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    Miriam Lpez

    Miriam fears showing her face

    after horrendous treatment bysoldiers.

    Agencia Reforma

    On 2 February 2011, 30-year-old

    Miriam Isaura Lpez Vargas dropped

    her children off at school in Ensenada,

    Baja California state. Two men wearing

    balaclavas suddenly appeared and

    grabbed her.

    The men, who were later identified as

    soldiers, tied her up, blindfolded her,

    and drove her to a military barracks inthe city of Tijuana. For a week, a

    civilian prosecutor of the Federal

    Attorney Generals Office directed

    intensive questioning of Miriam Lpez

    and soldiers raped her repeatedly. The

    torture included electric shocks and

    threats to her family. It finally stopped

    after she signed a statement that

    falsely implicated her in drug offences.

    Miriam Lpez spent seven months in

    prison while waiting for a trial that

    never began. She was released without

    any charges against her.

    The National Commission of Human

    Rights investigated Miriams case and

    has called for justice and

    compensation. The authorities have

    provided some police protection for

    Miriam and a few counselling sessions.

    However, despite the fact that she has

    identified some of the perpetrators and

    their accomplices, no one has been

    brought to justice for the sexualviolence and other forms of torture she

    suffered.

    Miriam Lpez is one of many people

    who have been similarly captured and

    tortured. Between 2006 and 2012, the

    National Human Rights Commission

    revealed that reports of torture and

    ill-treatment rose by 500 per cent in

    Mexico between 2006 and 2012.

    Convictions are rare.

    MEXICONo one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel,

    inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

    Article 3, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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    Activate your pens and your keyboards! Please write a

    letter to the federal Attorney General.Start with Dear Attorney General.

    Describe who you are and what concerns you

    about the torture Miriam Lpez experienced and

    how the perpetrators have so far gone unpunished.

    Urge him to carry out a full, prompt and impartial

    investigation into the torture of Miriam Lpez in

    February of 2011.

    Ask him to make sure that the results of the

    investigation are made public and that those who

    were responsible for torturing her are brought to

    justice.

    What else can I do?

    On Miriams Facebook page, bit.ly/miriamlopez, click Like and leave a message

    such as Miriam, remember that you are not alone in this struggle. I am with you.

    or Courage, Miriam! Your fight can help others. Include your name and country.

    If you do not have access to Facebook, you may mail a greeting to Miriam on a non-

    religious card. You may mention Amnesty International and you may include your

    return address. Send your greeting to

    Miriam Lpez

    Comisin Mexicana de Defensa y Promocin

    de los Derechos Humanos

    Tehuantepec 142

    Col. Roma Sur, C.P. 06760

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Send your letter to:

    Jess Murillo Karam

    Procuradura General de la Repblica

    Paseo de la Reforma 211-213

    Col. Cuauhtmoc, C.P. 06500

    Mexico City, MexicoPostage: $1.85Fax: 011 52 55 5346 0908(This number is hard to reach. If you are suc-cessful and a voice answers, say Fax por favor.)

    Email: [email protected]

    Please make a copy for:Honourable John Baird

    Minister of Foreign Affairs

    House of Commons

    Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

    Postage: None requiredEmail:[email protected]: (613) 996-9880(At the top of the copy, write something likePlease call for justice for Miriam Lpez. Canadamust help end torture in Mexico.

    Learn more about this case,

    Watch a video and share writeathon.ca/mexico

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.writeathon.ca/belarushttp://www.writeathon.ca/belarushttp://www.writeathon.ca/belarusmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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    Village of Nabi Saleh

    Nariman Tamimi

    raises her voice at a

    Friday protest.

    Welcome to the village of Nabi Saleh. About

    550 Palestinians live here. As you approach,

    you notice farmland surrounding the village,

    where olive trees grow well. And it is blessed

    with a natural spring. But there is a problem.

    Israeli settlers moved onto the land in 1977

    without permission from the villagers. They

    established their own settlement called

    Halamish. The settler population has grown

    to 1,600 and they are now using thefarmland. They also turned the spring into a

    tourist attraction and will not let the

    Palestinians access water from it. The Israeli

    army has established a military base there,

    as well.

