Success Stories!

Here's where all of your hard work writing letters and sending emails pays off!
Listed below are some of our most recent victories in the cause of human rights. Enjoy!

Sami al Hajj Released from Guantanamo: © Private
Sudan, USA: Sami al Hajj, a Sudanese cameraman for the television station al-Jazeera, has been released from Guantanamo. He was held by the U.S government. without charge for over 6 years. Sami al Hajj has said that while in U.S. custody he was subjected to a range of torture and ill-treatment, including beatings and denial of prescribed medication for cancer. Amnesty International volunteers worldwide have written letters to U.S. authorities on behalf of Sami al Hajj, and AIUSA Local Groups 48 (Portland, OR) and 74 (Garden City, NY) "adopted" his case. Many thanks to all who wrote for Sami al Hajj.
»Watch a video of Sami al Hajj post-release
2008-05-05

Uzbek Human Rights Defender Released: (c)Private
Uzbekistan:
Human rights defender Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov was released on February 4 under a presidential amnesty. He had been serving a seven-year sentence, handed down in January 2006 after what was in effect a secret trial. He was indicted for libel, "information dissemination fomenting the panic" and "terrorism." Prior to his imprisonment, Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov was monitoring protests in the town of Andizhan which escalated on May 12-13, 2005. During the information blockade that engulfed Uzbekistan in the aftermath of the protests, messages from Saidjahon Zainabitdinov were forwarded to the leading world news agencies, TV channels, radio stations and newspapers.

2008-02-04

Youth Leader Freed in Belarus: © ByMedia.net
Belarus: Amnesty International welcomes the release from prison on January 23 of Zmitser Dashkevich, leader of a youth organization that advocates political freedom in Belarus. AI mounted a global campaign to win his release featuring his case in a Global Write-a-thon in December through which thousands of people across the United States appealed for his release. As one of Amnesty International USA's Special Focus Cases, Zmitser Dashkevich's case was a particular focus for action by Amnesty student activists, who joined youth activists around the world in sending 10,000 origami cranes to Belarusian authorities in a symbolic plea for freedom for Mr. Dashkevich and other prisoners of conscience.
2008-01-23

Girl from Al-Qatif pardoned: Saudi Arabia:
In 2006, a young woman known only as "The Girl from al-Qatif" and her male companion were kidnapped at knifepoint by a gang of seven men shortly after they met. The male companion was attacked and then released. The woman, however, was raped by each member of the gang.

We are happy to report that the sentences of flogging and imprisonment imposed on a woman rape victim, known only as the "Girl from al-Qatif", and her male companion, are reported to have been dropped under a pardon granted by Saudi Arabia's Head of State, King Abdullah. »Read More

2008-01-16

New Jersey Ends the Death Penalty!: USA: On Human Rights Day – Monday, December 10th – the New Jersey Senate passed a bill to abolish the death penalty. The New Jersey Assembly passed it on December 13th, and Governor Jon Corzine signed it on Monday, December 17th, 2007 making New Jersey the first state in over 40 years to legislatively abolish the death penalty!
» Read the press release
2007-12-17

Latvia Pride: Latvia:

Pride events in Riga, Latvia, 2007.

LATVIA: Gay Pride events in Riga, Latvia over the past two years have been interrupted by violent protests and bans by the authorities. In 2007 Amnesty supporters sent over a thousand appeals to the Latvian authorities urging safety for participants in the Riga Pride event. Over 70 Amnesty activists took part in the event. Watch the video and read Amnesty's blog.

2007-11-15

Worldwide Moratorium on Executions Endorsed at United Nations: USA: On November 15, 2007, the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly voted to endorse a resolution calling for a moratorium on executions worldwide. Ninety-nine countries voted in favor, with 52 voting against (including the U.S.), and 33 abstaining. Amnesty International sections and activists throughout the world contributed to this effort by lobbying their governments to support or sponsor the resolution. » Read Amnesty's Press Release
2007-11-15

