Newsletter

Amnesty International USA Group 48

10.15
Donna AdenineStock.Xchng

1 Central African Republic:

New report on Diamond
Trade

2 Urge Governor Brown to

Push for Repeal the Oregon
Death Penalty
3 CHINA: Urgent Action Lawyer Supporting
Churches In China Detained
4 RUSSIAN FEDERATION:
Urgent Action - Tatar
Activist Sentenced To Three
Years In Jail

Central African Republic: New report on Diamond

Trade

6 BAHRAIN: Urgent Action

- Stateless Man Arrested For
Posting Online

Today Amnesty International released

AIUSA-Group 48
http://aipdx.org
503-227-1878
Next Meeting:
Friday October 9th
First Unitarian Church
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7:00pm informal gathering
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NewsLetter Designed
By Michelle Whitlock
MichelleWhitlock.com

by Natalia Bowdoin, AIUSA Country Specialist - Central African

Republic

a new report entitled: Chains of Abuse:

The global diamond supply chain and
the case of the Central African Republic. (See the press release below). The
extensive report documents how the
Central African Republics (CAR) biggest traders have purchased diamonds
worth several million dollars without
adequately investigating whether they
financed armed groups responsible for
summary executions, rape, enforced
disappearances and widespread looting,
The report also documents several other
abuses in the diamond sector, including child labor and tax abuse. Based on
interviews with miners and traders, the
report details how armed groups - the
Christian or animist anti-balaka and
predominantly Muslim Slka - both

profit from the diamond trade by

controlling mine sites and taxing or
extorting protection money from
miners and traders. It also documents
the inspection gaps in diamond trading centers that make it possible for
blood diamonds to be traded and sold
globally. The report may be accessed
here: www.amnesty.org/en/documents/
afr19/2494/2015/en/
As you may have read, there has also
been a recent upsurge in violence
in Bangui over the past week. Please
see Amnestys statement earlier this
week: http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/
press-releases/new-wave-of-killingsshatters-peace-in-central-african-republic
Amnesty International is continuing
to monitor the situation. Keep your
eyes open for forthcoming messages

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter October 2015 Pg 2

regarding Amnestys concerns about human rights in the current crisis escalation.

Please share with others as appropriate. And thanks again for

your support and attention for the people of CAR!

Urge Governor Brown to Push for Repeal the Oregon Death Penalty
by Terrie RodellR2UHJRQ6WDWH'HDWK3HQDOW\$EoOLWLRQ&RRUGLQDWRU

Jerad Williams Stock.Xchng

The visit of Pope Francis to the US has pushed the death

penalty to the forefront of public debate. On September 24,

2015, in his address before a joint session of the United States
Congress, Pope Francis called for the abolition of capital punishment. Linking to the broader theme of protecting human
life and dignity, he said, This conviction has led me, from the
beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for
the global abolition of the death penalty. I am convinced that
this way is the best, since every life is sacred, every human
person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society
can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of
crimes.
Regardless of your view of religion or religious practice, the
statement of Pope Francis on the death penalty put focus on
the issue.
The visit of Pope Francis preceded an unusually high number
of executions scheduled for late September and early October
by five states: six executions in nine days. Three executions
were scheduled for consecutive days in Georgia, Oklahoma,
and Virginia, On September 30thin Oklahoma, Richard Glossip (http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/node/6256), who very
possibly is innocent, was scheduled to be executed at 3 pm
but due to a question about the lethal drugs for his execution,
received a 37 day stay but may still be executed. Kelly Gissendaner (http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/node/6255), who
received a harsher penalty than the co-conspirator who
committed the murder be eligible for parole in 7 years, was
executed in Georgia at 12:21 AM on September 30th, despite

national support for a commutation. On October 1st, Alfredo

Prieto is scheduled to be executed by the state of Virginia despite an intellectual disability that should make him ineligible
for the death penalty.
The statement of Pope Francis about the death penalty has
generated editorials and opinions listed below that Oregon
should repeal its death penalty. The use of death penalty is
written in Oregons constitution. Oregons constitution must
be changed so the death penalty is no longer part of Oregons
justice system. Governor Brown must hear that message.
Action

Write a letter or an online comment to Governor Brown urging the repeal of the Oregon death penalty.
Governor Kate Brown
160 State Capitol Building
900 Court Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: (503) 378-4582
For online comment: http://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/
share-your-opinion.aspx
Recent News and Editorials about Oregons Death Penalty:
Oregonian Report by Denis Theriault: Kate Browns death
penalty review slowly moves from back burner: http://www.
oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/09/
Postage Rates
Within the United States
$0.35 - Postcards
$0.49 - Letters and Cards up to 1 oz.
To all international destinations
$1.20 - Postcards
$1.20 - Airmail Letters and Cards up to 1 oz.