    Every Friday since 2009 when they lost

    access to the spring, the villagers have

    organized non-violent demonstrations. They

    protest against Israels military occupation

    and the illegal Israeli settlement of

    Halamish.

    The Israeli army responds to the villagers

    peaceful protests with excessive and

    unnecessary force.

    So far they have injured hundreds, including

    women and children. Two people have died.

    During a Friday protest in November 2012,

    Israeli soldiers shot Rushdi Tamimi in the

    back. Video evidence shows that Israeli sol-

    diers delayed his familys effort to transport

    him to hospital by ambulance. He died two

    days later.

    A military investigation into the incident

    shows that soldiers fired over 80 live roundsat Palestinian protesters that day. Mustafa

    Tamimi died in hospital one day after a

    Friday protest in December 2011. A soldier

    in an armoured military jeep had fired a tear

    gas canister at his face.

    In addition to the excessive force at protests,

    the Israeli army intimidates the villagers at

    other times. They occasionally carry out night

    raids, arrest children, restrict the residents

    movements by declaring Nabi Saleh a closed

    military zone, and fire tear gas and other

    weapons at homes to cause injury and

    damage.

    OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN

    TERRITORIES:

    Everyone has the right tosecurity of person.

    No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

    Articles 3 and 17, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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    Activate your pens and your keyboards!

    Please write a letter to Israels Minister of Defence.

    Start with Dear Minister.

    Describe who you are and what concerns you about

    the intrusion of Israeli settlers and army on

    Palestinian land.

    Ask the Minister to stop the excessive and

    unnecessary force by the Israeli security forces

    against demonstrators in Nabi Saleh.

    Urge him to ensure that security officers responsible

    for the killings of Mustafa Tamimi and Rushdi

    Tamimi, and for the injury of others in the village,

    are brought to justice.

    What else can I do?

    Support from abroad boosts the spirits of the villagers. Send a letter or a card to

    them via the co-ordinator of the Nabi Saleh Popular Resistance Committee:

    Naji Tamimi

    Nabi Saleh

    Birzeit/RamallahPalestine

    Apart from religious cards, any card is fine. You may mention Amnesty International

    and you may include your return address. Here is a sample message: We stand by

    you in dignity and for freedom and justice.

    Or leave a message of support on the village

    Facebook page: bit.ly/nabi-saleh

    Send your letter to:

    Minister of Defence Moshe Yaalon

    Ministry of Defence

    37 Kaplan Street, Hakirya

    Tel Aviv 61909, Israel

    Fax: 011 972 3 691 6940Email: [email protected] : @bogie_yaalonPostage: $1.85

    Please make a copy for:

    Her Excellency Miriam Ziv

    Ambassador for Israel

    50 O'Connor Street, Suite 1005

    Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2

    Postage: $.63Fax: (613) 567-9878E-mail: [email protected]

    Learn more about this case,

    Watch a video and share writeathon.ca/opt

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nabi-Saleh-Solidarity/177013109017209http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nabi-Saleh-Solidarity/177013109017209mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.writeathon.ca/belarushttp://www.writeathon.ca/belarushttp://www.writeathon.ca/belarusmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.facebook.com/pages/Nabi-Saleh-Solidarity/177013109017209
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    The Bolotnaya 3 DetaineesMeet the Bolotnaya 3. We use that name

    for them because it was in Moscows

    Bolotnaya Square that Vladimir Aki-

    menkov, Artiom Saviolov and Mikhail

    Kosenko were detained during an

    authorized protest on 6 May 2012.

    Authorities soon released the Bolotnaya

    3, but rearrested them in June 2012.

    They have been in custody ever since and

    their imprisonment has badly affectedtheir health. Vladimir Akimenkov is losing

    his eyesight. Artiom Saviolovs speech

    impediment is reportedly getting worse in

    detention. Mikhail Kosenko is not

    receiving medication he needs regularly.