Dr. Haleh Esfandiari allowed to leave Iran!: Haleh being interviewed on IRINN TV after her release. © AFP
Iran: Haleh Esfandiari is the Head of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington D.C., and is a well-known advocate of dialogue between the U.S. and Iranian governments. She had travelled to visit her elderly mother. While on her way to the airport to return to the USA, her taxi was stopped by armed, masked me, who took both her passports and her belongings. In May Amnesty International activists began a letter-writing action and in June held a rally calling for her release. Many thanks to all who participated on Haleh's behalf.
2007-09-02

Clemency granted for Kenneth Foster: USA: The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted 6-1 to recommend clemency for Kenneth Foster, and Texas Governor Rick Perry complied, commuting Foster's death sentence to life. Gov. Perry went even further, calling for changes in Texas death penalty law. Kenneth Foster was sentenced to death in Texas under the controversial "Law of Parties" which allows an accomplice who does not kill anyone to be held as responsible for murder as the actual killer. He was scheduled to be executed for the murder of Michael LaHood. The murder was committed by Mauriceo Brown, who was executed in 2006. Thank you to all who sent appeals and took action on behalf of Kenneth Foster. You have helped save a life!
2007-08-30

Environmental Activist Released!: Sudan: It is with great joy that we announce the release of Dr Mohamed Jalal Ahmed Hashim, a prominent opponent of the construction of the Kajbar Dam in Sudan, who was arrested on June 16th. He was released from detention on August 25th. He expressed his sincere thanks to Amnesty International, explaining that so many faxes arrived that the security services holding him suspected that he was a very important person with many contacts worldwide. Since several of the faxes mentioned his diabetes, prison medical staff started to check his diabetes every day.
2007-08-25

38 Ethiopian political prisoners freed!: Professor Mesfin Woldemariam © AI
Ethiopia: Amnesty International welcomes the release of Mesfin Woldemariam, one of 38 Ethiopian opposition party officials, prominent human rights defenders and journalists who were freed on July 20. Professor Woldemariam is Ethiopia's most prominent human rights defender and one of AIUSA's five special focus cases. Many thanks to all who took action on his behalf.
2007-07-20

US Policy toward Colombia is finally changing and you helped make that happen: Colombia, USA: Last week the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a new aid package to Colombia through its version of the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Act increasing support for critical social, economic and humanitarian needs and decreasing funding to a military implicated in serious human rights violations.

For over a decade, AIUSA has advocated for a different approach to US policy toward Colombia. We have highlighted the role of the Colombian Armed Forces in serious human rights violations, the killing of thousands of civilians by the military, paramilitary and guerrilla’s, the attacks against human rights defenders, the internal displacement of millions of Colombians and have communicated our concerns over cases of human rights violations to the US government.

Because of the emails you sent, letters you wrote, and phone calls you made, the new aid package went from 76% military and 24% social and economic aid (what the Bush Administration asked for) to 55% military and 45% social and economic aid, including support for victims of the conflict.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all AIUSA activists who contacted their congressional representatives asking the New Congress to create a New Policy Toward Colombia! There is much more work to be done and we must continue to insist on change in our foreign policy, but this is the beginning of a more humane and balanced approach to supporting Colombia and we thank you all for having been a part of shaping it.

Stay tuned for the Senate version of the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Act. We will need your help to ensure that the Senate also passes more balanced aid package for Colombia.
2007-06-25

Stay of execution granted!: Cathy Henderson and Sister Helen Prejean © AI
USA: Good News! The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has issued a stay of execution for Cathy Henderson who had been scheduled to be executed June 13 in Texas for the 1994 murder of a three-and-a-half-month-old baby, Brandon Baugh. Serious doubt has been raised about the prosecutions claim that Brandon's death was not the result of an accidental fall.
» Read Amnesty's press release
2007-06-12

NGO workers released without charge

Sudan:

Osman Al Magdum (m), 71 years old, Deputy Head of the Manasir
Association Executive Committee (MAEC)
Abdel Rahman Zaidan (m), Deputy Head of the MAEC
Abdel Aatti Abdel Khair (m), member of the MAEC
Hassan Sidiq Atolabi (m), Member of the MAEC
Haitham Aldusogi (m), Member of the MAEC
Ahmed Abdel Fatah Gabriel (m)

The men named above, most of whom are members of the Manasir Association Executive Committee, were released without charge in late May after reportedly being held incommunicado without charge in Kober prison in the capital, Khartoum. The men were at risk of torture and ill-treatment. The Manasir Association was formed by members of the Manasir ethnic community to campaign on behalf of community members threatened with displacement during and after construction of the Merowe High Dam in northern Sudan.

