We are pleased to attach the minutes of our group meeting in September 2024 – thanks to group member Lesley for preparing them. The minutes contain a lot of interest including future group actions (see the last page). We are celebrating our formation 50 years ago and we shall be holding a brief photo op in Salisbury market square on 3 October near the Guildhall. All supporters and those with an interest in human rights are welcome to come.
We are 50 this year!
Note that we are no longer on X due to its recent history but we do have a presence on Mastodon with the handle @SalisburyAmnesty
Group deactivates its account with X and joins Mastodon instead
September 2024
The Salisbury group has decided to deactivate its account with X formerly Twitter. The platform has been the source of considerable disinformation and allows much unpleasant material to be posted. Although this is not unique to X its failure to moderate content properly was a factor. Our departure will make no difference to the site of course but we were concerned at the risk to our reputation.
We have instead registered with Mastodon and a handle of @salisburyai. Please give it a try and put it into your favourites (favorites)! Please let us know of any difficulties.
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.
We are pleased to post the current month’s refugee report produced by group member Andrew.
Following the General Election, a new approach to the issue of immigration and asylum seeking has been promised. Straight away the new government declared the deportation of irregular immigrants to Rwanda would no longer be pursued. It is not known whether Rwanda will return the £270 million received in advance. The new Home Secretary will review the position by 1st October following complaints from asylum seekers rounded up in preparation for flights to Rwanda. It was also intimated that changes would be made to the Illegal Migration Act of 2023. On which topic, the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has published a report noting that the Home Office has been trying to remove some barriers to the processing system under the Act, observing that it was “lamentable that the Home Office put forward an Act of Parliament that it has simply not been able to implement.”
The Prime Minister has announced the creation of a new Border Security Command designed to “smash the gangs” in some undisclosed fashion. The Command would be funded by money previously earmarked for the Rwanda plan and would be responsible for coordinating the activities of Immigration Enforcement, MI5, the Border Force and the National Crime Agency in tackling the gangs.
Latest statistics reveal that 22,000 migrants have arrived by boat this year so far, about the same as last year. The biggest numbers are from Afghanistan (despite some increase in the number of legal arrivals from there), Iran, Vietnam, Turkiye and Syria.
224,000 claimants are still in the system despite efforts to clear the backlog. 40% of them are still awaiting an initial decision (the total number is high because of lower levels of initial acceptance leading to a large number of appeals.)
Also on a non-UK topic, the German government have instituted temporary controls on its borders to prevent the arrival of irregular migrants (and extremists) from other EU countries. This is contrary to the Schengen agreement on free movement within the Union.
Immigration has shot to the top of the political agenda again with a vengence June 2026 Riots in Belfast with houses lived in by immigrant families burned out, a massive police presence with water canons being used and civil disturbances in Southampton, have filled out screens in the past few days. A fierce debate in…
Report for mid-May to mid-June June 2026 We are pleased to attach our latest report on the death penalty around the world thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. Although there is mention of a case in China, that country does not appear despite executing more or its citizens than the…
Our monthly report on human rights in the UK June 2026 UK Political Prisoners Research by Queen Mary University of London and the protest group Defend our Juries says that custodial sentences for acts of direct action or civil disobedience were once rare. They are now being imposed with increasing length and frequency in the…
Vigil No. 130 held in the wet. High level of support June 2026 It was a damp and windy evening so we retreated to the steps of the Library for our vigil this week attended by around 25. Notable this time was the high level of support from passers by one even presenting us with…
New feature on this site June 2026 A new feature on the site which will appear from time to time, is podcasts. The first is below. Note they are produced by AI but from texts written and researched by us not using any AI. It is an amalgamation of more than one text post. Feedback…
Pip: Nearly three decades behind bars, nine execution dates, three last meals — and the first thing Richard Glossip does on the outside is go to an Italian restaurant. There's something both devastating and deeply human about that. Mara: welland2 has been covering the territory where criminal justice, human rights, and detention conditions intersect —…
Glossip is interviewed after his release from prison June 2026 After facing nine execution dates, and being given three last meals, Richard Glossip was released on bail on May 14, 2026 and set foot outside of prison walls for the first time in nearly three decades. In an interview with The Intercept, Mr. Glossip discusses adjusting physically and emotionally to…
Channel 5 is allowed into CECOT – a prison from hell June 2026 Richard Madeley was allowed to film inside the most awful prison called CECOT – Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo – in San Salvador and the results were transmitted last week. Despite the restrictions placed on the programme makers, it showed a prison…
The steady destruction of Lebanon continues while the world looks on May 2026 The systematic destruction of large parts of southern Lebanon continues apace and on Wednesday, Israel ordered the evacuation of the city of Tyre a city of 200,000 inhabitants. Beirut has be hit by multiple missile and drone strikes which the IDF claim…
Man on death row for 34 years due to be executed May 2026 The pace of executions in Florida continues and the latest is Dusty Ray Spencer who has been on death row since 1992. Gov. De Santis has signed the warrant and the due date is noon on June 25th. Florida accounts for 40%…
Global outcry following appalling treatment of flotilla activists May 2026 The world was shocked this week by the appalling scenes and the treatment of activists seized by Israeli forces on the high seas. A BBC video shows some of what went on. Around 430 activists were seized in the operation and were shown with their…
Pip: Amnesty Salisbury keeps showing up — in the rain, at the park, in the footnotes of trade agreements nobody else is reading. Mara: That's the thread running through welland2's recent posts: rights under pressure, from ECHR reforms to death row to a sustainability fair in a local park. Let's start with where the pressure…
Sir Keir says deal with Gulf States a ‘huge win’ for British business but … May 2026 The government proudly announced a trade deal with the Gulf States this week which will increase trade with UK firms by many millions. The fly in the ointment however is the human and worker’s rights in those countries…
Salisbury group attends this event with its focus on sustainability May 2026 This event, organised by Salisbury Transition City each year with 75 exhibitors present this year. The theme is sustainability and with this in mind the Salisbury group focused on the abuse behind the manufacture an everyday item such as a pair of jeans.…
A talk by Nick Papadopulos describing his time in this city
September 2024
CORRECTED: 14TH September
Nick (pictured below) is the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral and has spent three months in this troubled city earlier in the year. He gave a talk last evening (September 11th) in St Thomas’s Church in the centre of Salisbury. Over 200 attended.
The conflict in the region raises great passions which are not to be seen in the same way with the Ukrainian conflict for example. Russia’s bombing of civilian targets and key infrastructure is seen straightforwardly as a war crime. The destruction of huge chunks of Gaza is not seen in such black and white terms. The increasing settler (and the word ‘settler’ came up in the talk, see below) violence receives only modest attention by news media or politicians. Indeed, Papadopulos commented on the reluctance of politicians in the UK to say or do much seeing the conflict as ‘toxic’ he said. The recent decision by the UK government for a modest reduction in arms sales suggested an effort to assuage those who argue for a total ban and a reluctance to upset the Israeli government. It looks as though they have achieved neither, one of the perils of fence sitting.
‘You can’t be neutral’
He gave a brief history of key events in the recent past starting with 1948, the declaration of the state of Israel and the displacement of three quarters of a million Palestinians which they refer to as the Nakba. He briefly discussed the 6 day war which saw the new state annex large areas of land in the region. These have been given up but they obtained control of Jerusalem, the West Bank, Golan Heights and maintained control of Gaza. Sanai reverted to Egypt. In answer to a question on this he emphasised that it was true that Israel no longer occupied Gaza but they did control it. It became the largest open air prison in the world with no access by sea or air and surrounded by checkpoints.
He described witnessing some of the arbitrary restrictions imposed by Israel on citizens in Jerusalem. One concerned a wish by Moslems to enter parts of the city to pray at the Al-Aqsa mosque. Restrictions were suddenly imposed which included only allowing men over 55 to enter and women over 45 likewise. New ID cards and a permit required giving them no time to acquire them. The result was that almost no one got in.
It was not just Moslems but similar restrictions applied to Christians who wish to celebrate Palm Sunday. 20,000 permits were applied for but only 2,000 issued too late for them to be of use. These events are confirmed by Machsom Watch a locally based women’s group which monitors checkpoints in the country. Freedom of worship is protected by article 37 of the Geneva Convention. We do not know the Israeli response to these events but they happen sufficiently often to appear to be an act of policy rather than a response to a particular threat. Checkpoints are surrounded by heavily armed soldiers with a ‘Skunk Water‘ van in attendance. These are used to drench crowds with an evil smelling fluid. The effect of these actions he said is to ‘weaken Jerusalem’s religious diversity’.
West Bank
A few items have appeared in TV news recently by BBC, ITV and Channel 4 showing the settler violence in the west bank. He described one such where Israelis arrived in the early hours and completely destroyed the Palestinian village. He also described the destruction of solar panels, important where there is no electricity. Pouring raw sewage onto land where children play was also mentioned. The various examples he gave concerned collective punishment which is contrary to article 33 of the Convention. He provided several examples of homes and facilities destroyed.
There was a question about the word ‘settler’ which by itself is a fairly neutral word and implies something small scale. In reality the settlements are almost cities and represent a permanent development. It was important to note he said that the ‘settlers’ were now part of the government.