    The Bolotnaya 3 have been charged with

    participating in mass riots. Both Artiom

    Saviolov and Mikhail Kosenko are also

    accused of using force against policeofficers. All three firmly deny the

    charges. They also deny acting violently

    or in a disorderly fashion.

    Video footage supports their claims.

    Police statements made against Vladimir

    Akimenkov and Artiom Savelov during the

    investigation differ from what was later

    said in court.

    Amnesty International believes that all

    three men are prisoners of conscience.

    Vladimir Akimenkov may be held only

    because of his prior political activism.

    The Bolotnaya Square protest was thefirst time Artiom Saviolov had ever

    gone to a demonstration. He is

    accused of breaking through the

    police line and shouting Down with

    the police state! something that he

    explained would not be possible

    because of his stutter.

    Mikhail Kosenko is accused of

    severely beating a police officer. He

    remains in custody even thoughanother man has been convicted of

    the beating and even though the

    officer later said that he had never

    seen Mikhail Kosenko before.

    RUSSIA:

    No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest

    Article 9, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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    Activate your pens and your keyboards!

    Please write a letter to the Prosecutor General.

    Start with Dear Prosecutor General.

    Describe who you are and what concerns you

    about the continued detention of Vladimir

    Akimenkov, Artiom Saviolov and Mikhail

    Kosenko and about the effects on theirhealth.

    Ask the Prosecutor General to immediately

    and unconditionally release the three men.

    What else can I do?

    Lift the spirits of Vladimir Akimenkov, Artiom Saviolov and Mikhail Kosenko. Send

    each one a bright card or postcard. Create a short greeting in English. Or translate it

    into Russian either by asking a Russian speaker for help or using trans-

    late.google.com.

    Address your message to

    [Insert name of prisoner]

    Pre-trial detention facility

    SIZO-2 Butyrka

    ul. Novoslobodskaya, 45

    Moscow 127055, Russian Federation

    Send your letter to:

    Yurii Yakovlevich Chaika

    Prosecutor Generals Office

    ul. B. Dmitrovka, d.15a

    125993 Moscow GSP- 3

    Russian FederationPostage: $1.85

    Please make a copy for:

    His Excellency Georgy Mamedov

    Ambassador for the Russian Federation

    285 Charlotte Street

    Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8L5

    Postage: $.63Fax: (613) 236-6342Email: [email protected]

    Learn more about this case,

    Watch a video and share writeathon.ca/russia

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.writeathon.ca/belarushttp://www.writeathon.ca/belarushttp://www.writeathon.ca/belarusmailto:[email protected]
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    Jabeur Mejri

    Jabeur Mejri is serving a

    seven-and-a-half year sentence forcreating Facebook posts

    that expressed his views of religion

    Private

    Jabeur Mejri logged onto Facebookduring the first day or two of March2012. He posted a picture of the prophetMohamed and published articles criticalof Islam.

    Punishment was quick. Lawyers saw theposts and filed a complaint. Policeofficers arrested Jabeur Mejri on 5 March

    2012. Authorities charged him withharming or insulting others throughpublic telecommunication networks,

    attacking sacred values through actions

    or words and undermining public

    morals. By the end of March, he had

    begun serving a sentence ofseven-and-a-half years in Mahdia prison.

    International human rights law protectsthe act of expressing ideas that some

    people think are offensive.

    The ability to criticize religious and otherbeliefs and ideas is a vital component ofthe right to freedom of expression. WhileJabeur Mejris posts may have offended

    some Muslims, they non-violentlyreflected his views.

    Amnesty International considers29-year-old Jabeur Mejri to be a prisoner

    of conscience, held for peacefullyexercising his right to freedom of opinionand expression.

    Jabeur Mejri is not the first to bepersecuted under Articles 121(3) and226 of the Penal Code and Article 86 ofthe Telecommunications Code. Since2011, Tunisian authorities have used theCodes to restrict freedom of expressionfor journalists, artists and bloggers,

    among others.

    Please ask the president of Tunisia tofree Jabeur Mejri.

    TUNISIAEveryone has the right to freedom of thought,

    conscience, religion, opinion and expression.

