Month: March 2026

Rise in authoritarianism


Worrying increase in authoritarianism both sides of the Atlantic. Talk at the Exeter conference

March 2026

Our rights are hard won. Britain still has elements of its feudal past. We think of ourselves as a democracy and great fuss is made of elections and polls but in many respects power is not with the majority or the people. Governments have steadily attempted to reduce the ability to protest and have passed legislation to make demonstrations harder and harder. At the Exeter conference there were two presentations on the rise in authoritarianism on both sides of the Atlantic. In the US, President Trump has carried out a large number of attacks on the press, the judiciary, universities, opposition politicians and more or less anyone who disagrees with him.

What happens in America quickly crosses the pond and so it is with the rise of authoritarianism in the UK. The form may be different and it is less raucous but the erosion of rights continues steadily. The presentation gave some examples. A report by US Amnesty goes into a lot more detail.

Legislation is passed which is vague and allows for considerable interpretation by the police and others. There is an increased reliance on secondary legislation. This means important measures are placed in statutory instruments not in the acts themselves thus permitting unscrutinised measures to become law. Surveillance powers have increased. This has included the use of facial recognition technology now being introduced more widely. Failure to properly fund agencies meant to control corporations. An extreme example is the almost complete failure to control the water companies which have neglected to invest in infrastructure, have extracted billions in dividends which were offshored and have allowed rivers to become seriously polluted and open sewers.

Anti-protest

Governments do not like protest and never have throughout our history. Reforms have seldom come from the power holders but wrested from them by protest. Witness enfranchisement has had a long and troubled history. One of the more fearful examples was the 1819 Peterloo massacre in Manchester at which 14 were killed and hundreds injured when they were attacked. There has been a succession of Reform Acts – in 1832, 1867 and 1884 for example – after long periods of unrest, marches and mass protests. Each reform gave more people the vote. After decades of campaigning and violent protest, women achieved the vote in the late 1920s.

In modern times the growth of the ‘think tanks’ has become a major issue. Millions are spent by them on lobbying ministers and MPs. David Cameron recognised this was a growing problem when he was prime minister. He subsequently became ensnared in a lobbying scandal. Often opaquely financed they are able to suggest legislation and argue against better climate legislation for example. The biggest and best funded of the lobby organisations are the Friends of Israel groupings to ensure Israel’s position is powerfully put.

Key to the rise in authoritarianism is the need to denigrate and stigmatise those who question it or government policies. They are called ‘woke’, ‘lefty lawyers’, ‘disruptors’ or ‘extremists’ and large parts of the media are happy to promote these assaults.

Control of information is key and the secretive company Palantir was mentioned which is almost by the day, increasing its reach into the British state with few effective controls. We shall be commenting on this dangerous organisation in a subsequent post.

What can done?

Such is the power and reach of the various organisations, from government down through well-funded lobby organisations, American platforms including AI, and large elements of the media, that opposition is difficult. Even raising awareness is a challenge. Another problem is apathy. Many are simply unaware of the creeping authoritarianism around them. Some approve of curbs on protests. A number of people at Exeter had never heard of Palantir for example. The emotional power of the right wing is not to be overlooked.

As we learned from the Brexit campaign, simple slogans and emotional appeals are what cut through not factual presentations. Creeping authoritarianism and the steady loss of power will need to make emotional connections with people, to point out in simple language and images, the steady risks of allowing these powerful organisations, most of whom are based in America, to gain more and more influence and control over our organisations such as the NHS.

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Gay rights in Malawi


Speaker at the Exeter conference on the problems of LGBTQ+ rights in Malawi

March 2026

We were delighted to hear first hand of the continuing problems being experienced by LGBTQ+ people in Malawi. Eric Sambisa (pictured), who is currently at the Dundee Human Rights Centre, gave a talk at the Exeter conference on these problems. Eric is the founder of Nyasa Rainbow Alliance and was the first to come out on TV as gay is his country in 2016. Currently, he is focusing on women’s rights.

He explained that section 153 of the country’s penal code prohibits sex between consenting adults, a provision which derives from the time when it was a colony of the British. Up until the ’60s such activity was illegal in the UK. To be open in this way in Malawi has its risks and individuals have suffered violence. The offices have been attacked and laptops and files taken.

