Individuals at Risk

Further Information on UA 313/06 (22 November 2006)

Fear of Torture and Ill-Treatment

YEMEN

'Abdullah Mustaffa bin ‘Abdul Rahim Aiob (m), aged 21, Australian national

Mohammed Illias bin ‘Abdul Rahim Aiob (m), aged 19, Australian national

Marek Samouslki (m), aged 35, Australian national

Rasheed Shams Laskar (m), aged 34, British national

Kinith Sorenson (m), aged 23, Danish national


The five foreign nationals named above were released without charge or trial from the Political Security Prison in Sana’a on Saturday 16 December. The men, along with their families, are said to have been told to leave the country.

'Abdullah Mustaffa bin ‘Abdul Rahim Aiob and Mohammed Illias bin ‘Abdul Rahim Aiob had been released on Saturday 2 December but were re-arrested on Wednesday 13 December. They were held for three days until their release along with the other three men on Saturday.

No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all those who sent appeals. Amnesty International will continue to monitor their cases.

Dear Supporter,

Congratulations on hosting your own 2006 Global Write-a-thon!

We've just added an evaluation form to AIUSA's Global Write-a-thon webpage today, and are writing to remind you as a participant to tell us about your letter writing during your Human Rights Day celebration, individually or as a group.

It's exciting for everyone involved to watch the number of letters written in the United States rise! Just like you, thousands of people around the world were sitting down this weekend to write a letter, sign a petition, make a solidarity card for a prisoner of conscience, and let the world know that human rights matter. We're also tallying numbers internationally, and will report out to let you know more about the global impact!

As every successful event needs a wrap-up, we would love for you to share your Write-a-thon experience with us by filling out a simple evaluation form where you can tell us how many letters you've written and what we can do next year to make your Write-a-thon even more successful.

Also, don't forget to share your photos. Please email them to us at writeathon@aiusa.org and we will post them on the website as part of our 2006 Global Write-a-thon updates.

We recognize that many participants will still be holding more Write-a-thon event in the upcoming weeks, so we encourage you to take this opportunity to recruit new Amnesty members and win a new iPod. The last day to do that is December 31, 2006, so hurry! We will contact the winner with details in January.

And one last thing: Continue your fight against human rights abuses by signing the "American I Believe In" pledge. Visit www.amnestyusa.org/believe to stand up for the America you believe in.

Our heartfelt Thank You goes to all letter writers fighting for justice and freedom worldwide.

Sincerely,
The Urgent Action program team
Amnesty International USA

Dear Supporter,

Good luck this weekend! We currently have over 60,000 letters pledged by over 900 groups or individuals across the United States. From Algeria, to Iceland, to Taiwan, to Paraguay, to South Africa... there will be Amnesty International activists sitting down in 40 countries to write letters and demand that governments respect human rights.

Five last minute tips:

-- Please remember to keep track of how many letters you write at your Write-a-thon this weekend and take pictures! We will contact you again next week to get your feedback on how it all went.

-- Download your letter-writing actions. This is what it's all about!

-- Get new members to join Amnesty International USA this weekend (and win a prize!)

-- Use the letter writing guide and other resources to help you write effective letters

-- Need some personal support, ideas, or last minute materials? Contact your friendly folks in the regional office that supports activists in your state by calling 1-866-A-REGION (1-866-273-4466), or get contact information online

Letter writing raises awareness, and shines a light on the darkest corners of the world, providing hope and protection to individuals who are at risk of grave human rights violations. This morning I was reminded of a quote by a released prisoner of conscience from the Dominican Republic years and years ago, but it speaks poetically to the power of letter writing by Amnesty International members:

"When the first two hundred letters came, the guards gave me back my clothes. Then the next two hundred letters came, and the prison director came to see me. When the next pile of letters arrived, the director got in touch with his superior. The letters kept coming and coming: three thousand of them. The President was informed. The letters still kept arriving, and the President called the prison and told them to let me go."

Now, let's get out there and take action!

Sincerely,
Natasha Nummedal
AIUSA Urgent Action Director

Dear Supporter,

This Friday, December 8th, is the official start of the 2006 Global Write-a-thon! To get you ready, we are offering you last-minute tips and resources, all available on our website:

Prepare for your Write-a-thon -- get organizing tips from the Write-a-thon Checklist;

The Write-a-thon cases are available online;

You can also find AIKids' simply written cases that allow young children (ages 9-14) to become human rights activists. See the AIKids' Holiday Card page;

Looking for creative ways to host your own Write-a-thon this year? Read our Blog and see how the Write-a-thon participants across the country are organizing their events;

Sign the "America I Believe In" pledge and tell your friends and family to do the same. We need 500,000 signatures to change America's course on human rights. Visit www.amnestyusa.org/believe

Have a great Write-a-thon!

" I have boxes and boxes of appeals sent on our behalf by Urgent Action letter-writers... I have no doubt those letters saved our lives."

- Colombian human rights defenders Astrid Manrique and Yolima Quintero

Dear Supporter,

The letter-writing actions for the 2006 Global Write-a-thon are online! They feature both urgent and long-term casework on individuals who are at risk of grave human rights abuses. Visit the Write-a-thon action page to view and download the cases.

Faithful to AI tradition, we offer you two main types of actions: letters of solidarity to prisoners (Holiday Card Actions) and appeal letters to government authorities (Letter Writing Actions). You can download these cases in RTF and PDF format from the Write-a-thon website.

There you'll find other useful resources for your Write-a-thon, such as:

Write-a-thon Checklist
Urgent Action Voices (a collection of stories and quotes from people who have been helped by previous letter writing campaigns)
Postage chart
Blank greeting cards
and more

Resources Update:

• Get the latest updates and share ideas with other event organizers in the Write-a-thon Blog
• Check out the 2006 Media Guide and get media coverage for public Write-a-thons in your community
• Download brand new Write-a-thon posters to publicize your event with style
• Take a walk around the world to see which countries are participating in the Global Write-a-thon this year
• Shop at the Amnesty Store for posters and banners for your event and do your holiday shopping while you're there!

Sending warm wishes for a successful Write-a-thon,

Tanya, Chip, Natasha, Julia, Kim, and Ruba

The AIUSA Write-a-thon Team