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October 2026 Meeting & September Updates

Thank you to those involved in the creation of these updates, your efforts are appreciated. If you prefer, you can read these updates as a PDF.

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Welcome

At a time when fundamental rights are under threat across the globe, join Amnesty International, get involved with our local Amnesty Group and play your part in helping to promote and defend vital human rights across the world.

We warmly invite both newcomers and familiar faces alike to attend the next meeting of the Amnesty International Glasgow West Group.

This email includes:

  • Details of our forthcoming October 2026 meeting;
  • Updates on recent and planned events and actions, including a recent gathering of Scotland-wide Amnesty Groups;
  • A summary of AIUK's latest Local Group updates;
  • The minutes from our local Group's September meeting; and
  • A note of all our monthly meeting dates for 2026.

October 2026 Glasgow West AI Group Meeting

Thursday 18th October, Woodlands Methodist Church, 7:30pm – 9pm

The Glasgow West Amnesty Group's next meeting will take place on Thursday 8th October 2026 at 7.30pm – 9pm in Woodlands Methodist Church, Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LW.

If you are curious about Amnesty International, you are very welcome to just turn up and join our meetings. We would love to see you there!

Our next meeting will include:

  • A brief review of recent events and campaigns
  • Feedback and next steps from the recent gathering of AI groups from across Scotland
  • Discussion and planning on upcoming future events/actions
  • Undertaking letter writing on recent Urgent Action alerts from AIUK

Join our Meetings online

Anyone unable / unavailable to physically come along, is welcome to join our monthly meetings online via this link.

(It will be the same link for all subsequent meetings).

Amnesty Scotland Gathering

An event was recently held in Edinburgh to join Amnesty activists from around Scotland in order to discuss ideas, priority issues and campaigns and to encourage joined up working across Human Rights matters.

The event took place on Saturday 26th September at The Crannie Community Hub and was attended by around forty Amnesty members and activists and included most of the active Groups from across the country.

Six members of the Glasgow West Amnesty Group participated in the event, which concluded with a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament promoting the proposed Human Rights Bill for Scotland.

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Human Rights in Turkiye

At our previous local group meeting held in September, we had a fascinating presentation and Q&A on Human Rights in Turkiye. The presentation was delivered Chris Ramsey, who is AIUK's Country Co-ordinator for Turkiye.

Chris's presentation can be viewed via this link.

Amnesty UK Local Updates

Below is a selection of some of the issues featured in the latest monthly update for Local Groups from Amnesty UK.

You can find the full Local Groups Update on our archive.

Crisis Campaigns - Iran

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New report: Architects of Atrocities: State Machinery Orchestrating Crimes Against Humanity in Iran's 2022 Woman Life Freedom uprising

In a landmark new report marking the fourth anniversary of the start of the Woman Life Freedom uprising, Amnesty International warns that those responsible for crimes against humanity committed to brutally crush nationwide protests in 2022 continue to control Iran's deadly state machinery of repression today.

The report, Architects of Atrocities: State Machinery Orchestrating Crimes Against Humanity in Iran's 2022 Woman Life Freedom uprising – more than 1,000 pages long – details how Iranian authorities committed the crimes against humanity of murder, torture, enforced disappearance, imprisonment, rape and persecution on political, gender, ethnic and religious grounds in order to crush the uprising. It also documents deadly protest repression operations and command structures, identifying 87 officials who should be criminally investigated for crimes against humanity.

Amnesty International is calling for an international criminal justice mechanism to be established urgently by the UN General Assembly to ensure Iranian authorities responsible for crimes against humanity are held to account and to deter further atrocities such as the large-scale protest massacres committed on 8-9 January 2026.

In light of the ongoing hostilities following unlawful attacks by the USA and Israel on Iran, Amnesty International also reiterates its call for an enduring ceasefire and independent investigations into attacks committed during the conflict. The organization calls for the UN to address accountability for violations of the UN Charter and of international humanitarian law, including possible war crimes.

Read the full Report!

Hong Kong Programme – Tiananmen Convictions

Tiananmen convictions another ‘grim milestone' in Government's campaign to erase history and silence protest.

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On 11th September, Hong Kong activists Chow Hang-tung and unionist Lee Cheuk-yan were sentenced to 7 years in prison for "inciting subversion" under Hong Kong's national security law. Their only crime was to organise public rallies that peacefully commemorated the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown: Hong Kong: Tiananmen convictions another ‘grim milestone' in Government's campaign to erase history and silence protest.

Up to now, AIUK has received an overwhelming number of 7,200 signatures and hundreds of tailor-made messages for Chow. If you want to show your support for Chow, you may sign this online solidarity action, or mail your letter to AIUK London office (2nd Floor, Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton Street, London, WC1X 0DW; To: Hong Kong programme)

Sign our online solidarity action!

Political Engagement – Join AIUK's parliamentary lobby day 2026

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In recent years, Amnesty International has been uncovering human abuses by corporations in so many contexts – from big high street brands with labour rights abuses in their supply chains, to online and spyware abuses, contamination of the Niger Delta, companies enabling Israel's war crimes, and those threatening the existence of indigenous communities.

As a member of the Corporate Justice Coalition, Amnesty is supporting a mass lobby of parliament on 21 October 2026. We are calling for a Business, Human Rights and Environment Act which would bring UK legislation in line with international human rights standards. Such an Act would require UK companies and public institutions to identify and prevent human rights and environmental harms across their domestic operations and their global value chains.

This Act would also help level the playing field for responsible businesses that are put at an economic disadvantage for doing the right thing. But most importantly, it would ensure real consequences for companies that are exploiting people and destroying the planet, and it would enable victims to access justice and demand compensation.

The coalition is supporting those who sign up at every step of the way, including with a template email to send to your MP, a written briefing and a webinar on 6 October to help you prepare and ask questions. You can find out more and sign up here.

  • Date: Wednesday 21 October 2026
  • Time: 10:30am - 4:00pm (arrivals from 9:30am)
  • Place Parliament - Arrivals and check-in at venue (near Westminster)

Individual Giving – Egyptian Human Rights Defender Marwa Arafa

Help free Egyptian human rights defender Marwa Arafa

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Marwa Arafa is a mother, translator and human rights defender who advocates for children. Today, she is also a prisoner of conscience. For over six years, the Egyptian Authorities have unjustly detained Marwa on baseless terrorism charges. In April 2020, Marwa was arrested in front of her two-year-old daughter and interrogated by armed security forces wearing masks and body armour. She was then forcibly disappeared for 14 days, while her family desperately searched for her.

Marwa's alleged ‘crime' was helping the families of people detained for political reasons, and she's been charged with “joining a terrorist group and financing a terrorist group and terrorists”. And her rights have been repeatedly violated. She's been denied access to a lawyer and adequate medical care. And she's been held in pre-trial detention for six years despite the legal limit in Egypt being 18 months.

Marwa's next court appearance is 17 October 2026. This is our moment. It is vital that we act now to free her.

Please donate today to help fund the fight for her release.

Help fund the Fight!

Freedom From Torture Music Night Fundraiser Event

Freedom From Torture is holding a fundraising event this month at Hillhead Sports Centre.

FFT is running the event in conjunction with H4TH, an organisation working in Glasgow with people experiencing hardship, including refugees. Freedom From Torture provides specialist clinical rehabilitation, legal and welfare support, and campaigning to help torture survivors recover and rebuild their lives.

There will be a great line-up of talented musicians in the first half, followed by a couple of excellent bands in the second half. Come along for either half or stay all night. Food provided with ticket.

The event takes place on Saturday 10th October, 7.15pm – 11pm.

Tickets cost £10 and are available via Eventbrite.