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter October 2015 Pg 3

CHINA: Urgent Action - Lawyer Supporting Churches In China Detained

Zhang Kai (m), Liu Peng (m), Fang Xiangui (m)
Subhash Chandran Stock.Xchng

against the campaign, and it is feared the recent detentions are

intended to deter any further resistance.
Zhang Kai is one of over 200 lawyers and activists that were
targeted as part of a nationwide crackdown that began in July.
According to his colleagues, he was released after being questioned, but was warned not to hold law lectures or continue
representing any churches.
Action

Please write immediately in English, Chinese or your own

language:
prominent human rights lawyer and his two assistants
Demanding the authorities immediately and unconditionhave been detained in China as part of a wider crackdown on
ally release Zhang Kai, Liu Peng and Fang Xiangui;
activists who are resisting the removal of crosses from churches. Zhang Kai has been placed under residential surveillance Pending their release, urging them to grant Zhang Kai, Liu
Peng and Fang Xiangui regular, unrestricted access to their
in an unknown location, which means he can be held for up
to six months without access to his lawyers or family.
family and lawyers, and ensure they are not subjected to torture and other ill-treatment;
Prominent human rights lawyer Zhang Kai was taken away
Calling on them to ensure the right to freedom of religion
by police from a church in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, in
and belief is respected in China, with individuals protected
south-east China on August 25th. Two legal assistants of his,
and allowed to practice their faith free from fear, intimidation
Liu Peng and Fang Xiangui, and several members of a local
congregation, including pastors, were detained at the same
and attack.
time. Some have since been released, but Zhang Kai has been
placed under residential surveillance, that allows the authori- Appeals To
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE OCTOBER 16th, 2015
ties to hold him for up to six months at a location outside of
the formal detention system, without access to his lawyers or TO:
Minister of Public Security
family.
Guo Shengkun
Zhang Kai is being held under suspicion of stealing, spyMinistry of Public Security
ing into, purchasing, or illegally providing state secrets or
No. 14, Dong Changan Jie
intelligence to foreign actors and disturbing public order.
Dongcheng Qu, Beijing 100741
Liu Peng is said to be under residential surveillance for the
Peoples Republic of China
same charges, but this has not been confirmed. Their lawyers
attempted to meet with them but were denied by the authori- Email: gabzfwz@mps.gov.cn
Salutation: Your Excellency
ties. Fang Xiangui is facing a lesser charge and is currently
being held at a detention center.
Secretary for State Administration for Religious Affairs

Zhang Kai has been offering legal support to a number of

churches in Zhejiang province after the authorities began
demolishing churches and removing crosses and crucifixes in
late 2013. This has intensified in recent months, and activists say over 1,200 crosses have been torn down and several
churches destroyed. There have been a series of protests

Wang Zuoan
Xicheng Qu, Houhai Bei Lu 44 hao
Beijing 100009
Peoples Republic of China
Fax: 011 86 106409500
Salutation: Your Excellency

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter October 2015 Pg 4

Wenzhou Police Chief

Huang Baokun Juzhang
Wenzhou Police Station
Zhejiang Sheng, Wenzhou Shi
Jinqiao Lu 2 hao
325000
Peoples Republic of China
Fax: 011 86 057789980149
Email: wzgaj@wenzhou.gov.cn
Copies To

Ambassador Cui Tiankai

Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China
3505 International Place NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 495 2138
Email: chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn
Additional Information

