Category: Salisbury

The vigils go on


88th vigil well attended. Fears of police action unfounded

August 2025

The vigils still continue in Salisbury with unflagging attendance despite the passage of time. It must be a first that a protest of this nature has carried on for such a time despite an almost complete absence of coverage by the local paper, the Salisbury Journal. It is a demonstration that many people feel outraged by the behaviour of the IDF and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The number of those dying this way is now over a hundred and the death toll now stands at 61,000 with many thousands more buried in the rubble that is now Gaza.

Many nations – including the UK belatedly – are beginning to withdraw their support from Israel. Germany announced last week that no more arms will be sent. German commentators have called this action ‘monumental’ and one the government would have preferred not to have taken. Germany has spent decades trying to make amends for the terrible events committed by the Nazis in the Second World War. Like many other countries around the world, the disproportionate killing of civilians in Gaza and the increasing death toll from starvation is having a profound effect on public opinion.

The Knesset last week voted to take military control of the whole of Gaza in an operation due to commence in the Autumn. It is interesting looking at the values the IDF profess to have including: The IDF and our soldiers are obligated to protect human dignity. Every individual is of inherent value, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender or status. IDF soldiers appear to have shot 1,373 Palestinians seeking food since the 27 May. Human dignity?

There was a rare weekend meeting of the UN Security Council on 10 August to discuss Israel’s plans to occupy the whole of Gaza seen widely as a backwards step likely to lead inevitable to more death and destruction.

There seems no end to it and the only people who can end it are the Americans who are determined supporters of Netanyahu.

Palestine Action

Over the weekend there were widespread protests and many arrests of those alleged to be in support of Palestine Action, now deemed a ‘terrorist’ organisation by the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper. Over 500 were arrested. Cooper has defended her action saying people do not know the full truth about the organisation.

The human rights charity Amnesty International’s chief executive Sacha Deshmukh suggested the response to the protest was disproportionate.

He said: “We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. These arrests demonstrate that our concerns were justified.”

RAF flights

The depth of feeling about the government and its continued support for Israel is profound. People are deeply upset at seeing an entire population subjected to the brutal treatment by an extremely powerful army such as the IDF knowing that the UK is supporting them behind the scenes. The RAF continue to overfly Gaza with hundreds of sorties. Over 500 have taken place up to March this year with 215 since Keir Starmer became prime minister. The purpose of these flights is shrouded in mystery and the claim that they are to ‘help locate hostages’ is especially weak: 500+ flights and not to find one? Bit of a waste of money surely? There is no parliamentary oversight of these flights the purpose of which are obscure and troubling.

The RAF enjoys a fine reputation in the UK. Here in Salisbury – where Spitfires were manufactured in various places around the City and the airfield where they left for service is near where this is being typed – especially so. They valiantly defended the nation at the start of the war and ‘the Few’ are the stuff of legend. It is a shame therefore to see them being deployed in what appears to be shady activities in defence of the IDF.

Vigil No 88 – pictures courtesy of Peter Gloyns

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Strong attendance at latest vigil


UK may join France and Canada and recognise Palestine

August 2025

About 45 attended today’s 87th vigil (2 August) and with a good level of recognition by passers by. Gaza fills the news still and the US Envoy Steve Witkoff went to Gaza this week in the presence of Israeli officials only. Here is a video of the last minute of the vigil where we bang pans as a recognition of the starvation deliberately being carried out in the territory*.

The MP for Salisbury, Mr John Glen has never attended nor referred to these vigils in his weekly column in the Salisbury Journal. He is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel a powerful Commons lobbying group. This web site may also be of interest. This is a list of Labour’s Friends of Israel group.

Things are slowly beginning to change in the region with Israel becoming more isolated. The UK may recognise Palestine as a state in September. The daily footage of emaciated children has it seems, had a powerful effect on public opinion and protestations by Israeli spokes people that Hamas is stealing the aid; there is plenty of aid but the UN will not distribute it, and the denial that the IDF have shot about 1,300 who have been attempting to get supplies is believed by fewer and fewer people. As we have noted before, the refusal to allow independent journalists into the area does raise the question ‘what are they trying to hide?’

Around 60,000 have now died and many more lie undiscovered in the rubble. Starvation and famine is now affecting tens of thousands of people.

*Video courtesy of Peter Gloyns. We should explain that the three individuals on the left of the banner sitting on the bench were not part of the vigil and were not counted as attendees.

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‘Don’t say you didn’t know’


83rd vigil in Salisbury for peace in Gaza

July 2025

And so they continue, 83 now and counting. We had no notion when we started these vigils that we would still be holding them well over a year later. It is evidence of the strength of feeling that over 30 people (40 yesterday, 5th July) turn out each Saturday for half an hour of silent protest. A YouTube video prepared by Peter Gloyns can be accessed here.