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September 2026 Updates

Amnesty Glasgow West Group Meeting Thurs 10th September 2026

Minutes

Link to September meeting email here

  1. Welcome and apologies
    1. Attendance: Frankie, Katya, Christine, Lauren, Neil, Carol, Claire, Cayden, Clara, Andrew, Ken, Paolo; online - Kirstie, Merle
    2. Apologies:
  2. Agreement of previous meeting minutes link
  3. Guest Speaker: Chris Ramsey, AIUK Europe Coordinator on the current situation and Amnesty's work in Turkiye
  4. Team Updates (list of roles here):
    1. Treasurer
      1. Expenses: £ for Paolo for Meal / venue- ongoing; £ for taxi for Pride tbc; £ for stamps for July UAs tbc ; flyers (Clara)
      2. Donations:
      3. Balance: tbc
    2. Social Media & website (Lauren)
    3. Comms - AIGW's monthly Newsletter - Seeking ideas to improve the ‘open' rate / make the monthly emails more attractive, e.g. survey / review wider group Comms

    4. Regional/Country focus (Clara) - Uyghur Campaign for August; how was the month ; Daytime stall ; London closing event?

      Lovely message received from Emily, Co-China Country Coordinator

      Dear Glasgow West,

      I know that Clara has been keeping you up-to-date but I wanted to reach out directly to offer my heartfelt thanks to all of your for your material, creative, and moral support.

      I am delighted to share that USM received exhibition space and that today, we installed your collaborative banner at SOAS University Library's Wolfson Gallery.

      This is a really powerful display and draws into discussion advocacy for Ahmetjan alongside Mamatjan's artwork and other creative activism types.

      Thank you for everything you've shared to make our campaign a success - from financially enabling me to survive after booking the perfect venue (!), for contributing this beautiful, playful, and meaningful banner, and for how you have amplified the messages we were trying to raise. I know that Mamatjan was incredibly touched by the end display - both for how his art was platformed and how his brother's case was raised. Many Uyghur people have been reaching out to express what this campaign means to them… It's such a tough time for Uyghur diaspora right now and this campaign you have contributed to brings such huge hope. Please thank your whole group for me.

    5. Prisoner of Conscience/Individual At Risk (IAR) (Ken - Türkiye)
    6. Claire: will be away in October - who would like to Chair the meeting?
    7. Not currently active: Theme Focus US Death Penalty
  5. Updates from previous activities
    • Pride Actions - petitions
    • ‘Reading for Resistance': Andrew to look into Amnesty Queer Rights Network petition - and possibly wider book censorship issues / Is this a campaign our local Group might wish to prioritise involvement in? - tbc
    • BBC - Kirstie LGBTQI+ discourse in UK media - posted
    • Turkiye - Ken - sent to Embassy

  6. Updates from local groups (Daytime / Glasgow Uni / AIUK / Community Platform)

    1. Message from Daytime group:
      1. I'm writing to inform you that the Daytime Group has written to Bob Doris MSP about the Scottish Human Rights Bill legislation asking him to support the commitment to bring forward this long-awaited Bill. Apart from the letter which we were encouraged to write by Amnesty Scotland, we have asked if we could meet with him in the autumn to discuss this matter. If a meeting is set up we wondered if any of the West Group would like to meet with him in his constituency office.
    2. Message on Community Platform re. A Petition A Week newsletter:

    My name is Oliver and I am a member of the Durham University and Colwyn Bay Amnesty groups. I have also founded, and currently run, the A Petition A Week newsletter, which has been going for almost a year now. Every Tuesday, everyone on the mailing list receives a petition – with an accompanying background – related to human rights in the United Kingdom and around the world straight into their inbox. There are now more than 100 subscribers and the initiative was featured in the Amnesty Local Group monthly mailings at the start of March. So far, there have been petition covering human rights issues in countries and terroritories as various as Palestine, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Hong Kong, Cambodia, as well as here in the United Kingdom. I understand that your members will likely already be signing lots of petitions and may be loath to receive more, but there will only be one email per week, with a petition that takes at most a minute or two to sign, and could be a great way to find out about human rights issues that are not usually covered, even among human rights groups. A full list of the petitions can be found here: https://apetitionaweek.substack.com, and you can subscribe here: https://apetitionaweek.substack.com/subscribe

  7. Urgent Appeals

Three UAs were circulated and completed by those at the meeting.

