Day: November 14, 2024

Group news


Some events the group will be involved in

November 2024

From time time we list some of the events the group will be involved in. This is partly for those people who might be thinking of joining us. Coming along and making yourself known is the best way to introduce yourself. Membership of our group is free but if you join Amnesty International there is a fee.

We welcome new members especially in this, our 50th year since formation. We are, sadly, the only surviving group in Wiltshire and we hope people from outside Salisbury feel able to join.

Upcoming events:

  • Not an event as such but a tree will be planted in Victoria Park soon to commemorate out anniversary. We are not able to be at the planting itself (!) but we hope to convene a photo shoot at some future date,
  • Carol singing. [Completed – see post]. This has been an annual event and we kick of on 9 December in Victoria Road. We are delighted to welcome the Farrant Singers to do the singing and we cover 3 or 4 roads in the vicinity,
  • Vigil. Group members take part in the Vigil in the Butter market in Salisbury (by the Library) starting at 5pm for half an hour. This is to promote peace in the Middle East. See previous posts on this subject. This Saturday 16th, will be our 50th such Vigil,
  • We will be holding a schools event on 26th but this is not open to all,
  • Write for Rights in the Cathedral cloister on 1st December for around 2 hours in the morning, [Completed]
  • Further ahead, we will be at the People in the Park event in May. Details in due course,
  • We hope to arrange an Evensong with the Cathedral next year.

We look forward to seeing you at one of these events.

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King Charles gives GCVO to King of Bahrain


Award of GCVO invites many critics because of poor human rights in Bahrain

November 2024

The award of the Grand Cross of the Victorian Order to King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of Bahrain by King Charles has brought criticism and controversy. The list of human rights failures in Bahrain is a long one. It includes the lack of a free press, no genuine political opposition, the use of torture, critics who are harassed and arrested and there are problems with an independent judiciary. Individuals are executed after confessions secured following the use of torture. There is little religious freedom. Freedom House has described the kingdom as one of the more repressive regimes in the region. Since violently crushing a popular prodemocracy protest movement in 2011, the Sunni-led monarchy has systematically eliminated a broad range of political rights and civil liberties, dismantled the political opposition, and cracked down harshly on persistent dissent concentrated among the Shiite population.

Of course it is unlikely that King Charles was directly responsible for this award and may even felt uncomfortable with it. It is almost certainly a political decision because Bahrain is a key defence ally. CAAT has described the range of contacts between the two kingdoms and the importance of Bahrain as a purchaser of arms.

This has become a feature of British foreign policy and ideas of an ‘ethical foreign policy’ seem a long time ago. The Royal family are frequently used to promote ties and friendly relations with the various monarchs who still rule most of the Gulf states. Arms sales and the supply of oil are crucial elements of the British economy and effectively means ethical and human rights issues have to take a back seat. The Secretary of State said in parliament on 21 October 2021 that ‘[t]he Government are clear that more trade will not come at the expense of human rights’. However, as CAAT notes, arms sales to Bahrain continue apace.

Human rights violations and violence continue in the Kingdom and arms sales continue seemingly unhindered. Awarding the King an award is just icing on the cake. The problem is that it represents a kind of seal of approval. Is the Kingdom ever going to improve if it feels that Britain will continue to supply arms, use the Royal family in this way and make these awards? Or will it feel it can carry on persecuting its people and continue to deny basic rights with impunity? After all, the Bahrain’s own web site proudly proclaims ‘Bahrain is committed to safeguarding human rights, actively engaging in impactful initiatives that underscore its dedication to ensuring the well-being and freedom of its citizens and residents.’

Charles was told in a letter by the exiles: “It is personally difficult for us to view this honour as anything other than a betrayal of victims who have suffered at the hands of King Hamad and his brutal regime.”

Sources: Amnesty International; Human Rights Watch; Hansard; the US State Department; the Guardian; CAAT; Freedom House; Government of Bahrain; Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy.

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Refugee report


Europe still struggles to deal with refugees coming to its shores

November 2024

This month’s report is Eurocentric. Hopefully we can look at the wider aspects next time, as we become clearer about the new US President’s plans for widespread deportation (and also the Australian government’s battle with the courts).

The government’s proposals on the small boats crisis remain unclear at the moment. Apart from the Prime Minister’s curious assertion that the people smugglers constitute a threat to national security, things continue much as before. The total number of arrivals so far this year is over 32,000, 22% up on last year (but still below 2022). Worse overcrowding on the boats is partly responsible for 64 migrants dying at sea this year (5 times last year’s total). The government has agreed improved intelligence exchange with three Balkan countries and has pledged £150 million for the proposed Border Security Command.

Within the Home Office It is suggested that there is some doubt as to how the new Command will work. Lizzie Dearden in the i reports that the fear is that the more the authorities clamp down the more risky the methods used by migrants and that a new approach is the best solution. Nevertheless, the Home Office is recruiting a head for the proposed National Returns Progression Command, a body intended to take control of deporting unsuccessful applicants for asylum status.

There has been much concern about the use of the term “illegal arrival” as per the 2022 Nationality and Borders Act. Anyone guilty of “facilitation” (which includes steering a boat) is liable to up to life imprisonment, and cases have been reported of this happening. Since the Act came into force there have been 471 arrests, 233 of them for taking the tiller.

An aspect of the difficulties within the system is the lack of available legal aid. The Joint Council on the Welfare of Immigrants is urging a reform of the legal aid system, arguing that a functioning system would be much cheaper for the public purse than the present approach.

According to the French charity Utopia 56 there are still some 2,000 migrants on the Channel coast in France.

The Institute for Public Policy Research have observed the need to consider the demand side of the equation, to see why so many are fleeing their countries of origin: ”In order to have an effective response you need to go beyond enforcement.”

Elsewhere possible solutions to the problem are being considered. In Switzerland, since 2019 a new approach has been tried: the main aim is to target a total of 140 days for the complete processing of applications, while not cutting corners. The three critical issues are:

1. to have enough decision makers

2. fast streaming easier cases and moving more difficult ones to a different process and

3. ensuring access to lawyers.

Meanwhile in Spain a more friendly attitude to arrivals is being pursued, both for the economy and to allow family reunions. The Spanish government is opposed to what it terms “Melonisation”, the Italian plan to offload migrant processing to Albania.

Human Rights Watch have a piece noting that discerning the popular attitude towards refugees very much depends on the question asked. People are more sympathetic when it is phrased in terms of what would happen to deported asylum seekers rather than immigrant numbers arriving here.

Finally, a success story of an “illegal” migrant:

An immigration lawyer reviews Paddington in Peru: A very British bear – Free Movement

Andrew Hemming

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Death penalty report – November


November 2024

We are pleased to attach the bi-monthly report on the death penalty around the world prepared by group member Lesley. A lot on the US this month as there is a lot of activity, certainly in the southern states, at present. In view of the recent presidential election, it is worth noting that although there is a lot of ‘noise’ about President elect Donald Trump’s desire to ramp up the use of the penalty, what frequently matters is what happens at state level. Who the governor is and his or her attitude to executions matters more than federal attitudes.

Note as ever that China does not feature although it is the world’s biggest executioner, details and statistics are a state secret.

Death penalty report October – November (mid). WordDownload
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