The arguments are now well worn and well rehearsed. Every day, men women and children die in Gaza or have serious and life changing wounds as a result of a relentless bombardment by Israeli jets or drones. A few days ago it was a 500 lb bomb dropped on the al-Baqa café killing many and leaving a pile of mutilated body parts strewn around. Over 56,500 have now died but the actual death toll is far higher as many thousands lie under the rubble undiscovered.

The culpability of the West – including the UK – in this carnage will leave a stain on the nation for years to come. We continue to supply weapons to the Israelis; we allow Elbit Systems to continue to manufacture the drones which hover over the territory and are used to kill; we covertly use RAF planes to overfly Gaza allegedly to help locate hostages but whose real purpose is something of a mystery and we clamp down on protests: only yesterday, the government banned Palestine Action.

The nation’s broadcaster, the BBC, has come in for serious criticism – some of which is justified – for failing properly to inform its viewers and listeners of the true state of affairs. It has failed to mention the role of the RAF for example. It’s decision to pull the film Gaza: Doctors under Attack has come in for particular criticism. Fortunately, it was aired by Channel 4 and exposed in considerable detail the pattern of deliberate destruction of medical facilities in Gaza: first the bombing; then the physical destruction and finally the arrest, detention and torture of the medics. Israel and the IDF was given every opportunity to rebut claims made in the film. There seemed to be no rational reason why the BBC could not have shown it.

A feature of the BBC row is the role of one of its directors, Robbie Gibb, who is closely involved with the Jewish Chronicle and is said to be directly involved in editorial decisions including pulling the earlier Gaza film. Insiders claim the feebleness of the BBC news is largely due to his influence. Under the guise of impartiality, the result in fact is highly partial reporting.

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People in the Park


Members of the group will be there on Saturday

May 2025

Members of the Salisbury group will be at the People in the Park event this Saturday 17th from around 10:00 and we would be delighted to see you. It would be a good opportunity to say hello if you are interested in joining us. To get an idea of what we are doing, have a glance at our last set of minutes and news. Look forward to seeing you there.

The following handout will be available.

Refugee factsheet March 2023Download
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The 75th Vigil


Strong support for the vigil continues

May 2025

We held our 75th vigil on Saturday 10 May and there were 40 in attendance: the numbers are steady with new people each week. The crisis in Gaza goes from bad to worse with huge parts of the area annexed by Israel. Over 52,000 are dead. We repeated the ‘pot’ theme to echo the scenes of people desperate for food after 70 days of the blockade. We shall be back next Saturday 17th.

Nakba Event 15 May

Salisbury Concern for Israel Palestine are holding an event this week to remember Nakda, when thousands of Palestinians were driven from their homes and villages in 1948. Join Team Nakba and SCIP as we reflect on the Nakba of 1948 and subsequent events in Israel/Palestine. With Canon Jonathan Herbert, Iman Mahmoud, Miranda Pinch, Hilary Bond and the Dean of Salisbury (representing all the Abrahamic traditions).

​Takes place in All Saints Church, Watersmeet Road, Harnham’ Salisbury, SP2 8JH

7.00pm for 7.30pm. Simple refreshments available and Zaytoun Fairtrade produce on sale​.

(Picture courtesy of Peter Gloyns)

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Market stall


Market stall

May 2025

We were in Salisbury market square on Saturday 3rd, with our market stall. Thanks to group members Tony, Fiona, Rose, Eddie, Andrew, Val, Lesley and Peter for turning out to help. New photo added (5.v)

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Forthcoming group activities


These are the activities planned for the coming months

April 2025

This is a list of forthcoming events the Salisbury group will be engaged in over the coming months. Each of them would be a good opportunity to approach us if you were thinking of joining. To join us is free but to become a member of Amnesty International UK there is a membership fee. The group, as well as campaigning for prisoners of conscience, is increasingly concerned with the erosion of rights in the UK. Britain has a proud history of protest and such activity has led to a number of reforms: a look at this list will give you a taste of the numbers that have taken place over the centuries. The essential truth is that those who have power do not like relinquishing it. Recent governments have introduced legislation making it harder to protest and have given the Police even more powers to arrest or interrupt demonstrations. It is more than ever important to be part of organisations like ours to stand firm against governments and their paymasters who want to clamp down on opposition.

Several of our local MPs are reported in They Work for You website as ‘generally voting against’ human rights matters. Danny Kruger, the MP for the newly created East Wiltshire constituency (which starts about a mile north of Salisbury), would like to see the Human Right Act abolished. Protecting our rights is therefore truly important as we cannot rely on our elected representatives to do it for us.

