Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire
Promoting human rights from Salisbury UK
Minutes of the June meeting are now available. It includes the monthly death penalty report which is available in full as a 
separate blog post.
MAIN HOUSE
Monday 15 June at 2pm
Magna Carta’s importance meant that it was traditionally read out at the opening sessions of Parliament and in English cathedrals. This panel discussion about its relevance today will include Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK, Professor Guy Standing, author of The Precariat: The Dangerous New Class and Ben Rawlence, formerly of Human Rights Watch. Excerpts from the charter will be read by one of our most celebrated actors, Edward Fox OBE.
Chaired by Peter Curbishley.
Presented in partnership with the Playhouse and Amnesty International. Tickets from Salisbury Playhouse http://www.salisburyplayhouse.com or 01722 320333
The Salisbury group, along with other groups around the world, has been campaigning on behalf of Moses Akatugba in Nigeria. He was accused of stealing three mobile phones and then subjected to torture and sentenced to death. Regrettably, torture has become endemic in Nigeria and police stations even appoint ‘torture officers’ to carry it out.
We have held many signings in Salisbury and a large number of cards were sent off to the Nigerian authorities. We are pleased to report that this campaigning effort has been a success and he has been granted a total pardon. Unusually, the Governor of Delta State mentioned the Amnesty campaign in his Facebook page.
Moses himself made a statement:
I am overwhelmed, I thank Amnesty International and their activists for the great support that made me a conqueror in this situation. Amnesty International and activists are my heroes.
I want to assure them that this great effort they have shown to me will not be in vain by the special grace of God I will live up to their expectation.
I promise to be a human rights activist, to fight for others. I am thanking the Governor for his kind gesture and for keeping to his words.
Further details of our campaign can be read on the fact sheet below;
UPDATE: Piece in the Salisbury Journal
On Monday, June 15, celebrated actor Edward Fox will read extracts from Magna Carta at Salisbury Playhouse as part of a panel discussion investigating the relevance of the historic document today.
We are pleased to announce an event at Salisbury Playhouse called Magna Carta Now on 15 June at
2pm. It will involve Edward Fox OBE who will read parts of the Magna Carta and there will be a panel discussion on the relevance of these readings in the politics today.
The event is particularly relevant in view of the announcement by the new government of their plans to scrap the Human Rights Act (or the ‘hated’ Human Rights Act as some would say), details of which are expected in the forthcoming Queen’s Speech on 27th. We have waited several years now for the promised British Bill of Rights which we understand from press comment has gone through at least 8 drafts but has still not been published.
The panel is a distinguished one:
Tickets are available from Salisbury Playhouse www.salisburyplayhouse.com (24 hours) or phone 01722 320333 or at the Playhouse itself.
We hope local Amnesty supporters and others will come along to what promises to be an interesting event. We should add that there will be an opportunity for audience participation at the end of the event.
The April meeting minutes are here thanks to Karen. They contain a lot of useful information about the death penalty and North Korea in particular. There is a group meeting this Thursday 14th
We today erected the display in the cloister at Salisbury Cathedral to celebrate the signing of Magna Carta and to illustrate the #StopTorture campaign.
It will remain in place for many weeks. There is also a panel on the Human Rights Act.
UPDATE 25TH MARCH
The film Bastards (12A) was shown this Wednesday 25 March starting at 7.30 and the audience reaction was very positive indeed. There were many questions to the producer Deborah Perkin.
In Morocco, as in all Muslim countries, sex outside marriage is illegal and women bear the brunt of society’s disapproval. But what is the fate of the children of those single mothers? They cannot attend the better schools, are turned away from infant immunisation clinics and refused government posts. Jobs, housing and a huge range of social advantages are denied them. They are despised outcasts, condemned to a life of discrimination. Bastards is the first film to tell this story from a mother’s point of view.
We shall have a petition to sign about torture in Morocco. Morocco is one of the five countries highlighted by Amnesty International in its #StopTorture campaign. We are pleased to say many people signed our petitions at the end of the showing. Thanks to the Arts Centre.
The February minutes are below thanks to Karen. A full agenda as you see with a lot going on.
Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire 