A Note from our Regional Director

Dear Friends,
Let me tell you about my recent trip to Kansas City.
On Thursday, 10/27, Laura Osborn-Coffey (chair of the Area Coordinator Steering Committee) and I co-facilitated a lively Leadership Institute with 13 emerging and experienced leaders from across the region. By the evening, we had reached a level of emotional (and physical) comfort with each other that led participants to remark that they felt like they’d known each other since high school. On Friday, participants put their skills to the test, and presented fun, interactive and effective 45-minute trainings on topics ranging from Facilitating a Successful Meeting to Dealing with Conflict within Groups. Now they’re ready to take their show on the road and offer trainings and support to groups that need it.
Next, we headed to a Justice for Reggie Clemons Rally along with more than a hundred Amnesty members and community partners. That chilly, but invigorating, action was followed by a reception celebrating Amnesty International’s 50th anniversary by honoring long-term members and groups. I was particularly moved by our special guest, Ed LeMaster, who spoke of his time as one of the very first prisoners of conscience that Amnesty International worked to free, and even brought Christmas cards that he’d received from Amnesty members while he was in prison.
The rest of the weekend was a whirlwind for me – informative and inspiring plenaries on the death penalty, uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, and workers’ rights; hands-on workshops; and lots of networking! If you were there, I hope you left feeling as energized, inspired and connected as I did.
A conference of this magnitude doesn’t happen without the involvement of a lot of very dedicated (and very tired!) people. I’d like to thank the Midwest Regional Office staff and interns, the Regional Conference Planning Committee, the MW Regional Planning Group, and all of the member leaders and volunteers who contributed their time and energy to make this a great event!
As we approach the holidays, I’m feeling thankful for all of you – for your commitment, and for everything you do to help protect and advance human rights. Have a peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving.
-Debra Erenberg

Also, be sure to check out our Tumbles! click here to see pictures, campaign work, and more!

Human Rights Defenders in Russia Under Threat

"She talked to soldiers' mothers trying to find their sons' corpses in military morgues where mangled bodies lay unnamed and unclaimed—the result of the Russian army's unique mixture of callousness and incompetence. And she talked to Chechens whose friends and relatives had disappeared into the notorious “filtration camps” to suffer torture, mutilation, rape and death."
This excerpt from an obituary for investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya was found in the October 12th, 2006 edition of The Economist, published just five days after her murder. She had recieved death threats many times before, yet always refused to back down from the work for which she ultimately gave her life. In fact, the day she was killed, she was due to turn in an article on the corruption and violence of the warlords who were at that time ruling Chechnya.
However, today -the fifth anniversary of this courageous woman's murder- little progress has been made towards the protection of journalists and other human rights activists in Russia. On the contrary, there have been numerous abductions, beatings, and murders of human rights activists, yet only two cases have been solved: the murders of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova. This is absolutely unacceptable, as the voices of those who fight relentlessly for human rights are, in fact, the voices of liberty, and of humanity itself.
"Unless and until such critical voices receive the recognition and protection they need – and are entitled to – Russia will not get the civil society it needs," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty's Europe and Central Asia deputy program director. "In its place," he continued, "corruption, the abuse of power and human rights violations will continue to flourish."
So, in the memory of Anna Politkovskaya, and of all others who have given their lives fighting to put an end to human rights violations, Amnesty strives to continue their work. According to an Amnesty International press release from today, October 7th, 2011, "in the coming year, Amnesty International activists will continue to campaign for full and impartial investigations in to attacks against human rights defenders, journalists and civil society activists in Russia. Activists will urge the Russian authorities to ensure that human rights defenders can work freely and without fear of harassment."
Amnesty International is strong because of you. Our 3 million members give us a voice against those who would hide the atrocities that people like Politkovskaya dedicate their lives to exposing. Click here to become a member, and become a voice for those who are silenced.
For more information on our work and other ways to become involved, please visit the AIUSA website.

Iranian Filmmakers Imprisoned

Six individuals, the filmmakers and producers of a documentary, were arrested on September 17th. These five documentary directors (Hadi Afarideh, Shahnam Bazdar, Naser Saffarian, Mohsen Shahrnazdar, and Mojtaba Mir Tahmasb) along with producer and distributor (Katayoun Shahabi), are alleged to have"provided BBC Persian with information, films and secret reports to paint a black picture of Iran and Iranians."

Their arrests follow the release of a documentary they created, about the life of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The film was broadcasted on BBC Persian, and was widly viewed across the nation.

The recent months have witnessed a growing attempt to silence those in the Iranian film industry, with arrests of actors, directors, and producers.
Since January of 2010, it has been declared illegal for any Iranian citizen to be in contact with over 60 foreign institutions, including media outlets such as the BBC, and some human rights organizations. However, despite this and the outright banning of satellite dishes, the BBC's satellite transmission of the program was jammed inside Iran.

This new attempt by Iranian officials to supress speech and ideals that counter those of the government itself is only one part of the growing problem in this and other nations. Amnesty International promotes the release of all people imprisoned because of who they are or what they believe.
For more information about our campaigns, please click here!

Heavy Sentences Against Bahrainian Health Professionals "ludicrous"

At a seven-minute court session , the names of 20 defendants were read, the guilty verdicts announced, and prison sentences of up to 15 years handed out.
These defendants, all doctors and other health professionals, were tried in a military court for supposedly trying to overthrow the Bahrainian Government during the protests earlier this year.
"These are simply ludicrous charges against civilian professionals who were working to save lives amid very trying circumstances," said Philip Luther, deputy director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africia Program. "It appears that the real reason for targeting these health workers was the fact that they denounced the government crackdown on protesters in interviews to international media."
The charges against these individuals included inciting hatred against the regime, occupying Manama's Salamaniya Medical Complex (the place they worked) by force, stealing medicines, and stockpiling arms at the hospital.

This is the story of numerous ordinary civilians- including doctors, teachers, and human rights activists- who have been tried in military court for protests against the government. Amnesty International is only one of the Non-Governmental Organizations who have joined ranks with assorted governments to rally behind these civilians in the hopes of-at least- getting them tried by a civilian, not military court.

To join our action, please click here, and for more information on this and other human rights issues, please go to the Amnesty USA homepage.

Unjust Executions Must Be Stopped Worldwide

For the millions of those around the world that protested the execution of Troy Davis on Wednesday evening a state of shock and disbelief continues. How could the US system of justice be so flawed? How could the voices of millions, of a President, Pope, and of pop-stars fall on the deaf ears of the Georgia Board of Paroles, and of the Supreme Court? It still seems unfathomable that such an injustice could have occurred.

But the fight goes on. We here at Amnesty International USA will continue to fight, with renewed and re-doubled efforts, as per Troy Davis’s wishes, to ensure that one day no-one in the USA will be executed.
But the abuse of human rights that is the death penalty is not only perpetrated in the USA. In Iran, Christian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has been sentenced to death for apostasy. Such a punishment is against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is wholly unjust, and reprehensible.

Cases such as these are the kind that Amnesty wishes to abolish around the world. And you too can help us. If you feel strongly about ending the death penalty, make the Not In My Name pledge, and stay updated on Amnesty’s efforts.

If you can, start or renew your membership with Amnesty, and become one of 3 million others around the world that dream of a better future, protect human rights, and Shine a Light on injustice around the world.

Stop Troy Davis’s Execution, Then Stop The Death Penalty

Troy Davis’s execution has been set for September the 21st. This is a travesty of justice in the particular case of Troy Davis, and the fact that death penalty is still used as a form of punishment in the USA is as lamentable as it is anachronistic.

If you are against the death penalty in all circumstances, and support our campaign to save Mr Davis’s life, then Amnesty needs your help. Sign our petition here, and see here for how you can do your part to organize for Troy.

If you do not know the specifics of the Troy Davis case, then this will show you that there are large swathes of doubt over Mr Davis’s guilt. For twenty years, Mr Davis has pleaded his innocence, and now many key witnesses no longer defend their original testimonies, which they say they were forced to sign by police officers.

If you are in favour of the death penalty, or do not know where you stand on the issue, then we hope that these facts will convince you to support Amnesty’s cause.

1. The death penalty is the ultimate sentence. There is no chance of reprieve, so the evidence on which the judgment is made must be unambiguous and water-tight. All too often, however, people like Troy Davis are sentenced to death without incontrovertible evidence against them. Many of these people are innocent of the crimes for which they are convicted. Indeed, since 1973, over 130 people that have been sentenced to death have been released from death row due to wrongful convictions.

2. Unfortunately, there is strong evidence to support the fact that the application of the death penalty is discriminatory. Defendants are more likely to be sentenced to death if they are not white, or if the victim of the crime is white. Although the USA has a strong legal system that guarantees many fundamental legal rights, it is nevertheless the case that prejudice can creep in and significantly affect the judgment and punishment of a case.

3. Although the death penalty is promoted by many as a deterrent, there is reason to believe that it is not effective in this regard. Firstly, murder rates are highest in those states that, on average, execute more people. This alone does not show that the death penalty is not an effective deterrent, but it does hint at the fact that there are far more factors that affect levels of crime than merely the lack of strong deterrents. In addition, it is plausible to believe that the death penalty in fact increases the gravity of many crimes: if one faces life imprisonment for a crime, one will likely attempt to run or hide. If, instead, one is likely to face the death penalty, one may attempt to ensure that this eventuality does not arise by killing all possible witnesses to the original crime.

4. The death penalty is increasingly seen as immoral around the world. More than two-thirds of all countries no longer use the death penalty. In fact, the process of putting someone to death has been described as cruel, inhuman, and unusual punishment. Extradition of US citizens from Europe back to the US, when there is the possibility of the death penalty being faced, has been forbidden by the European Court of Human Rights on the grounds that the circumstances of living on death row are similar to torture, and thus such extradition would violate international law. For full legal proceedings and all due process to be fulfilled, those on death row frequently spend many years in isolated cells, alternating between hope and despair, and facing unimaginable psychological trauma. Even if one argues that the death penalty itself is justified due to the gravity of some crimes, the application of the death penalty is simply immoral.

5. Finally, if the above arguments are not persuasive, perhaps the fact that the death penalty is extremely costly will be so. The cost of putting someone to death exceeds by far the cost of instead seeking and then convicting someone of life imprisonment. Depending on the state, life-imprisonment may be ten or even twenty times cheaper than the death penalty. In an age when money is short, it is only prudent to abolish the death penalty. Not only do many states face budgetary problems, but the use of extra funds to put someone to death diverts those funds that could be better used to prevent crimes in the first place.

For more information, facts, and figures on the death penalty and Amnesty’s work to end it, go to Amnesty’s website.

- Cameron Charles Russell

                Amnesty International USA Midwest Office Intern