Amnesty International is an international organization devoted to combating political oppression. A primary objective is the elimination of persecution for non-violent expression of political opinion. A second objective is the abolition of cruel and barbaric punishment, including torture, flogging, and capital punishment. This section will display letters which deal with these topics, written to various governments under the auspices of Amnesty International, as well as material obtained directly from this organization. The material will be updated periodically.

This section is affiliated with the Columbia-Laurel chapter of Amnesty (Chapter 228), which meets on the third Tuesday of each month in the Interfaith Center, Columbia, Maryland. Click here for news of the Chapter.Columbia Chapter

Diamonds Campaign Amnesty has initiated a campaign to curb the use of "conflict diamonds" by armed groups to fuel conflict and carry out atrocities against innocent civilians, especially in the west African countries of Sierra Leone, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Diamonds have become a major destabilizing factor in west Africa.

Prisoner of Conscience Amnesty 228 was assigned a Syrian prisoner of conscience, Riad al-Turk.(see Columbia Chapter above.)For relevant information about Syria, see Syria

Refugee Campaign Amnesty is currently engaged in a campaign to protect the human rights of political refugees. The problem has become so serious that an exception has been made to the rule that Amnesty members act only on abuses outside their own countries. The only other exception is in death penalty issues. In the United States, the problem is compounded by a national drive to curb immigration.

The following summarizes some recent progress in helping juvenile detainees by the (CAD): Campaign against Discrimination

Saudi Campaign On March 28, 2001, Amnesty International launched a major campaign on human rights in Saudi Arabia, which focuses on raising awareness about the secrecy and the silence surrounding the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. The issues include unfair trials, arbitrary arrests, torture, executions, flogging and discrimination against minorities. The organization charges that Saudi Arabia keeps its appalling human rights record a secret by employing well-paid foreign-based public relations firms and lobbyists. Click here for details. Saudi Arabia .

Death Penalty Campaign Amnesty International has begun a campaign to abolish the death penalty in all countries, including the U.S. In addition to an educational program involving the media, efforts are made to block specific executions by picketing jails and petitioning legislators and governors. The campaign stresses the carelessness of many trials which prescribe capital punishment, the often inferior quality of the legal defense provided to the accused, and evidence for racial bias. Click here for details of the campaign. Death Penalty .

Amnesty scored a local success when, on June 7, 2001, Governor Glendening commuted the death sentence of Eugene Colvin-El.

Anti-torture Campaign On 18 October, 2000 Amnesty inaugurated its Campaign to Stop Torture. Torture is a continuing infamy in much of the world. Chapter #228 will have an active role in conjunction with other groups. On February 19, 2002, Chapter 228 hosted a talk by Orlando Tizon, co-director of the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC). Mr. Tizon spoke about the torture problem in the Philippines and Guatemala.

Letter Writing Click here for Current Letters These, or modified versions, should be sent within six weeks of indicated date.