Many thanks to all those who sent appeals!

2007-05-26

House of Representatives Passes Resolution Condemning Killings of Women in Guatemala: Guatemala, USA:
On Wednesday May 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 100, urging the U.S. government to work with Guatemala in addressing violence against women in Guatemala and the unsolved murders of more than 2,500 women and girls since 2001. H. Res. 100 was sponsored by Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-California) and cosponsored by Representatives Engel, Lantos, Lee and Burton.
» See Representative Solis' floor speech on the Resolution, and her acknowledgement of Amnesty International.

In her words to the House, Rep. Solis thanks Amnesty International for supporting the bill, along with the Washington Office on Latin America, Guatemala Human Rights Commission, Human Rights First, and the Central American Resource Center. Action during recent weeks by Amnesty International staff and activists was key in helping Rep. Solis garner strong bipartisan support for the Resolution, which passed with 100 co-sponsors. Rep. Solis stressed that few of the killings of women have ever been investigated, and even fewer have resulted in convictions, but that the Resolution will “increase the international pressure needed to stop violence against women” in Guatemala.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who contacted their Congressional representatives to ask them to cosponsor the resolution.
» See the resolution.

2007-05-01

Your efforts are making a difference in Darfur

Activists rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Sudan:

Amnesty International USA welcomes news of the passage of Security Council Resolution 1769 which, when implemented, will bring the goal of protection of civilians and displaced in Darfur within reach. The resolution, passed unanimously, sends a strong and clear message to the perpetrators of abuses in Darfur that the international community is united behind the people suffering in the region. The resolution provides for over 19,500 troops and 6,000 police to combine with the struggling African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). Most notably, the Government of China, which you have helped pressure over the past many months, supported 1769, and continues to take positive steps to use its close relationship with Khartoum to find an effective security arrangement for the people of Darfur.

To everyone who has taken the time to take action to help bring an end to this conflict, thank you. Your work and the work of individuals like you is making a difference for people in Darfur. There is clearly more that needs to be done, and we hope you'll continue to work with us as we strive to end the violence threatening innocent civilians targeted in this conflict.

AIUSA continues to encourage actors to:

implement the provisions of 1769 as soon as possible;
sufficiently fund the AU and UN peacekeepers and humanitarian operations in Darfur and eastern Chad, and;
press the governments of Sudan and Chad and all armed groups in the region to allow unhindered access for desperately needed humanitarian operations.

2007-04-16

House Committee Approves Resolution Condemning the Killings of Women in Guatemala: Guatemala, USA: On March 27, 2007 the House Committee on Foreign Affairs unanimously approved House Resolution 100 (H. Res. 100), condemning the over 2,500 killings of women in Guatemala sponsored by Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-CA). The resolution passed with 84 cosponsors. Consideration of the resolution by the full House is expected in the coming months. Thanks to all who took action to make this possible! We will keep you updated on the progress of this resolution.

Please write to thank your representative for cosponsoring this resolution. » Find which representatives cosponsored this resolution.
2007-03-27

Six Major Metropolitan Police Departments Take the Pledge

Former AIUSA Executive Director Bill Schulz with Washington D.C. Police Officer Sgt. Brett Parson and the "Pledge for Police Depts."

USA: As part of the campaign following the release of AIUSA's Stonewalled report, activists asked police departments to sign a pledge to take concrete steps to end targeting of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) individuals for police abuse and misconduct.