    Articles 18 & 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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    Activate your pens and your keyboards!Please write a letter to Tunisias president.

    Start with Your Excellency.Describe who you are and what concerns youabout the imprisonment of Jabeur Mejri onlyfor peacefully using his right to freely express

    his views.Ask the president to release Jabeur Mejriwithout delay or any conditions on hisfreedom.

    What else can I do?

    Jabeur Mejris family says he is dispirited and is feeling lonely and forgotten.Sendhim a greeting. Apart from religious cards, any kind of message is fine. You maymention Amnesty International and you may include your return address.

    Tell him about your community, your family, your activities. Tell him that you arethinking of him on Human Rights Day. Or write this in your own words:I stand in solidarity with you as a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned only for exer-

    cising your right to freedom of expression.

    Mail your message with $1.85 postage to:Jabeur MejriPrison civile de MahdiaRoute de Chiba 5100

    Mahdia, Tunisie

    Send your letter to:

    Prsident Moncef Marzouki *Palais PrsidentielTunisTunisie

    Postage: $1.85Fax: 011 216 71 744 721Email: [email protected]* Note of interest:President Marzouki used to head the Tunisian League ofHuman Rights and was himself a POC in 1994.

    Please make a copy for:

    His Excellency Riadh EssidAmbassador for Tunisia515 OConnor StreetOttawa, Ontario K1S 3P8

    Postage : $.63Fax: (613) 237-7939Email: [email protected]

    Learn more about this case,

    Watch a video and share writeathon.ca/tunisia

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.writeathon.ca/belarushttp://www.writeathon.ca/belarushttp://www.writeathon.ca/belarusmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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    Dr. Tun Aung

    Amnesty International

    has determined that Dr. Tun Aung is

    a prisoner of conscience, targeted

    because he is a

    Muslim community leader.

    Private

    It was tense in the western Myanmar town of

    Maungdaw, Rakhine State on 8 June 2012.

    Relations between the towns communities

    the Rakhine Buddhists and the Rohingya

    Muslims were deteriorating rapidly. Each

    group suspected that the other group had

    killed some of their people. The police

    expected violence so they called on a re-

    spected medical doctor in the community to

    help them keep peace. His name is Dr. Tun

    Aung.

    Rioting did start, and it was violent. People

    present say that Dr. Tun Aung actively tried

    to calm the crowd. He tried to tell them that

    the government was setting up an investiga-

    tion into the killing of the Muslims. But the

    crowd of thousands, mostly Rohingya Mus-

    lims, was out of control and many were not

    prepared to listen.

    When Rakhine (pronounced ra-hine) Bud-

    dhists hurled threats at him, he and his fam-ily felt nervous. They accepted an offer of a

    drive home from an immigration official but

    instead, the official took them to immigration

    headquarters.

    Officials there released his family within

    hours but held Dr. Tun Aung. They were

    likely looking for someone to blame after the

    violence ended.

    For several weeks no one knew where he was.

    His family finally learned that he was in

    Rakhine states Sittwe prison, 170km from

    his hometown of Maungdaw. The 65-year-old

    grandfather is still there today. The distance

    makes it very difficult for his family to travelfor the 20-minute prison visit they are

    sometimes allowed. It is also a challenge for

    them to provide him with medicine and food

    to supplement the inadequate prison diet.

    Legal representation was inadequate at

    Dr. Tun Aungs trial. He first received a

    prison sentence of 11 years but the

    prosecution appealed and the sentence is

    now 17 years.

    Dr. Tun Aung suffers from a pituitary tumourfor which he may not be receiving the

    medication and medical attention required to

    manage this condition.

    MYANMARNo one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrestArticle 9, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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    Activate your pens and your keyboards!

    Please send a letter or fax to the president.

    Start with Your Excellency.

    Describe who you are and what concerns you

    about the continued detention of Dr. Tun Aung.

    Insist on his release, since he is a prisoner of

    conscience who has not committed, nor

    promoted, any violence.Until he is free, you could ask for proper care

    for his pituitary tumour. You could also request

    his transfer to Insein prison so that he is able

    to have regular family visits.