Another question concerned the Holocaust. He reminded us that no Arab was involved in that atrocity, it was Europeans. He did not think that comparison of the Holocaust with what is going on today was helpful he said.
This was an extremely interesting illustrated talk from someone who has spent time in the region and witnessed first hand some of the oppression Moslems, Christians and Armenians experience on a regular basis. It was a pity he did not mention the ‘Apartheid‘ word which was relevant to his presentation. There seems no end to the violence at the time or writing and it does not appear the various cease fire initiatives have come to anything.
For those unable to get to this presentation, there will be a chance to hear it again on 13th November [not 3rd as we earlier posted] at the Quaker centre on Wilton Road, Salisbury.
There was a Vigil as usual this Saturday 14th September in the market place starting at 5pm for half an hour which attracted 30 people. Last week’s Vigil attracted around 35 people.
We are pleased to attach the latest death penalty report covering the period mid-August to mid-September thanks to group member Lesley for the work in preparing it. Note as ever that China does not appear in the report despite being the world’s largest executioner as details of executions are a state secret.
The 39th Vigil was held yesterday (31st August) in the market square as usual. Over 30 attended with a scattering of people joining in as they passed. The death toll is over 40,000 and there seems little sign of a peace deal. Efforts last week seem to have come to nought. There has been a short cessation of hostilities to enable the UN to carry out polio vaccinations.
ADDITION: the brutal murder by Hamas of six of the hostages has sent shockwaves around the world and has led to tens of thousands of Israelis to protest over the government’s failure to secure a peace deal and the release of the remaining hostages.
We shall be there again next week starting at 5pm in Salisbury market place next to the Library. All are welcome.
Film about the Israeli/Palestine conflict to be shown next month
September 2024
The film Tinderbox is to be shown at the United Reform Church in Fisherton Street, Salisbury on Monday 7th October starting at 7pm. Entry is free. It is a Christian Aid Film.
The conflict rages in Gaza and settler violence has increased in the West Bank. Over 40,000 are now dead in Gaza and prospects for peace being discussed only a week or so ago seem moribund. There has been a pause in hostilities to enable UN agencies to administer polio vaccine following an outbreak of this highly contagious disease.
The film was written and directed by Gillian Mosely who is Jewish and consists of a range of interviews with representatives of both sides of the conflict. It has received mixed reviews, the Times calling it ‘trite’ and the Jewish Chronicle said it was ‘thought provoking but out of its depth’ however the story itself concludes that ‘it does a great job in laying out some of the important moments in Israel’s history …’ Both the JC review and the Guardian found it strange that she did not interview friends or her own family although an educated guess might provide good reasons why not.
A detailed review published in the Conversation is worth reading giving an historical context to this conflict.
With the death toll in Gaza over 40,000 and no sign of a peace deal, our weekly Vigil continued today – 24th August – with just under 30 in attendance. Some passers by stop and take part which is encouraging. We had one person shout at us from afar. We shall be back on 31st at 5pm as usual.
Three of the participants. Photo: Salisbury Amnesty
Still they continue and just under 40 attended the Vigil in Salisbury on Saturday 17th August. A grim milestone was reached during the week when the Health Ministry announced the death toll in Gaza has passed 40,000 and shows no sign of ending. The Israeli authorities dispute these figures but the evidence suggests they are an underestimate since many thousands are buried and unaccounted for.
Peace talks are taking place in Doha and are being spoken about optimistically by the Americans at least although Hamas are not in attendance. Today’s reports are less optimistic.
There are signs of patience running out in Western capitals and the new Foreign Secretary David Lammy is in Israel with his French counterpart to try and promote some kind of peace initiative. In a joint article in the Observer (August 18th) it is clear both governments are worried by a regional escalation.
It is not clear whether the UK will cease or reduce arms sales to the country but CAAT reported recently (6 August) that there has been no change in the government’s position. Reports that they were rethinking appear to have been premature. The major supplier is the US which is done on a government to government basis.
There has also been a perceptible change in reporting by the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV with more robust interviews and pointed questioning. On Channel 4 for example, in an interview concerning the mounting settler violence in the West Bank where a large group of them were filmed rampaging through a Palestinian village, Matt Frei used the ‘apartheid’ word at least twice. On Radio 4 where and Israeli official was casting doubt over the death statistics in Gaza, the interviewer noted that independent journalists were not allowed in to the territory: clearly the inference was that if you will not permit independent verification, it is hard for you to complain about the statistics.
What is becoming increasingly apparent is the sympathy and shock felt around the world at the horrific attack on October 7th and the continuing plight of the 100 or so hostages held captive in Gaza is diminishing. Claims that it is Hamas terrorists being targeted and killed are also being questioned in the light of vast numbers of dead women and children.
Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire 