To mark the International Day of Victims of Torture, on 26 June, Amnesty International in India organized street performances at various sites in Delhi. The play Bandhi! (Prisoner) is about how prisoners are eated in jails and the oppression, in the form of torture, both physical and mental, they have to go through. The play chosen picks up the issue of the state’s response to political prisoners, peaceful protesters in the name of national security. It also touches upon the critical issue of racial profiling in India where minorities face the brunt of their religious affiliations and are often labeled as “terrorists”. The play refers to various instances of torture in India and around- Dr. Binayak Sen, Guantanamo Bay prison, China’s Human rights violations, Bhopal Gas Tragedy survivors’ protests, death penalty and the state of detention centres. The play also takes a satirical stand on the role of media in sensationalizing news.

In addition to street performances, activists in India organized the conference ‘Counter Terror with Justice: No torture. Policy implications for India’.  The meeting was well attended by people from diverse backgrounds - security/intelligence personnels, politicians, academicians, diplomats, activists, lawyers etc.

The demonstration took place on the evening of 26 June, in Kabalagala, Kampala. 80-100 people attended, representing several East African countries.

The focus was on torture and sending refugees back to torture. 5 people were asking members of the public to sign a letter addressed to Eritrean authorities regarding over 800 Eritreans recently returned from Egypt. 150 signatures were collected which were faxed to Isaayas Afewerki, Fawzia Hashim and Eritrea’s commissioner for police, as well as Uganda’s minister for Foreign affairs.

The assembly chanted, sang and held a candle-lit vigil.

Watch more pictures of the action and actions in other countries

El 26 de Junio de 2008, activistas de AI Paraguay y de Rondas ONG (organización que trabaja por los derechos de las personas menores privadas de libertad), llevaron a cabo un video debate con alumnos/as del Colegio Santa Elena de la ciudad de Asunción.

El objetivo de la actividad fue debatir con los participantes sobre la situación de Torturas y Otros Tratos Inhumanos y Degradantes en el mundo y en el Paraguay.

La actividad se desarrolló con éxitos, y estuvieron presente más de 30 personas. Al término los participantes firmaron una petición al gobierno paraguayo que solicitaba poner fin a la tortura en el Paraguay. También, se distribuyó los informes de Amnistía Internacional Guantánamo: Poner fin a las detenciones ilegales.

El mismo día, activistas de AI Paraguay estuvieron presente en el acto organizado por el Museo de las Memorias Históricas del Paraguay en el que el Estado Paraguayo a través de la Dirección General de Patrimonio Histórico Cultural de la Secretaría Nacional de Cultura, mediante la resolución 05/2008 ha resuelto asignar al edificio de la Ex Dirección Nacional de Asuntos Técnicos dependiente del Ministerio del Interior, la condición de “Bien Cultural de la República” por lo que el Museo de las Memorias adquiere especial importancia.

En la actividad el Presidente de AI Paraguay, Julio Torales, dio a conocer la Declaración Pública de Amnistía Internacional en el marco del Día Internacional de Apoyo a Víctimas de la Tortura.

These are photos from our action agains torture. We were publicly at a  frequented street in the centre of Prague. We were collecting signatures under the big letter to mr. president Sarkozy. Those guys who participated in the performance were
volunteers of AI Czech Republic, and me (activism coordinator).:)

Visit the website of Amnesty International in the Czech Republic

On 26th June AI-Luxembourg held a public action at the main square of the city centre.

Amnesty activists performed a street theatre in co-operation with Dana Rufolo of the Theatre Research Institute of Europe. The play was performed in French, Luxembourgish and English and illustrated how torture is used to silence people all around the world. There was also one person dressed up as a Guantanamo detainee in an orange jumpsuit, black hood and handcuffs. He had a sign around his neck, describing the case of Ahmed Agiza, who was handed over to CIA agents by the Swedish authorities and taken to Egypt where he was allegedly tortured and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

We had very good media coverage with articles published in five different newspapers, the action was shown on the news of RTL-Luxembourg television and interviews with the chair of AI-Luxembourg were broadcasted on the local radio as a headline of their news. Members of Amnesty International were also invited to a live radio show on Thursday evening at a local radio station to talk about the action, the street theatre performance and the work of Amnesty International in general.

AI-members have been collecting signatures for the postcard action targeting the French presidency of the European Union at four different public actions around the country throughout the month of June and as a result up to 900 persons have signed the postcards.

AI Portugal organized an air torture theatre production in downtown Lisbon on June 26. Activists were dressed as detainees dramatising flights to secret detention.

The event was also marked by sending appeals to President Sarkozy, in light of France’s presidency of the European Union in July, urging states to take measures to prevent rendition from occurring in the future and to ensure redress, including reparation to the victims.

View pictures of this event and others marking the International Day of Victims of Torture.

Visit the Amnesty International Portugal website

Amnesty International Denmark successfully lobbied Danish authorities to prevent the deportation of two Tunisian suspected terrorists, emphasizing that diplomatic assurances are simply not enough to protect them once they return to Tunisia.

With the official launch of the Tunisian report with Human Rights defender Samir Ben Amor on June 23, Amnesty International Denmark successfully mobilized pressure on Danish authorities to currently hold off deporting the terror suspects. This story has received tremendous coverage in the local media, and the Minister of Integration has assured that these suspects will be dealt with in accordance to international human law.

On June 26, Amnesty International Ireland hosted a poetry event at Buswells Hotel, Dublin with reading from Poems from Guantanamo.

Poems from Guantanamo is a collection of short poems written by Guantanamo Bay detainees while in custody at the US detention facility, some who are still there.

Poetry recitations were conducted by well-known Irish actors Sean McGinley, George Seremba, Denis Conway and Shadaan Felfeli, and all attendees were given a copy of Poems from Guantanamo by a generous Amnesty International donor. (more…)

Amnesty International Belgium held a fantastic public event in front of the European Parliament in Brussels on June 26.

Activists lobbied with European parliamentarians to pressure governments on the issue of rendition, with over ten parliamentarians in attendance- one from every party, representing various states. Also present at the event were several media outlets reporting from Al Jazeera, Associated Press and Reuters to name a few.

The notable parliamentarians - Edward McMillan-Scott (UK) and Luisa Morgantini (Italy), Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament were also in attendance with Helene Flautre, Chairwoman of DROI, Subcommittee of Human Rights, European Parliament who spoke at the event.

Watch a slideshow on the website of the Italian newspaper La Reppublica

View additional pictures of this event and more actions to mark International Day of Victims of Torture

Visit the Amnesty International Belgium website

Amnesty International continues to campaign for Binyam Mohamed, an Ethiopian national, and a former resident of the United Kingdom. Binyam has been detained at Guantanamo Bay since September 2004, and before that was held at various secret US detention sites since his capture in April 2002.

Binyam was formally charged for trial by military commission in 2008, and due to his fragile mental and physical health, Amnesty International UK is urging members and supporters to write to Foreign Secretary David Miliband to get Binyam Mohamed moved out to a less harsher environment.

Also click here to ‘Digg’ Binyam out of danger, and spread the word on this urgent action.