Over 200 human rights lawyers and activists were detained,

missing, or brought in for questioning as part of an unprecedented nationwide crackdown which began in July. Thirty
people are still in detention or are unaccounted for. At least
ten people are being held on suspicion of inciting subversion

of state power, which carries a prison sentence of up to 15

years. The crackdown was accompanied by a smear campaign
in state media, with lawyers and activists accused of being
part of a criminal operation to undermine social stability.
Local authorities in Zhejiang province are removing crosses
from churches on the pretext of a wider urbanization and
beautification campaign which is targeting illegal structures.
However, the removal of over 1,200 crosses has led to a series
of protests organized by Church activists in recent months.
This has included sit-ins in churches and singing hymns to
security officials. Several churches have said they have been
subjected to audits and financial reviews, with some pastors
detained on suspicion of embezzlement, after they resisted
the removal of crosses.
Zhang Kai is a very important figure in combating the campaign against Christianity in Zhejiang. He published a small
booklet to inform people of their rights in trying to defend
the Cross (shi jia weiquan shouce). He also launched the
Protecting the Cross Lawyers Group in July, just after being
targeted in the crackdown against human rights lawyers. He
was also representing many churches in their legal struggles
to defend their rights.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION: Urgent Action - Tatar Activist Sentenced To Three

Years In Jail
Rafis Kashapov (m)

Fabio Bueno Stock.Xchng

Tatar activist and outspoken government critic, Rafis

Kashapov, was sentenced to three years in prison on 15 September for criticizing the Russian government.
On September 15th, Rafis Kashapov, head of the local branch
of the NGO Tatar Public Center, was found guilty by the
City Court in Naberezhnye Chelny, Republic of Tatarstan,
in Russia, of calling for actions which threaten the territorial
integrity of the Russian Federation (Article 280.1 of the Rus-

sian Criminal Code) and instigating hatred or hostility and

the abasement of human dignity (Article 282). These charges
stem from the publication of several articles on his personal
page on VKontakte (a popular Russian social media site) following the annexation of Crimea by Russia in March 2014.
In his articles, he sharply criticized the Russian governments
involvement in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine and the
treatment of Crimean Tatars in the annexed Crimea.
Rafis Kashapov has been in detention since December 28th,
2014, when officials of the Federal Security Service of Tatarstan conducted a search of his flat and confiscated his
computer and other electronic devices.
Action

Please write immediately in Russian or your own language:

Calling on the Russian authorities to immediately and

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter October 2015 Pg 5

unconditionally release Rafis Kashapov, as he is imprisoned

solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression;
Urging them to drop the charges against Rafis Kashapov
and to take steps necessary to overturn his sentence.
Appeals To

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE NOVEMBER 9th, 2015

TO:
Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Yurii Yakovlevich Chaika
Prosecutor Generals Office
ul. B. Dmitrovka, d.15a
125993 Moscow GSP- 3
Russian Federation
Fax: 011 7 495 987 5841 or 011 7 495 692 1725
Salutation: Dear Prosecutor General
Prosecutor of the Republic of Tatarstan
Ildus Saidovich Nafikov
Ul. Kremlevskaya 14
420111 Kazan, Russian Federation
Fax: 011 7 495 982 19 50 or 011 7 843 291 19 25
Email: rt.prok@tatar.ru
Salutation: Dear Prosecutor
Copies To

Ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak

Embassy of the Russian Federation
2650 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007
Fax: 1 202 298 5735
Email: embassy@russianembassy.org

(one of the constituent parts of the Russian Federation), was

detained at his home by ten armed men in civilian clothing
on December 28th, 2014 at 6am. He was taken to Kazan, the
capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, and placed in a pre-trial
detention facility. He then learned that a criminal case had
been opened against him under Article 280.1 and 282 of the
Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
In a decision issued on December 30th the Investigative
Committee specified that the criminal charges against Rafis
Kashapov related to four posts on his personal page on
VKontakte. In these posts, Rafis Kashapov harshly criticized
President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government for
their policies towards Ukraine and denounced persecution of
ethnic Crimean Tatars in the annexed Crimea.
Rafis Kashapov remained in detention throughout the
investigation and the trial period because, according to the
investigator, there was the risk that he would again engage in
criminal activities. His lawyers request for him to be placed
under house arrest with restricted access to the Internet was
rejected. The trial started on June 26th, 2015 in Naberezhnye
Chelny and concluded on September 15th.
The court argued that expert text analysis had established that
the posts were modeling language of hostility, intending to
instigate hatred between groups, vaguely defining several such
groups such as government officials, Russians and Tatars.
The court also took the view that where Rafis Kashapov had
insulted President Putin, he had insulted those who had voted
for Putin.