  1. Updates from Scottish Activism Rep (Paolo) / Scotland-wide WhatsApp group chat

    1. Joint fundraiser walk/cycle Canal Glasgow - ongoing, pls keep sharing!

      JustGiving fundraising page

    2. Berry picking fundraiser - Perth Amnesty have a stall at Thomas Thomson's fruit farm in Blairgowrie where people can pick as many blueberries as they want & make a donation to Amnesty. Sunday 20th September - 9-12
    3. Scotland-wide Gathering - Saturday September 26th, in Edinburgh 10.00am-5pm; agenda tbc, but we need to do a presentation on what we've done this past year.
      1. Any volunteers to make presentation?
    4. Scotland office template letters: Template Letters for Activists in Scotland

    5. Liz from the Scotland Office is inviting a rep from our group to Parliament! Anyone fancy it?

      Please find attached an invitation to a parliamentary reception being hosted by Amnesty International's Scotland office and sponsored by Karen Adam MSP on Tuesday October 6th and 6pm.

      We would be delighted if a representative of your local group could attend.

      Please RSVP to myself by September 21st and include details of any dietary or accessibility requirements in your response.

  1. Pride 2027 - what's our plan?
    1. Draft: Dear Pride, 20.07.26 - commitment to ethical sponsors for 2027!
      1. All to review draft & approve next meeting
      2. Saved here: Pride
    2. Suggestion: contact those who attended Pride this year to get a coalition of people asking for them to commit to ethical sponsors
      1. Commitment as a minimum to not take from the BDS list - add to their ethical guidelines
  2. Campaign Action suggestion:
    1. Feminist Network Exposing Glasgow's “Pregnancy Crisis Centres”
  3. “Persuasive Conversation Activation Session”
    1. Persuasive Conversations Resources - would anyone like to go for a street wander to speak to strangers about the Human Rights Bill / human rights in Scotland?
      1. Scotland: Tell the First Minister it's time to deliver the Human Rights Bill: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/get-involved/take-action/sign-a-petition/scotland-tell-the-first-minister-its-time-to-deliver-the-human-rights-bill/
  4. Glasgow West 2026 Planner.docx
  5. Discussion/brainstorm:
    • How can we get new active members?
    • How can we keep active members?
    • Any suggestions for the current/new role-holders on how to conduct their role?
  6. AOB
  7. Next meeting - Thurs 8th October 2026
  8. Potential Speakers for 2026:
    • [Refugee Action - potentially joint event with Daytime group - awaiting update from Graham in Daytime Group]
    • Clara: journalist from Somalia - Clara to check his availability and if needs transport/accommodation

    • Ebba: Palestinian researcher:

      https://sgsahblog.com/2025/01/27/activist-ethnography-in-palestine/

    • [Amicus: after find out about Death Penalty network - admin@amicus-alj.org - Allan]

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2026 Meeting Dates

New members very welcome!

The group meets every second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm - 9pm.

The meetings take place at Woodlands Methodist Church, 229 Woodlands Road, G3 6LW

For further information contact mail@glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk

  • Thursday 8th January 2026
  • Thursday 12th February 2026
  • Thursday 12th March 2026
  • Thursday 9th April 2026
  • Thursday 14th May 2026
  • Thursday 11th June 2026
  • Thursday 9th July 2026
  • Thursday 13th August 2026
  • Thursday 10th September 2026
  • Thursday 8th October 2026
  • Thursday 12th November 2026
  • Thursday 10th December 2026

BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS

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