He mentioned the case of Jana Gonani who was arrested and imprisoned in December 2021. Gonani, a 29-year-old Malawian trans woman, is currently serving an eight-year sentence at Chichiri men’s prison in Blantyre City for two counts of “false pretence” – for presenting as a woman – and one count of “unnatural offence” – both crimes under the country’s colonial era penal law. With help of the Rainbow Alliance, an appeal was mounted to the High Court.

There have been many attempts to change the law in Malawi, so far unsuccessfully. Sambisa was not expecting a change ‘any time soon’ he said. Unlike Uganda and Kenya, there are no attempts at a legislative change. Religious interests and pressure is quite strong. An interesting side note is that prior to becoming a colony, names in Malawi were not gendered.

‘Legal provisions are reinforced by social attitudes. A large proportion of Malawians oppose same-sex relationships. Religious and traditional leaders have been vocal in their opposition to LGBTQI+ rights, organising protests and reinforcing discriminatory attitudes. As a result, many LGBTQI+ people face significant challenges: they are often disowned by their families, lose their jobs or are evicted from their homes. The recent Constitutional Court decision to uphold the criminalisation of homosexuality will only exacerbate the situation, because many will interpret it to mean there’s no place for LGBTQI+ people in Malawi’ (Civicus.org). Sambisa pointed out it is the state which loses out by denying the rights of such people.

Picture: Salisbury Amnesty. This was one of the talks at the Exeter conference organised by the Exeter Amnesty group.

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Amnesty conference in Exeter


Well attended conference with a wide range of human rights issues discussed

March 2026

The Exeter group of Amnesty puts together a conference every year and those attending this year were able to listen to a range of speakers on some of the current problems with human rights around the world. Each topic will need its own space so we shall be putting up a range of posts over the coming week or so to give them justice. For now, this is just a brief summary as a kind of ‘taster’. All credit to the Exeter group for organising this event. Six members from the Salisbury group attended and all found it worthwhile.

Tapestry

The tapestry was on display after many years absence. It was displayed in Salisbury Cathedral several years ago.

Malawi

We do not hear enough from Africa although the war in Sudan occasionally makes the news. Malawi is one of a number of countries in Africa which have anti-gay legislation. Eric Sambisa spoke of his campaign and actions to get the law on LGBTQ+ legislation changed in his country. Those laws derive from colonial times and change is proving slow.

Authoritarianism

We had two speakers on authoritarianism, first in America and second in the UK. Trump and his supporters are carrying out a range of such measures and worryingly, UK governments are quietly following suit with more laws and increased police powers designed to reduce protests. The firm Palentir was raised more than once and they represent a serious risk to our personal security.

Purchasing

A forthcoming Amnesty campaign will focus on what we buy and the human rights stories behind our purchases. Much of what we buy comes from overseas and is produced in sweat shops in the far east where – mostly women – work in terrible conditions with few if any rights. There are no trade unions. The surprising, nay shocking thing, is that big name British retailers are involved, the likes of M&S, Tesco, Next and others. Firms who’s policies have the familiar words about human rights being our ‘first priority’. The supply chains are long and as you go down them the opportunities for abuse increases.

There was discussion of Early Day Motion 1266 concerning banning goods coming from the illegal Israeli settlements. Unfortunately, there was insufficient time to discuss the large number of MPs, from all parties, who are members of the powerful Friends of Israel lobby groups. Their power means the motion is unlikely to succeed.

Palestine

The situation in Palestine was a topic as you might expect and we had a presentation from an academic at Exeter University. Part of the discussion focused on the prospects for a two state solution. There are none was the stark conclusion. Israel has systematically removed people and built settlements which make the creation of a viable Palestinian state impossible. Recent announcements of the creation of 19 new settlements cements this fact, referred to as ‘settler colonialism’. The speaker did focus on the Apartheid regime in place in Israel and the West Bank. Attacking that, much as happened in South Africa which saw that regime come to an end, was the way forward he said.

Amnesty International

There were some speakers who discussed issues surrounding Amnesty itself. In common with all charities at present and the drop in funding to the sector of £1.4bn in a year, Amnesty is having to reduce its expenditure. It has a new Chief Executive. It is facing ‘significant financial challenges’.

Photo

The photo is the traditional picture where delegates assemble in front of the cathedral.