Already in 2009, Rafis Kashapov had been found guilty of the

crime of incitement to hatred but at that time he was given a
conditional sentence only. Neither the texts for which he was
Please let us know if you took action so that we can track our sentenced in 2009, nor the ones for which he has been imprisimpact! Send a short email to uan@aiusa.org with UA 12/15 oned in 2015, incited hatred. By publishing these texts and
in the subject line, and include in the body of the email the
expressing his view of the government and its policies, he has
number of letters and/or emails you sent. Thank you for tak- exercised his right to freedom of expression. All public figing action! Please check with the AIUSA Urgent Action Office ures, including those exercising the highest political authority,
if taking action after the appeals date.
are legitimately subject to criticism and, as established by the
UN Human Rights Committee, such criticism is protected
Additional Information
under the right to freedom of expression.
Rafis Kashapov, head of the local branch of the NGO Tatar
Public Center in Naberezhnye Chelny, Republic of Tatarstan

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter October 2015 Pg 6

BAHRAIN: Urgent Action - Stateless Man Arrested For Posting Online

Ibrahim Karimi (m)

sureash kumar Stock.Xchng

Bahraini resident Ibrahim Karimi has been arrested in

connection with messages posted on Twitter. He says he was

forced to confess to charges. He has been stateless since
2012, when his nationality was arbitrarily revoked.
Plainclothes police arrested Ibrahim Karimi on September
26th at 2.30pm, at his home in the village of al-Dair. According to his family, the police officers did not present an arrest
warrant, searched his house and car, and took mobile phones
that belonged to him and other members of his family, and a
laser pointer. They then took him to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) where he was interrogated, without
a lawyer, about messages posted on a Twitter account that he
said did not belong to him. The Public Prosecution stated that
the owner of the account was charged with inciting hatred
against the regime, publicly insulting the King, misuse of
social media, and illegal residency. He is being held in Dry
Dock Prison, northeast of the capital, Manama.
Ibrahim Karimi has told his lawyer that he was kept in solitary confinement, deprived of sleep and forced to stand. He
said that his interrogators at the CID insulted him and threatened that his son would be arrested if he did not confess to
the charges against him. He then signed the confession. He
denied all the charges when he was brought before the Public
Prosecution on September 29th, with his lawyer present. The
Public Prosecution ordered him to be detained for seven days,
for further questioning.
Ibrahim Karimi lodged an appeal on October 29th, 2014
against an order to deport him and nine others of a group
of 31 people whose nationality was arbitrarily revoked in
November 2012. The order effectively renders him stateless as
he does not have another nationality. The next appeal hearing
is on October 18th.

Action

Please write immediately in English, Arabic or your own

language:
Urging the authorities to drop all charges against Ibrahim
Karimi that relate to his exercise of his right to freedom of
expression;
Calling on them not to use any forced confessions in any
proceedings against him;
Urging them to drop the charges related to the revocation
of his nationality
Appeals To

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE NOVEMBER 12th, 2015

TO:
King
Shaikh Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa
Office of His Majesty the King
P.O. Box 555
Rifaa Palace, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1766 4587 (keep trying)
Salutation: Your Majesty
Minister of Interior
Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa
Ministry of Interior
P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1723 2661
Email: info@interior.gov.bh
Salutation: Your Excellency
Copies To

Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs

Shaikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Khalifa
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs
P.O. Box 450, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1753 1284
Email (via website): http://www.moj.gov.bh/en/default76a7.
html?action=category&ID=159
Twitter: @Khaled_Bin_Ali
H.E. Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin
Rashid Al Khalifa