    What else can I do?

    Send a greeting toDr Tun Aungs family. They may be able to share it with him in

    the future.

    Mail it toDr Tun Aungs family

    Amnesty International

    3-1992 Yonge StreetToronto ON M4S 1Z7

    Apart from religious cards, any card is fine. You may mention Amnesty International.

    Or you could post a video or photo with your message of support on Dr Tun Aungs

    tumblr page where his family will see it: myanmar-w4r.tumblr.com. Tell them who

    you are, where you are writing from, and what action you have taken for Dr Tun

    Aung.

    Send your letter to

    President Thein Sein

    Nay Pyi Taw

    Republic of the Union of Myanmar

    Postage: $1.85Email via online contact form:www.president-office.gov.mm/contact

    Please send a copy to

    His Excellency Hau Do Suan

    Ambassador for Myanmar

    336 Island Park Drive

    Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0A7Postage: $.63Fax: (613) 232-6999

    Learn more about this case,

    Watch a video and share writeathon.ca/myanmar

    http://www.president-office.gov.mm/contacthttp://www.president-office.gov.mm/contacthttp://www.writeathon.ca/belarushttp://www.writeathon.ca/belarushttp://www.writeathon.ca/belarushttp://www.president-office.gov.mm/contact
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    Community of Badia East

    Bimbo Omowole Osobe is 55.

    Since the demolition, she has slept inthe open under a net.

    Social and Economic Rights Action

    Center

    Disaster struck the large community ofBadia East on the edge of Lagos on 23February 2013. Shocked residentswatched bulldozers demolish 266 of theirhomes. Most were not allowed to evenrescue their belongings. A few residentstried to resist but police officers beatthem.

    Lagos state officials had identified thearea for slum upgrading in a projectfunded by the World Bank. The officialshad ordered the eviction and police werepresent to support the demolition. Oneofficer warned If you love your life, moveout! No one had given the families,small shop owners and traders advancewarning. No one had consulted them. Noone had prepared alternateaccommodation for them.

    The anguish has not stopped. Many ofthe residents are still living in the open orcamping in makeshift shelters.

    Officials have returned more than once todestroy some of the shelters. In March,officers also arrested five people whowere building an emergency water tankafter a bulldozer had ruptured the pipecarrying water to the community. Theyeventually released the five.

    The residents have yet to receive

    compensation and the offer of newhomes. They are without access to legalremedies.

    Badia East is just one of manycommunities across Nigeria that hasbeen torn apart by forced evictions inrecent years. Large-scale evictions andhouse demolitions have occurred withoutrespect for human rights standards. Manyare living today with the constant threat

    that their own homes will be destroyed.

    Pay a visit to Badia East at www.Amnesty.org/en/

    library/info/AFR44/009/2013/en.

    NIGERIAEveryone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health

    and well-being of himself and of his family, includinghousing.

    Article 25, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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    Activate your pens and your keyboards!Please write to the governor of Lagos State.

    Start with Your Excellency. Describe who you are and what concerns you

    about Februarys demolition in Badia East. Ask Governor San to stop all forced evictions. Insist that all residents evicted from their homes

    in February 2013 receive compensation andalternative housing.

    Send your letter to:Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SanOffice of the Governor of Lagos StateState Government SecretariatAlausa, IkejaLagos State, NigeriaPostage: $1.85Twitter handle: @tundefasholaSuggested tweet: Compensate #BadiaEast resi-dents after home demolitions in Lagos State,#Nigeria. #endforcedevictions

    Please make a copy for:

    His Excellency Ojo Uma MaduekweHigh Commissioner for Nigeria295 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, Ontario K2P 1R9Postage: $.63Fax: (613) 236-0529Email via website: http://www.nigeriahcottawa.ca/nhc2/index.php/en/welcome-to-nhc/contact-us

    Learn more about this case,

    Watch a video and share writeathon.ca/nigeria

    What else can I do?The Badia East residents need to know there is international concern for what has happened tothem. Send letters, cards or photos of yourself with one of these messages.Try your hand at writing in Yoruba!

