Ángel is reunited with his family thanks to you!

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The Candle spring 2015, Vol. 14, No. 1 My message to all those who are showing me their solidarity, and are against torture and discrimination, is don t drop your guard. A new horizon is dawning.

Ángel is reunited with his family thanks to you!

1 The Candle spring 2015, Vol. 14, No. 1 My message to all those who are showing me their solidarity, and are against torture and discrimination, is don t drop your guard. A new horizon is dawning. Ángel Colón ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP/Getty Images Ángel Colón reunited with family and friends in Honduras. Amnesty International supporters backed a global campaign for his freedom. Ángel is reunited with his family thanks to you! In 2009, Mexican police tortured and falsely accused Ángel Colón You made it possible for an Amnesty Canada team to visit him in jail Weeks later Ángel was freed and joined his family in Honduras After five long years in jail, prisoner of conscience Ángel Amílcar Colón Quevedo was freed on October 15. Soon after, Ángel had a joyful reunion with his family in Honduras. But if not for Amnesty supporters like you, Ángel s homecoming might never have happened. How Ángel Colón s nightmare began Ángel had been a human rights defender in Honduras, working for the rights of the Garifuna ethnic group. When his eight-year old son became gravely ill with cancer, Ángel tried to reach the USA to find a job to pay for medical treatment. Police arrested him in northern Mexico and his nightmare began. Ángel was blindfolded and taken to a military base where he could hear the screams of other prisoners. He was kicked, punched and racially abused. He fought for breath when a plastic bag was put over his head. He was stripped and forced to lick clean the shoes of other prisoners. Ángel signed a false confession that he was a member of a criminal gang a confession he retracted when brought before a judge. Ángel told the authorities about the torture. The authorities did nothing. Six months after Ángel s arrest, his son died. How you made a difference You stood with Ángel in his struggle for justice. Amnesty supporters urged the Mexican authorities to free Ángel and investigate his torture. Thousands sent solidarity messages to him. In September 2014, a team from Amnesty Canada visited Ángel in prison. Ángel was deeply moved to hear that so many people around the world were working for his freedom. Finally, all the pressure paid off. Just a month after the Amnesty visit, the Mexican authorities freed Ángel. You helped an innocent man win his freedom

Amnesty International Thank you for standing with torture survivors in their struggle for justice Knowing that I am not alone has made a big difference to me Claudia Medina Tamariz Torture survivor

The banner was created by Amnesty supporters in Canada.

2 Amnesty International Thank you for standing with torture survivors in their struggle for justice Knowing that I am not alone has made a big difference to me Claudia Medina Tamariz Torture survivor Claudia Medina (middle) receives a solidarity banner from Amnesty Canada s Andrea Oakunsheyld, Alex Neve, Tim Carpentier, Crystal Giesbrecht, and Kathy Price. The banner was created by Amnesty supporters in Canada. Dear partner in human rights, In September 2014, your support made it possible for a team from Amnesty Canada to visit Mexico for the release of a ground-breaking Amnesty report into the rampant torture taking place throughout the country. Incidents of torture in Mexico have increased 600% over the past decade. Our mission was also a show of solidarity with survivors of torture. Shortly after the mission came the wonderful news that one prisoner we visited Ángel Colón had been released (see page 1 for Ángel s story). Claudia Medina Tamariz was another inspiring individual we spent time with. Claudia is a survivor of torture and a courageous campaigner for justice for the terrible abuses she endured. In August 2012, Mexican marines broke into Claudia s home and took her away to a local naval base. There, Claudia suffered terrible torture, including electric shocks and sexual assault. Claudia s demand for investigations into the torture she experienced has become central to Amnesty s global Stop Torture campaign. Torture is widely used in Mexico to terrorize and spread fear and to keep people quiet. Claudia has broken through that silence, sharing widely the brutal treatment she experienced and speaking passionately about the need for justice. In February 2015, we received the good news that the Mexican authorities have dropped all criminal charges against Claudia. This is not the end of Claudia s struggle for justice but it is a positive development. When we met Claudia, we gave her a collection of messages from Amnesty supporters across Canada. And we unfolded a vibrant yellow banner with a message of solidarity from an Amnesty event held in Toronto in June Claudia s smile became brighter and brighter as she took it all in. She told us the banner was so meaningful to her that she intended to hang it in her bedroom, as a reminder of the tremendous support she has in Canada. Her words of appreciation could not have been more heartfelt. It was clear that solidarity from Amnesty supporters your solidarity fuels her determination. Alex Neve, Secretary General How you re making a difference in the struggle to end torture Because of you, individuals who have survived torture, and are still vulnerable to ongoing threats and violence, know that they are not alone. With your ongoing support, Amnesty International is able to campaign for concrete changes and reforms to prevent and stop torture. After you stood with torture survivor Claudia Medina Tamariz in her struggle for justice, Mexican authorities dropped all criminal charges against her. 2 Amnesty international

Private Good News YAMIL LAGE/AFP/Getty Images Private Vietnamese blogger Dieu Cay released Nguyen Van Hai, better known by his pen name Dieu Cay ( peasant s pipe ), was released from prison in Viet

His deteriorating health and the harsh prison conditions made his release even more welcome. Immediately after his release, he was taken to the airport and left for the USA.

His sudden release shows how the passion and persistence of Amnesty International members can help in the struggle for human rights in Viet Nam. Thank you for helping win his freedom!

3 Private Good News YAMIL LAGE/AFP/Getty Images Private Vietnamese blogger Dieu Cay released Nguyen Van Hai, better known by his pen name Dieu Cay ( peasant s pipe ), was released from prison in Viet Nam in October, having served four years of a 12-year prison sentence. He was jailed for writing an online blog that called for an end to injustice and corruption in Viet Nam. His deteriorating health and the harsh prison conditions made his release even more welcome. Immediately after his release, he was taken to the airport and left for the USA. How you made a difference After Amnesty International declared Nguyen Van Hai a prisoner of conscience, Amnesty supporters backed a campaign demanding his freedom. His sudden release shows how the passion and persistence of Amnesty International members can help in the struggle for human rights in Viet Nam. Thank you for helping win his freedom! Dr Tun Aung freed in Myanmar The good news was received in December that Dr Tun Aung was freed and reunited with his family in Myanmar. He had received a presidential pardon. Dr Tun Aung is a Muslim community leader and medical doctor imprisoned after he tried to calm the crowd during a riot in 2012 involving Buddhists and the Rohingya Muslim minority in Western Myanmar s Rakhine State. Initially sentenced to eight years in prison, Dr Tun Aung s sentence was later increased to 17 years. How you made a difference Because of your support Amnesty International was able to issue a global appeal soon after we heard about Dr Tun Aung s case. Activists from all over the world responded, sending letters to the authorities in Myanmar, demanding his immediate and unconditional release. Dr Tun Aung s case also featured in Amnesty s 2013 Write for Rights campaign. Private Political prisoners freed in Cuba Angel Figueredo and Haydee Gallardo (pictured above) were among dozens of political prisoners released in Cuba this year. In total, it is believed 53 were released as relations thawed between Cuba and the USA. Among those released were the twins Bianco Vargas Martín and Diango Vargas Martín. They were jailed after they peacefully protested the detention of their brother Alexeis in November One day, Alexeis found his house surrounded by government supporters. Inside, his mother, Miraida Martín Calderín, was meeting with members of the Ladies in White protest group. Alexeis was refused entry to his home and police arrested him. How you made a difference Amnesty supporters have spoken out against the government cracking down on journalists and political activists. You have long called for respect for human rights and freedom of expression in Cuba. The Candle spring

Reuniting families Karel Chladek At a demonstration in Montreal, Ensaf Haidar (centre) calls for her husband, Raif Badawi, to be freed from jail in Saudi Arabia.

Raif Badawi You re campaigning to bring Raif Badawi home to canada Raif Badawi faces 50 lashes in Saudi Arabia every Friday Just after Friday prayers on January 9, Raif Badawi was led into the middle

4 Reuniting families Karel Chladek At a demonstration in Montreal, Ensaf Haidar (centre) calls for her husband, Raif Badawi, to be freed from jail in Saudi Arabia. Badawi is a prisoner of conscience, sentenced to be flogged 1,000 times. Raif Badawi You re campaigning to bring Raif Badawi home to canada Raif Badawi faces 50 lashes in Saudi Arabia every Friday Just after Friday prayers on January 9, Raif Badawi was led into the middle of the square in front of al-jafali mosque in Jeddah. A large crowd had gathered. Raif stood, handcuffed and shackled by his ankles, his face uncovered. A security officer approached Raif and caned him across the back and legs, until he had been flogged 50 times. An eyewitness said, Raif raised his head towards the sky, closing his eyes and arching his back. He was silent, but you could tell from his face and his body that he was in real pain. A decade in prison for championing free speech Raif had set up a website, Saudi Arabian Liberals, as a forum for political and social debate. For this he was arrested in June In May 2014, he was found guilty of breaking Saudi Arabia s strict technology laws and insulting Islamic religious figures. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes, and a fine of over CAN$300,000. He is also banned from travelling for 10 years following his sentence and from participating in the media. 4 Amnesty international Raif Badawi s punishment is cruel and unjust Raif is not a criminal he is a prisoner of conscience who called for free speech on his website. His treatment by authorities in Saudi Arabia is a vicious act of cruelty. The Saudi authorities must release him immediately. In Canada, Raif s wife Ensaf leads the campaign to free him Raif told me he is in a lot of pain, said Ensaf Haidar, Raif s wife, who is leading the global campaign from her home in Sherbrooke, Quebec. His health is poor and he cannot take another round of lashes. How you, as an Amnesty supporter, are helping Raif Badawi As we go to print, Raif awaits 950 more lashes. Since January 9, his weekly flogging has been postponed each Friday. As an Amnesty supporter you are urging Saudi Arabia to quash Raif s conviction and overturn his unjust prison sentence, fine, and media and travel ban and stop the flogging. Flogging is torture it can never be justified. Ensaf thanks you for joining her in her struggle I thank each person who spoke out for Raif, Ensaf said. It gives me strength and hope that there are others who stand beside us. People who want freedom for Raif just as I and my children do.

Reuniting families LEO LA VALLE/AFP/Getty Images Private Yunus family Human rights defenders Leyla and Arif Yunus are now kept apart in different prisons.

Karel Chladek You re working to bring Leyla and Arif back together After 36 years of life together we re in different cells in different prisons most difficult of all is that you are not nearby.

5 Reuniting families LEO LA VALLE/AFP/Getty Images Private Yunus family Human rights defenders Leyla and Arif Yunus are now kept apart in different prisons. Prisoner of conscience Mahdi Abu Dheeb, his wife and children (daughter Maryam is behind the camera). Karel Chladek You re working to bring Leyla and Arif back together After 36 years of life together we re in different cells in different prisons most difficult of all is that you are not nearby. For 36 years we have almost never been apart! Leyla Yunus wrote to her husband Arif from her jail cell. Leyla and Arif Yunus are voices for freedom in Azerbaijan. They led the Peace and Democracy Institute. For a long time, the government used threats to try to silence Leyla and Arif. Then the government accused them of treason and jailed them. Amnesty International believes that the charges against them are trumped up. The authorities are harassing Leyla and Arif because of their human rights work. Amnesty considers Leyla and Arif Yunus to be prisoners of conscience, jailed because they criticized the Azerbaijani government. A recent Amnesty investigation found that at least 20 other people are in prison for exercising their right to free speech. Amnesty has been campaigning for Leyla and Arif to be released. You re supporting the campaign to win their freedom. You re helping to bring them back together. You re helping to reunite this courageous couple with their friends and family. You re helping to bring home Their Dad It all started for Mahdi Abu Dheeb, a teacher and leader of Bahrain Teachers Association, when he took part in a peaceful pro-democracy protest in Bahrain s capital Manama in February In the following days, the authorities cracked down, arresting teachers like Mahdi. Mahdi was dragged from his bed, thrown from a second-floor window, and taken into custody. In Bahrain s notorious Jaw prison, he was tortured and sentenced to 10 years in prison (since lowered to five years). Punished because he had called for freedom in Bahrain. Amnesty International declared Mahdi a prisoner of conscience and issued a series of global appeals and petitions on his behalf. I didn t know that the world was such an awful place and I didn t know that fantastic people like you in Amnesty existed, said Mahdi s daughter, Maryam Mahdi Abu Dheeb. You are the reason for Maryam s gratitude. You and other Amnesty supporters like you. Since Mahdi s arrest, you ve been demanding his release. You ve been urging the Bahraini authorities to end their harassment of teachers and union members. And you ve been calling for the human rights of everyone in Bahrain to be respected. The Candle spring

Amnesty International Shell to pay out $83 million over Nigeria oil spills In January, oil giant Shell made an out-of-court settlement in the UK of 55 million (CAD$83 million) to compensate the Bodo

On August 28, 2008, equipment failure in a pipeline caused a massive oil spill into Bodo Creek, killing the fish that people depend on for their food and livelihood.

6 Amnesty International Shell to pay out $83 million over Nigeria oil spills In January, oil giant Shell made an out-of-court settlement in the UK of 55 million (CAD$83 million) to compensate the Bodo community of Ogoniland, Nigeria, after the livelihoods of thousands were destroyed by oil spills. On August 28, 2008, equipment failure in a pipeline caused a massive oil spill into Bodo Creek, killing the fish that people depend on for their food and livelihood. A second major spill began on December 7, Amnesty International and the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development investigated the spills and exposed Shell s failure to clean up the pollution. Amnesty supporters long campaigned alongside the people of Bodo, taking to the streets in many countries to protest in solidarity with them. The case also featured in Amnesty s global Write for Rights letter-writing marathon. El Salvador woman pardoned: Guadalupe was sentenced to 30 years for suffering a miscarriage Just 18 years old when she was jailed, Guadalupe was sentenced to 30 years in prison after suffering a miscarriage in She was wrongly accused of having an abortion, which is outlawed in all circumstances in El Salvador. If you re poor and have a miscarriage in El Salvador, you may be accused of having an abortion and locked up. On January 16, El Salvador s Legislative Assembly voted against pardoning Guadelupe, one of 17 women in jail with lengthy sentences after being accused of having an abortion. International pressure from Amnesty International and others led to a re-vote and a pardon was granted. Guadalupe s pardon is a victory for human rights. Through their activism, campaigning and generous donations, Amnesty supporters played a part in helping Guadalupe achieve justice. Amnesty International Prisoner Jerryme Corre thanks you from the Philippines On February 16, Jerryme Corre celebrated his birthday with his wife and Amnesty International staff at the city jail in Angeles, Philippines. Jerryme was imprisoned three years ago, accused of possessing drugs. He says police tortured him into a confession. Jerryme s torture case is currently before a Philippines court the first time a torture complaint has been decided by a court. The Amnesty team delivered Jerryme thousands of letters of support from around the world and a cake. He seemed unable to contain his happiness. There was a time when Jerryme felt so hopeless, and we did not know what to do, Jerryme s wife said. You are giving hope to Jerryme and his wife. Your support is helping them continue their fight for justice. Jerryme Corre celebrates his birthday in jail with his wife and an Amnesty International team. Because of your support, people are freed, lives are saved and justice is done. 6 Amnesty international

book club Awareness + Action = A Different Kind of Book Club Amnesty Canada s Andy Thompson with Muleya Mwananyanda, Deputy Regional Director at Amnesty s new Southern Africa regional office.

ca You ll get great book recommendations, informative discussion guides, and a current human rights action you can take. It s completely free and open to everyone!

Africa Regional Office in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Southern Africa office, along with the Hong Kong office, is part of the first wave of new Amnesty regional offices.

New regional offices around the world will allow Amnesty to respond more quickly and effectively to human rights violations as they occur, especially those violations affecting local communities.