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter October 2015 Pg 7

Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain

3502 International Dr. NW, Washington, DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 362 2192
Email: ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org

two other members of the group, cleric Muhamad Hassan Ali

Hussain Khojasat and engineer Masaud Jahromi, were told
to hand in their passports and ID cards at the Immigration
Office and to sign documents confirming that they needed to
regularize their legal status as they were now considered forPlease let us know if you took action so that we can track our eigners. If they did not regularize their legal status they would
impact! Send a short email to uan@aiusa.org with UA 215/15 be forced to leave the country. The list of 72 Bahraini citizens
also included a number of people the government accused of
in the subject line, and include in the body of the email the
number of letters and/or emails you sent. Thank you for tak- fighting for the armed group calling itself the Islamic State.
ing action! Please check with the AIUSA Urgent Action Office Under the Bahrain Citizenship Law and its amendments, Arif taking action after the appeals date.
ticle 10 stipulates that nationality can be revoked (Paragraph
A) if a person engages in the military service of a foreign
Additional Information
country; (Paragraph B) if he helps or engages in the service
The Ministry of Interior announced on November 7th 2012
of an enemy country; or (Paragraph C) if he causes harm to
that it had ordered the revocation of the nationality of 31
state security. There is no further definition or detail of what
Bahraini citizens because they had caused damage to state
security, under Article 10 (Paragraph C) of the Bahrain Citi- could amount to harm to state security. This Paragraph
used to revoke the nationality of the 31 is therefore framed
zenship Law. The 31 included activists living abroad; a lawyer;
too broadly, allowing for its use to punish the legitimate and
a number of people active in politics within Bahrain; a num- peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, asber of Shia clerics; and others with no political or religious
sociation and assembly.
affiliations. Most of those living in Bahrain, including Ibrahim
Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Karimi, do not have another nationality and were effectively
rendered stateless. The 31 people were never officially notified (UDHR) states that everyone has the right to a nationality
of this decision, and learned about it from the media the day (Paragraph 1). Paragraph 2 further specifies that no one shall
be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right
it was announced.
to change his nationality. The requirement of due process and
non-arbitrariness is also enshrined in the Bahraini Constitu-
The government forced one of the 31, Shaikh Hussain alNajati, to leave Bahrain on April 23rd, 2014. A lower court
AIUSA Group 48 Contact Information
ordered those who still remaining in Bahrain and only have
Bahraini nationality to be deported, on October 28th, 2014.
Group Coordinator
Prisoners Cases
Their lawyers lodged an appeal the next day, and the deportaJoanne Lau
Jane
Kristof
tion order has been halted until the court issues its verdict.
The Ministry of Interior has arbitrarily revoked the nationality
of hundreds of people since 2012. In a statement issued on 31
January 31st, 2015 the Ministry of Interior said it had withdrawn the Bahraini nationality of 72 people involved in illegal acts. The 72 included former MPs, doctors, human rights
activists and political opponents who have been forced to
live abroad because of their anti-government activities which
would put them at risk of arbitrary detention, torture or other
ill-treatment. One of them, Farahat Khursheed Afrah Khursheed, was denied entry at Bahrain International Airport on
February 5th 2015 and forced to leave the country. That day,

jlau@aipdx.org

kristofj@pdx.edu

Treasurer
Tena Hoke
tena.hoke@gmail.com

Megan Harrington
megan.harrington
@gmail.com

Newsletter Editor
Dan Webb
write_to_dan@yahoo.com

Concert Tabling
Will Ware
ww_ware@yahoo.com

Area Coordinator
Marty Fromer
martyfromer@gmail.com

Central Africa/
OR State Death
Penalty Abolition
Terrie Rodello
tarodello@igc.org

Indonesia
Max White
maxw33@comcast.net

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter October 2015 Pg 8

tion, of which Article 17 (a) states that the Bahraini nationality shall be determined by law. A person inherently enjoying
his Bahraini nationality cannot be stripped of his nationality
except in case of treason and such other cases as prescribed by
law. Revocation of nationality resulting in statelessness would
not be compatible with the right to nationality articulated in
Article 15(1) of the UDHR. Article 7(6) of the 1961 Convention on the reduction of statelessness also prohibits, with very
few specific exceptions, any loss of nationality which results
in statelessness. The obligation to avoid statelessness has been
recognized as a norm of customary international law. Dis-

criminatory revocation of nationality is specifically prohibited

by Article 5 D (iii) of the International Convention on the
Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, to which
Bahrain is a state party. Similarly, UN Human Rights Council
Resolution 20/5 from July 2012 calls upon all States to refrain
from taking discriminatory measures and from enacting or
maintaining legislation that would arbitrarily deprive persons
of their nationality on grounds of race, colour, sex, language,
religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin,
property, birth or other status, especially if such measures and
legislation render a person stateless.

Postage

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter October 2015