Freedom Writers® Network
APPEAL CASES: December 2008
Each month, Amnesty International USA’s Freedom Writers Network focuses on three different cases of victims of human rights abuse. Some may be prisoners of conscience -- people imprisoned solely for their beliefs, color, sex, ethnic origins, language, or religion, who have not used or advocated violence. Others may have been denied a fair and prompt trial, while others may have been tortured or “disappeared,” or may be facing execution. All are of great concern to Amnesty International.
Personal letters from caring people can bring about a prisoner’s release, secure vital information, launch an investigation, or even save a life. Your letters can make a tremendous difference in the fate of these individuals.
Below are copies of the three sample letters published in this months’ Freedom Writers bulletin. Please direct your correspondence to the address at the top of each letter and send a copy to the embassy (or other) address at the bottom, where applicable. You may copy the sample letters directly onto your stationery or compose your own letters, using the samples as guides. For the greatest impact, letters should be polite in tone and mailed within the month. International airmail postage from the U.S. is 94 cents for most standard letters.
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement working impartially for the release of prisoners of conscience, fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners, and an end to torture, “disappearances,” and executions. It is funded by donations from its 2.2 million members and supporters throughout the world. If you are interested in joining Amnesty International USA, please see our website at
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To contact us via email, write to: iar@aiusa.org
Patrick Okoroafor © Private
NIGERIA
Patrick Okoroafor
Patrick Okoroafor is currently being detained indefinitely in Aba prison despite a judgment by the High Court of Imo State on October 18, 2001 which declared his sentence of death to be illegal, null and void. He was 14 years old when he was arrested in May 1995 and arraigned with six others for robbery and kidnapping, a crime he has always said he never committed.
» Sample letter
Map of Saudi Arabia
SAUDI ARABIA
Raouf Amin al-Arabi and Shawqi Abd Rabbuh
Raouf Amin al-Arabi and Shawqi Abd Rabbuh, two Egyptian doctors have been sentenced in Saudi Arabia to, respectively, 15 and 20 years in prison, and 1,500 and 1,700 lashes. The doctors were alleged to have facilitated the addiction of an unnamed Saudi Arabian patient to morphine after prescribing the medicine for her pain relief following an accident. However, very little information has been made public about their case, and Amnesty International reports that they appear to have been convicted and sentenced following an unfair trial.
» Sample letter
Romani Children © AI
SLOVAKIA
Romani Children
Large numbers of Romani children have been inappropriately placed in "special schools" for children with mental disabilities in Slovakia, where they receive a substandard education and have very limited opportunities for employment and further education. Independent studies suggest that as many as 80% of children placed in special schools in Slovakia are Roma.
» Sample letter
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY
Your letters can make a tremendous difference in the fate of these individuals.
Holiday Card Action now available at: www.amnestyusa.org/action/holiday If you would like a hard copy of this action, please feel free to email iar@aiusa.org
