around the world in Syria, Iran, Burma and Saudi Arabia.

One of our continuing campaigns is the ending of the death penalty around the world (see our reports on this site). You will also see from our site and elsewhere that the UK is a major supplier of arms to states which are engaged in abusing their citizens. This has been a vexed issue at present concerning arms to Israel. It is an irony of the post war world that the UN Security Council is comprised of the world’s major arms suppliers. So there is still a need for human rights work.

Come and join us on 3rd!

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Salisbury Group at 50!


Group is 50 this year!

February 2024

The Salisbury group was established in 1974 and has been going strong for 50 years. It took us a bit by surprise today when we realised this so we haven’t thought of any celebrations yet. But as the last active group in Wiltshire we can allow ourselves a bit of pride that we are still here and still trying to promote the human rights cause in the county.

It probably seems a little different today from 50 years ago. Human rights then were regarded as a good thing and support was largely unquestioning. The war was a living memory for many and a desire never to see a repeat of the death and destruction of the war and the horrors of the Holocaust was deeply felt. 

A long time has passed however and today, we see successive Conservative governments seeking to end or curtail the Human Rights Act. Laws have been passed making protest more difficult and the police have been given more powers to arrest those protesting. Much of the media keeps up a steady campaign denigrating human rights and suggesting they are a means for terrorists and serious criminals to escape justice because their ‘rights’ have been infringed. We are made less safe they claim because of the act rather than the precise opposite. The benefits the act has brought is seldom mentioned. The success of the Hillsborough families in overturning the various coroner and court decisions and the false narrative put out by the police was a major example. 

Some sections of the media do not like the act since it provides some protection from press intrusion and this has led them to carry on a relentless campaign often supported by exaggerated stories.

In the past few years the issue of immigration has come to the fore and immigrants crossing the Channel by boat has become a political hot potato. The government is seeking to send some immigrants to Rwanda in an attempt to discourage smugglers from sending them over from France. There has always been hostility to immigrants as each wave has come over, the Jews from Russia for example at the beginning of the last century. But the notion that we would become more sympathetic and welcoming has not worked out. The question therefore is how embedded are human rights norms and beliefs in our society? The occasional desire for a return of the death penalty, hostility to refugees as just mentioned and evidence of the UK government’s involvement in torture, clampdowns on protest suggest that human rights and human dignity is only shakily rooted in our society.

So although the group is 50 this year, our work is not done!

If you live in the South Wilshire area, we would welcome you joining us. Follow this site for details of what we are doing.

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