Once again, thanks to the Exeter group for organising this excellent event. Thought of becoming a subscriber?

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Talk by ex-Iranian prisoner in Romsey


Anoosheh Ashoori tells of his ordeal in Evin prison, Iran

March 2026

Anoosheh was seized suddenly in 2017 by four men who, after checking who he was, bundled him into a car where he was blindfolded. Thus began 5 years of incarceration in fearful conditions mostly in the infamous Evin prison in Tehran. He never knew what his ‘crime’ was but it was later to emerge it was connected with the £400m tank deal with the UK that ensnared Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as well.

Anoosheh came to Romsey on 18 March to give a talk organised by the Romsey Amnesty group about his

experiences. He described the terrible conditions: cells packed with men with primitive hygiene facilities, hearing the screams from the women’s part of the prison, the terrible food which led to great weight loss, and long periods in solitary confinement. And the endless interrogations.

But in amongst the suffering there was also some slivers of hope and light. He described what became the ‘Evin University’. Since many intellectuals, writers and others seen as a threat to the regime were imprisoned, there were many opportunities for people to learn from one another and offer mutual support. There were teaching groups, one involved the writing of short stories. They all helped to maintain some sense of sanity.

He was strongly influenced by Victor Frankl who had survived the Holocaust and his book Man’s Search for Meaning. He offered some insights into suffering following his three years in the camps including Auschwitz. Suffering can cease to be suffering if it is imbued with meaning he suggested.

Like Nazanin, he was a hostage. This raised the question – as with her captivity – of the role of the British government in trying to secure his release. They were keen for family and supporters not to make a fuss because, they claimed, delicate negotiations were continuing and any such fuss would upset them. ‘Do not go public’ his family and supporters were advised This was always doubtful and the basic reason was the £400m the UK government owed the Iranians for the non-delivery of the tanks destined for the Shah’s regime. Both had become tangled up in this long-running row.

Current war

His talk took place three weeks into the current war where Israel and the US have bombed many areas of Iran in an attempt to prevent the Iranians developing a nuclear weapon and to force regime change (it is thought: the precise objectives are unclear). This has led to the closure of the straight of Hormuz and huge economic effects around the world. Which prompted questions from the audience about the current situation and whether he was optimistic.

It did not sound as though he was. He thinks the campaign will simply lead to further problems, echoing many who think that attempting to change a regime by bombing it is unlikely to be successful. He also said the IRGC is ‘like a cancer’ meaning it was deeply embedded in Iranian society and thus difficult to dislodge. He was asked about celebrating his release: he doesn’t because he cannot help but think of those who are still incarcerated in Evin and other prisons in Iran.

What should we do? he was asked. ‘Speak as loudly as possible’ he answered and his comments appeared to be directed at the government. It was a piece with his earlier comments about the role of the UK government during his imprisonment and the desire of the Foreign Office to keep a low profile and not make a noise. His advice was to counter that. His second comment was ‘perseverance always pays off’.

Summary

It is always humbling to listen to someone who has experienced great suffering and come out the other side. His lack of bitterness was noteworthy. He spoke of his desire in prison to run the London marathon, if and when he got out, which he has more than once. He was not optimistic about the country’s future and the current war will not change things. His description of the ‘Evin University’ shows that even in such terrible conditions, the human spirit can shine through which must be a sign of optimism in itself.

Congratulations to the Romsey Amnesty group for organising this talk which was well attended.

Additional material from New Internationalist. Image: Salisbury Amnesty

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Minutes and Newsletter


March minutes and Newsletter

March 2026

We are pleased to attach this month’s minutes and Newsletter for the group thanks to group member Lesley for preparing them. We do not publish a Newsletter as such but they contain a lot of material on the death penalty around the world, the state of UK politics as they affect human rights and the current refugee situation. There are also some statistical details and we are pleased to report that number viewing the site have risen significantly.

March minutes and Newsletter (Word)Download

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Middle East ‘forever’ wars


Iran, Lebanon join victims in the forever war. Vigils continue

March 2026

The 119th vigil took place in Salisbury with over 25 in attendance, as the war intensified in the Middle East. We are in the third week of attacks on Iran as Israel and the US are bombing large areas of the country. Israel has resumed attacking Lebanon with over 800 dead. Israel seeks to destroy Hezbollah who are firing rockets into northern Israel. With Iran significantly weakened, the IDF regard now as a key opportunity finally to destroy the organisation’s activities in the Lebanon. Reporting on Gaza has been overlooked recently where the death toll now stands at 72,000 plus.