Police Departments that have signed the pledge so far:

DC Metropolitan Police Department
San Antonio Police Department
Fargo Police Department (ND)
Lexington Police Department (KY)
Memphis Police Department (TN)
Atlanta Police Department

Thanks to everyone who took part in the Stonewalled campaign!
2007-02-22

Environmental Defender Freed!: © Private
"We won! Andrei is free!"
– Yevgenia Zatoka (Andrei's wife)

Turkmenistan: Amnesty International is happy to report that Andrei Zatoka was released from jail on January 31. Andrei had been detained on December 17 by local police at the airport in his home city of Dashoguz. There were allegations that he was targeted to punish him for his peaceful work as an environmental activist. He and his supporters are grateful for the appeals sent by AI's Urgent Action network on his behalf.
2007-01-31

New Mexico House Passes Abolition Bill: USA: On Monday, February 12, 2007, the New Mexico House of Representative passed a death penalty abolition bill by a 41-28 vote. House Bill 190, which now heads for the New Mexico Senate, would abolish the death penalty in New Mexico and replace it with life in prison without parole. The 41-28 margin by which the bill passed represents progress from the 38-31 vote a similar bill received in the New Mexico House in 2005. The New Mexico Legislature's current session ends on March 17, 2007. If House Bill 190 passed both houses of the New Mexico Legislature and is signed into law, if would take effect on July 1, 2007. Many thanks to all of our New Mexico allies who have been working so hard to make abolition a legislative reality!
2007-01-12

Update on New Jersey Death Penalty Moratorium/Study Bill: "There is no compelling evidence that the New Jersey death penalty rationally serves a legitimate penological intent."
-- New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission

USA: The New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission – set up by the state legislature in 2006 to study all aspects of capital punishment in New Jersey – released its final report. Its report recommends abolition of the death penalty and its replacement with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. It further recommends that any cost savings resulting from abolition be used to assist the families of murder victims. Many thanks to the AIUSA activists in New Jersey for encouraging their representatives to pass this important legislation.
Read the statement by AIUSA Executive Director Larry Cox »
2007-01-02

LGBT NGO's granted consultative status at the UN: USA: In January 2006 three LGBT groups were denied the right to a fair hearing on their application for consultative status to the UN's Economic and Social Council. The US aligned itself with severely oppressive regimes including Iran, China, Sudan and Zimbabwe prompting an Amnesty International campaign pressuring Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to change the US position and grant LGBT rights groups a voice at the United Nations. The US reversed its stance and on December 11, 2006 the applications were approved allowing the groups to be able to directly raise human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity at the United Nations. Read the ECOSOC press release »
2006-12-11

Initiative Partnership Activists: Mikalay Astreyka (upper right), Tsimafey Dranchuk (upper left), Enira Branizkaya (lower left), Alyaksandr Shalayka (lower right) © Private
Belarus: Mikalay Astreyka was conditionally released from prison in November before the end of his sentence. He and 3 other political activists, featured in AIUSA's Summer postcard and Freedom Writer's actions, were arrested in February as they prepared to monitor elections in Belarus. Enira Branizkaya and Alyaksandr Shalayka were freed from prison in August, following completion of their sentences. Amnesty is calling for Astreyka's release to be made unconditional and for Tsimafey Dranchuk to be released as well. Many thanks to all who took action on their behalf.
2006-11-15

Claude Yabanda: © Private
Central African Republic: Claude Yabanda, a senior member of an opposition political party called the Patriotic Front for Progress, was released from prison on November 11. He had been detained since April 2006 on account of his peaceful political activities. Claude was featured in AIUSA's Holiday Card action. Many thanks to all who send letters of support. Read more »
2006-11-11

Helen Berhane: © Private
Eritrea: Helen Berhane, a well-known Christian evangelical singer, was released from captivity in Eritrea. She had been detained incommunicado without charge or trial for two and a half years. Most of her detention was spent in inhuman and degrading conditions inside a metal shipping container which was used as a prison cell. The authorities reportedly tortured her many times to make her recant her faith. Helen was hospitalized as a result of beatings and is said to be confined to a wheelchair. She refused to abandon her faith despite the threats and ill-treatment.

AIUSA activists sent cards of support and appeals for her release as part of AIUSA's Holiday Card and Easter Actions. We'd also like to thank Music for Human Rights supporters and their fans, including Gwen Stefani, Duran Duran, Coldplay, Sting, Anti-Flag, Incubus, Bright Eyes, Astralwerks Records and Axis of Justice who helped make Helen's release a reality. Read more »
2006-10-31