Events

  • Market stall in the Market place, Salisbury on 3 May starting at 9am and finishing at 1pm. If you have any items for the stall, please bring them along on the day.
  • People in the Park where we will have a stand on 17 May for most of the day. This would be an ideal opportunity to make contact.
  • We are continuing with our school visits (this won’t be an opportunity to drop by of course) and something we see as important*. The last one of the current programme is in June.
  • A presence on the EcoHub stall in the Market place on a Tuesday. Dates to be confirmed but likely to be late summer/autumn. Dates will be posted on here, on Facebook (@Salisburyai) and on Bluesky once agreed .
  • A coffee morning at St Thomas’s Church Salisbury on 5 July from around 10am. Home made cakes available and in the centre of the City.
  • Don’t forget that we take place – with other groups in Salisbury – in the vigils which take place in the Market place by the Library every Saturday. They are for peace in the Middle East and in particular Gaza where over 50,000 have now died, the majority of whom were women and children. Thousands more are unaccounted for under the rubble. We have just held our 70th such event. They start at 5pm for half an hour.

Later in the year we will be holding:

  • Death penalty action on the World Day Against the Death Penalty – see Amnesty’s recently published report for 2024 – on 10 October. See also our monthly reports on the death penalty the latest of which has just been posted.
  • Write for Rights will be on 30 November.

Other events which are not yet settled are:

  • Evensong at the Cathedral. The Cathedral has the Prisoner of Conscience window and the Amnesty candle on display. Agreed date under discussion.
  • Refugee Week. Details not known yet. See our latest Refugee report.
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*If by chance you are a teacher reading this at a school in South Wiltshire and would like to discuss a visit as part of your school’s citizenship programme, please get in touch.

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Nazanin talk at Cathedral


Talk by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe inspiring for those who heard it

March 2025

UPDATE, 12 March: For those who would like to revisit the talk, the Cathedral has produced a recording, available until 17th March. 19 March: now removed.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was interviewed in Salisbury Cathedral by the Rt Revd Bishop of Sherborne, Karen Gorham, about her experiences of being imprisoned in Iran and life after her release. Unfortunately, the sound system was such that many could not hear large chunks of what was said, some claiming only being able to hear a quarter of the discussion.

The local group was pleased that the Bishop, Nazanin and her husband all mentioned the role played by Amnesty and the introducer mentioned the local group in particular.

The event was a sell-out with nearly 1,000 people in attendance. It took place on International Women’s Day.

Nazanin made the point that there was a difference between being political prisoner and a hostage.

Being a hostage brought with it a different set of rules since what the legal case was did not matter. She also said you only appreciate freedom when you don’t have it for a long time. After release she found ‘adjustment quite difficult’. For a long time she said ‘my body was free but my mind was in prison’. Even meals were difficult because she found the rush of having to eat in prison was difficult to shake off.

She discussed the Boris Johnson affair. Johnson blurted out that Nazanin was in Iran to ‘train journalists’ which was untrue: she was there on holiday. This was used by the Iranian authorities against her. It took a long time for Johnson to meet her and he failed explicitly to apologise for his error despite the effect it had on her confinement. Both have been extremely critical of the British government during her ordeal.

Richard, her husband spoke about the ‘of the kindness of strangers’ . He also spoke of the role of Amnesty and of the symbolic nature of the Amnesty logo of a candle in a coil of barbed wire.

We apologise for the partial nature of this post for reasons outside our control. Image, Amnesty International.

BlueSky

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The Amnesty tree


Salisbury group assembles to mark planting of its tree

March 2025

Last year (2024) marked the fifty years since the group was founded and here we are, still going strong if sadly the only group left in Wiltshire. We had the opportunity for a tree to be planted in honour of this anniversary and today (4 March) some of the local group assembled for a photograph in Victoria Park. We were delighted to welcome two surviving members who formed the group half a century ago.

The need to keep human rights issues on the agenda is needed now more than ever. It was perhaps the belief all those years ago that the need for a human rights group would slowly melt away in the wake of the post war ideal of the new world order following WWII. This has not been the case. Rights are being slowly chipped away at home as governments have not liked protest groups drawing attention to their climate and environment failings and continued arming of Israel for example. The previous government introduced several pieces of legislation reducing rights, increasing police powers and limiting access to justice. The new government shows little inclination to repeal them. Some MPs – including both our local ones – generally vote against human rights matters according to the They Work for You website.

Overseas – well, where to start. China continues to persecute the Uyghurs and western firms continue to buy cotton produced by effectively slave labour. War and destruction continues in Sudan and other parts of sub Sahara Africa. The situation in Burma continues with the military attacking people and villages of minority groups. We continue to sell them jet fuel to enable them to carry on. The terrible death toll continues in Gaza.

So the need to keep the spotlight on human rights is needed today as it was 50 years ago. Power, in whatever form, does not like giving it up and will go to great lengths to keep it for themselves and their supporters.

If you would like to join us you would be welcome. See a list of current and future events where you can come and make yourself known. We welcome people who want to pursue a particular human rights theme – more rights for women for example.

Photo: Salisbury Amnesty

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Tree ceremony!


March 2025

Past event

It was the tree ceremony on Tuesday, at Victoria Park. Photos and a post later.

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