Amnesty International Letter-Writing Marathon for Freedom of Atena Daemi and Other Women Human Rights Activists

In Amnesty International’s letter-writing marathon to defend women activists in human rights, including Atena Daemi, 180 countries will participate. This campaign will continue from November 29 to December 23 of the current year (2018).

Amnesty International is focusing this year on eight women human rights defenders and a representative of one of the world’s indigenous groups. Amnesty International’s branch in Germany has also asked citizens of the country to participate in this letter-writing marathon.

From Germany in the past year (2017), 250,000 letters were written in this regard. Amnesty International has also invited schools to participate in this human rights campaign.

Every year, Amnesty International calls on people around the world to defend human rights activists worldwide who have been subjected to violent government attacks because of their activities.

This year, the organization is focusing on eight women human rights defenders and a representative of one of the world’s indigenous groups. One of these eight women human rights activists is Atena Daemi, a political prisoner in Iran.

Atena Daemi was detained on October 20, 2014, and spent 86 days in solitary confinement under interrogation. She was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on January 18, 2015. Ms. Daemi was sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the system, assembly and conspiracy against national security, insulting the leadership, insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic, and concealment of evidence of crime.” This sentence was reduced to seven years imprisonment in the appeals court.

Other human rights activists for whom Amnesty International has called for their release are Pavitri Manjhi (India), Gulzar Dushneva (Kyrgyzstan), Noual Ben Issa (Morocco), Nonhlanhle Mbuyazi (South Africa), Vitalina Koval (Ukraine), Geraldine Chacón (Venezuela), and a representative of the “Zangwaar” ethnic group in Kenya.

Markus Becker, director of Amnesty International’s German branch, said about this: “No action is more effective than drawing the attention of people worldwide. The more citizens participate in the letter-writing marathon, the more pressure is put on regimes that commit human rights violations. They may be able to ignore one letter, but they cannot overlook thousands of letters.”

Markus Becker further stated that the letter-writing marathon is the simplest way for any German citizen to express support for people who are threatened by human rights violators.

Last year, only 250,000 letters were sent from Germany in this regard. Amnesty International’s website at www.briefmarathon.de provides all information about these human rights activists to interested parties.

School Participation in This Human Rights Initiative

This year, as in previous years, schools are expected to play an active role in this campaign. Both male and female students can not only become familiar with human rights through theoretical discussions in class, but also participate actively by sending letters in a practical action.

Last year, 450 schools in Germany participated in this initiative. Schools that wish to participate in this campaign can also register formally online. (www.amnesty.de/briefmarathon-schule)

Writing Letters Helps; Successful Examples

Even in the age of social media, letter writing remains effective. Amnesty International’s experience shows that writing letters on a global scale has led to improvements in the conditions of human rights activists. The organization points to two examples:

Mahadine, a blogger from Chad, was imprisoned for 18 months and was likely to be sentenced to life imprisonment for criticizing her country’s government. Last year (2017), during the letter-writing marathon, 69,000 letters were written for her release. Mahadine was freed from prison in April of this year (2018).

Ms. Ni Yulan, a Chinese lawyer, is another example in this regard. She, who had opposed the actions of this country’s police against people, was subjected to police pressure. However, the sending of numerous letters caused the attacks, insults, and harm to her to be greatly reduced.

Source: DW