7 book club Awareness + Action = A Different Kind of Book Club Amnesty Canada s Andy Thompson with Muleya Mwananyanda, Deputy Regional Director at Amnesty s new Southern Africa regional office. Interested in joining a different kind of book club? Check out the Amnesty International Book Club at amnestybookclub.ca You ll get great book recommendations, informative discussion guides, and a current human rights action you can take. It s completely free and open to everyone! You helped Amnesty strengthen our presence in Southern Africa In November 2014, Andy Thompson, a Director on the board of Amnesty International Canada, visited Amnesty International s new Southern Africa Regional Office in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Southern Africa office, along with the Hong Kong office, is part of the first wave of new Amnesty regional offices. It has been open for about eighteen months. The office is part of Amnesty s Moving Closer to the Ground initiative. New regional offices around the world will allow Amnesty to respond more quickly and effectively to human rights violations as they occur, especially those violations affecting local communities. A chance to put the world to rights over a cup of tea Invite some friends, brew a pot of tea, bake a cake and raise money to fight human rights abuses around the world. That s the essence of AMNESTEA. AMNESTEA parties can be big or small, elaborate or intimate. Just set yourself a fundraising target, invite guests and raise money through donations for tea and cake, or tea and sandwiches. You can also ask your guests to sign a postcard action or petition. It s amazing what you can get accomplished over a cup of tea! Sign up at amnestea.ca and start planning today! Questions? Contact Hala Al-Madi at specialevents@amnesty.ca or Amnesty s AGM is in May 2015 Amnesty s 2015 Annual General Meeting is in Halifax, Nova Scotia, May A Human Rights Conference at the Halifax Central Library will be free and open to the public. Details are at amnesty.ca/agm2015. Members will elect Amnesty Board Members using an online voting system (go to amnesty.ca/elections for information). To learn more about Amnesty membership and ensure you re eligible to vote, go to amnesty.ca/members. Spring 2015, Volume 14, Number 1 The Candle is a publication of Amnesty International Canada. Please let us know if you would like extra copies, or if you would prefer not to receive the newsletter in future. If you have questions or comments or would like more information on any aspect of our work or how to get more involved, please contact us at: Amnesty International, 312 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa ON, K1N 1H9. editor: David Griffiths contributors: Hala Al-Madi, Will Bryant, Nicole Burgess, Alex Neve, Heather Warren Joss Maclennan Design Printed by union labour at MPH Graphics. Canadian Publication Mail Agreement Number Why I want Amnesty to be a part of my legacy What more powerful gift can we have than to be a part of the solution to at least some of the world s problems saving lives and freeing prisoners of conscience through Amnesty? Is it surprising then that I want Amnesty to continue its amazing, ground shaking work? Leaving a gift in my will enables me to do just that. This is one more way to help Amnesty s work go on I can think of no better way of ensuring justice and dignity for future generations. Margaret John. Pass on the values that you believe in and stand for during your lifetime. Your legacy gift, whatever its size, will help stop human rights violations for future generations. For more information, or to let us know that you have left a gift in your will, please fill in and return the attached coupon. More information is also available at amnesty.ca/legacy. The Candle spring

Freed! Your gifts in action An Amnesty team visited prisoner of conscience Ángel Colón in jail in Mexico in September 2014. Just weeks later Ángel was freed. See the full story on page 1.

How your monthly gift can help $20 / month helps Amnesty put experienced researchers on the ground in places like Syria, Iraq and the Central African Republic.

8 Freed! Your gifts in action An Amnesty team visited prisoner of conscience Ángel Colón in jail in Mexico in September Just weeks later Ángel was freed. See the full story on page 1. Supporting Amnesty International with a regular gift is the best way you can help Amnesty achieve long-term goals as well as making sure we can respond quickly to human rights emergencies. How your monthly gift can help $20 / month helps Amnesty put experienced researchers on the ground in places like Syria, Iraq and the Central African Republic. $15 / month helps Amnesty send audio-visual experts into crisis zones to collect photographic and video evidence of human rights violations. $10 / month helps Amnesty turn research on the ground into comprehensive respected reports that raise awareness and pressure governments to take action. Become a monthly donor and support human rights every day Three easy ways to become an Amnesty International Monthly Donor 1. Sign up online at amnesty.ca/become-a-monthly-donor 2. Sign up by phone by calling AMNESTY ( ) 3. Sign up as a monthly donor by mail by returning the enclosed coupon Amnesty International, 312 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa ON K1N 1H AMNESTY ( ) postal indicia to be inserted here by MPH

Ángel is reunited with his family thanks to you!

Ángel is reunited with his family thanks to you! Rights!Now Spring 2015 The magazine for Amnesty s monthly donors Vol. 16 No. 1 MY MESSAGE TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE SHOWING ME THEIR SOLIDARITY, AND ARE AGAINST TORTURE AND DISCRIMINATION, IS DON T DROP YOUR