Hi,

It’s been so hectic here that I forgot to send you more details on the upcoming week of action on Omar Khadr Oct 5-11 (just before our election on Oct 14).

Over the past two months, a new coalition has grown up around the case that has helped get people out into the streets. I’m part of the steering group.

The details of the demos/events planned is here: http://www.bringomarhome.ca/en/events.htm. There are AI speakers at all events, and members will also be there with big banners and other materials (of course).

I’m happy to say that the action section of the “Bring Omar Home” website links directly to my security blog and AI Canada’s on-line action (it’s become the central on-line action for the coalition).

I would like to encourage other people to link to our on-line action (or highlights their own action of they have one) during that week. We’d like to have some extra pressure on our Prime Minister.

We’ve also created orange wristbands that say:
“Justice for Omar Khadr/Rapatriez Omar Khadr” (with the AI candle logo in between the phrases) and “Close Guantánamo/Bring Omar Khadr Home” (with the AI candle logo in between the phrases). I’ll send you some

Cheers,
Hilary, from Canada

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

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.

Activists in Sydney, Australia, organized an action to demand that governments reaffirm that torture is never acceptable.

Watch more pictures of this and other actions to mark International Day of Victims of Torture

Visit the website of Amnesty International in Australia