This new development has resulted in consequences which do not seem to have been anticipated. The response from Iran has massively affected the Gulf states and the movement of oil. The impact on western economies is only just starting. Some UK politicians were all for the Israeli/US action urging Sir Keir Starmer to be more pro-actively involved. There seems to be some rowing back from that as its effects became apparent. The bombing of the Shajareh Teyyabeh girl’s elementary school in, Minab, Iran killing around 170 – mostly children – has had an effect on public opinion.

The war, only three weeks old in its current manifestation, has led to a massive displacement of people around the region running into hundreds of thousands. The glee with which Pete Hegseth has spoken about the destruction of Iran is especially alarming. The objectives and timescale remain unclear.

Sources: Independent, CBS, Al Jazeera, Haaretz, Guardian

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Ex Iranian prisoner to tell his story


Anoosheh Ashoori will speak in Romsey

March 2026

PAST EVENT – see later report of the event itself.

The story of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been widely told and she has become a household name. A BBC film was made of her ordeal and she came to Salisbury to speak. Iran is in the news at present with the bombing campaign being carried out by Israel and the US one aim of which – it is thought – is to rid the nation of the current regime, the regime which thought seizing hostages was a good idea.

Along with Nazanin was the rather less well-known Anoosheh Ashoori (pictured) a dual national businessman who spent 5 years in Evin prison in Tehran at the same time as Nazanin. He is coming to Romsey on 18th March to talk about his experiences. The talk starts at 7pm at the United Reform Church, SO51 8EL. The talk has been organised by the Romsey Amnesty Group.

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Threat to Jury Trials: MPs Debate New Court Bill


Threat to trial by jury

March 2026

MPs voted to allow the Courts and Tribunals Bill to proceed to the next stage after significant debate during its second reading.  This was over proposals to replace juries in England and Wales with a single judge in cases where a convicted defendant would be jailed for up to three years.  Justice Secretary David Lammy says changes to jury trials and other reforms can help turn around the Crown Court backlog, which has reached record levels of 80,000 cases. These delays mean some defendants charged today may not face trial until 2030.

However more than 3,200 lawyers including 300 top barristers and retired judges have called on the government to drop the plan to abolish some jury trials.  The letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, says there is no evidence the “unpopular” plan will solve unprecedented delays in criminal courts.  The letter organised by the Bar Council, which represents all barristers in England and Wales, says the plan is an attempt “to force through an unpopular, untested and poorly evidenced change to our jury system”.

The bill will still have to clear the House of Lords before it can become law.  The right to jury trial – in which ordinary people decide on the guilt or innocence of defendants brought before Crown Courts – is a cornerstone of the constitution dating back more than 800 years.

Magna Carta did not specifically mention jury trials but does say ‘no free man shall be seized or imprisoned except through the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land’ (women are not mentioned). It did however plant the seed of juries and over time the idea became established in British law. The Statute of Westminster was passed in 1275 that required jury trials in certain cases, showing how these ideas from the Magna Carta were evolving into legal practice.

Recent governments have revealed a dislike of protest and have done a lot to introduce measures and restrictions making such protests more and more difficult. Police powers have been increased and thousands were arrested protesting on behalf of Palestine Action for example. Some juries have gone against judicial directions and have freed defendants. There must be a worry therefore that restricting the right to a jury trial leaves defendants at the mercy of judges alone who, some argue, can be reactionary,

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How the New UK Bill Aims to Prevent Foreign Election Interference


New bill to tackle electoral reform

March 2026

A functioning democratic system is vital for human rights.  It is about power and how it is wielded.  Increasingly, we have witnessed powerful outside interests – whether they be states or wealthy individuals – influencing the political debate.  Electoral reform is carried out infrequently partly because political parties settle into a comfortable relationship with the status quo.  They can also be reluctant to go against the wishes of their influential patrons. 

The newly introduced Representation of the People Bill aims to keep hostile foreign states from interfering in British elections while significantly extending democratic rights to the population. As part of the biggest expansion of democratic participation in a generation it offers first the extension of the franchise to 16 and 17-year olds, which will give voice to millions of young people.

Second, the capping of donations from companies towards electoral expenses will be set at two years of revenue, ensuring that companies that have no genuine business activity or UK footprint will be prevented from making donations.  The Bill means companies will need to have shown sufficient revenue made over the previous 3 years (allowing in most cases two financial years of revenue) to justify their donation.  It means foreign actors will no longer be able to use their money to interfere in the UK’s elections,

MPs will not be allowed to accept gifts of money or in-kind donations over £2,230. Legitimate gifted hospitality valued below this thresh-hold will continue to be acceptable.

The many other proposals to ensure election fairness include automatic voter registration without voters needing to apply, extending legitimate Voter ID to include bank cards digital forms of ID, increasing the time available for postal voting, ensuring candidates offer documentary proof of their identity to avoid misleading voters, and addressing issues of harassment at polling stations

It marks the beginning of a process that may reshape the practical workings of the UK’s democracy. Few governments have attempted to reform our democratic system quite so comprehensively in a single legislative package.  For once, the over-used ‘once in a generation’ tag may actually be justified.

But it does little to protect democracy from misinformation and disinformation in elections, despite the government recognising the risks.  It is this ability to ‘control the narrative’ which is a big factor in our political process.

Image: Electoral Reform Society

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Impact of Middle East Conflicts on Refugees in Turkey


War in Middle East and its effects

March 2026

Although war reporting generates a lot of commentary on the deaths of those caught up in the conflicts, the effects on refugees and those displaced receives much less attention. With the new war(s) in the Middle East, refugees are again in the news. So far, most displaced people have been moved within the countries of Iran and Lebanon, but Turkey in particular is being readied for an influx of refugees.  The European Union Agency for Asylum thinks here will possibly be large numbers of displaced persons as a result of the conflict, many of them heading for Turkey. The Institute for Migration estimates that as of now there are 19 million internally displaced in the region; the UNHCR have calculated in the last few days that 667,000 Lebanese have registered as displaced.

Home Secretary’s refugee plans

At home, the big story is the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood’s plan to reduce the length of protected stay of refugees from 5 years to half of that, during which time they will only have temporary refugee status.  This will be subject to review every 30 months for up to 20 years. During this period claimants may be deported if, in the opinion of the Home Office, their country of origin has become deemed “safe”.  A large number of Labour backbenchers are opposing the move, and the Law Society has observed that it might not comply with international law. Other objections have been that the plan will be costly (£872 million over a decade, according to the Refugee Council) and impractical. On 5th March, the Home Secretary revoked the legal duty to provide destitute asylum seekers with support and accommodation while their claims are processed, often for months or years.  The Home Office have been influenced by the so-called “Danish model”, which takes a hard line on immigration.

Among the latest statistics to be released, the Home Office received up to 23,000 referrals of alleged human trafficking in 2025 (the main sources were Eritrea and Vietnam).  The backlog of cases has reduced, but there has been an increase in the number of reconsiderations.  In 2025 about 100,000 claims for asylum were made in the UK. Of these, 41% were from small boat arrivals, 11% other irregular means, while 40% already had some form of leave before claiming.  The level of grants continues to drop, at 42% in 2025 (it used to be over 80%).  Syria has suffered particularly with levels of asylum grants down year-on-year from 88% to 9%.  Claims from Eritrea and Somalia are mostly accepted.

The ban on family reunions instigated last autumn is being challenged in the courts by Safe Passage International.  A High Court ruling is expected later this year.

Small boats in the Channel are now starting from further north, in Belgium, according to a BBC report.

The UN Missing Migrants Project, which records the number of deaths among attempted migrants globally, has designated three routes as particularly dangerous: from North Africa to the Central Mediterranean (esp. Libya); from Afghanistan to Iran (this was before the current conflict), and from West Africa to the Canaries (they note that migrants are coming from further south than they used to, with more risks attached).

Those politicians who seem keen on war and wanted the UK to adopt a more interventionist stance with the Israeli and US actions, seem not to be quite so aware of the knock-on effects. Many of those same politicians are to be heard railing against refugees. Wars generate refugees. A proportion end up at Calais.

AH

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