    1. We support the Badia East community.2. Housing is a human right.3. End forced evictions.

    Add your name and Canada but do not include your full return address. (If you wish to use a returnaddress, you may use the address for Amnesty Internationals office in Toronto: 3-1992 Yonge,Toronto, Canada M4S 1Z7.) Apart from religious cards, any kind of card is fine. You may mentionAmnesty International.

    Mail your message with $1.85 postage toBadia East Technical CommitteeC/o Social and Economic Rights Action CenterPlot 758, Chief Thomas Adeboye DriveOmole Phase 2, Isheri

    Lagos State, Nigeria

    A w lhn won ar l orn Bdt omo nyn ni il gbgb

    E fi pin s k fi ip l nyn jde n il

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    Ihar Tsikhanyuk

    I dont want to hide myself.

    I live openly. It is not easy in Belarus,

    but I want to show people that I am a

    person like everybody. With my example

    I want to show that it is possible to live

    openly. - Ihar Tsikhanyuk

    Ihar Tsikhanyuk

    Early last February, Ihar Tsikhanyuk

    was in hospital receiving treatment for

    a stomach ulcer. Two police officers in

    plain clothes came into the ward and

    took him away to a district police

    station. There, officers punched him

    again and again. They also made fun of

    him for being gay, and threatened him

    with more violence.

    Ihar Tsikhanyuk (pronounced Eehar

    Tsi-han-yuk) is a 26-year-old openly gay

    man and gay rights activist who lives in

    Hrodna. He promotes the rights of

    lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and

    intersex people in Belarus.

    Ihar Tsikhanyuks seizure from the

    hospital and his beating occurred a few

    weeks after he tried to formally register

    the existence of the Human RightsCentre Lambda.

    The Centre supports the rights of

    LGBTI people. He had also attended a

    meeting of the human rights project

    Gay Belarus in Minsk in December

    2012.

    The director of the hospital ward

    phoned the police station and

    demanded Ihar Tsikhanyuks return.

    A police officer drove him back but noone documented the injuries from his

    beating. He made a formal complaint

    about his treatment by police but in

    mid-March, the Prosecutors office

    informed him that there was not

    enough evidence to start an

    investigation.

    Ihar Tsikhanyuk needs your support to

    make sure the police officers who

    ill-treated him are brought to justice.The attention you give will also help to

    protect him and other LGBTI activists

    from further harassment.

    BELARUSEveryone has the right to peaceful assembly and association.

    Article 20, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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    Russian riot police scufe with

    protestors in Moscow who opposegovernment policies.

    Reuters/Denis Sinyakov

    Freedoms are under threat in Russia,even though they are guaranteed by theconstitution. Rights to freedom ofexpression, association, and assemblyhave been attacked increasingly sinceVladimir Putin returned to office asPresident of the Russian Federation inMarch 2012.

    Being out and loud and proud can land

    you in prison. In late June,St. Petersburg police broke up a lawfulgathering of people interested in lesbian,gays, bisexual, transgendered andintersex rights. Anti-gay protestors andpolice assaulted them. On June 30,Russia passed a law banning"propaganda of non-traditional sexual re-

    lations".

    It's getting harder to protest in Russia.

    Complicated approval procedures make itdifficult to organize events and restrictthe right to freedom of assembly. Manyprotests have been arbitrarily banned ordispersed.

    Defamation was re-criminalized on June30th, and new laws on treason andblasphemy were passed. Singing aprotest song in a cathedral can lead totwo years in prison--exactly whathappened to Pussy Riot.

    It is more difficult than ever to operate anon-governmental organization. Russiangroups that receive funding from outside

    the country must describe themselves as"foreign agents" if they engage in loosely-defined political activity. Freedom ofassociation is under attack as officialsconduct inspections of organizationsoffices, impose heavy fines and suspendactivities of at least one group. Many fearthey will be shut down.

    The Winter Olympic Games are beingheld in Sochi, Russia from February

    7-23, 2014. The Olympic flame canthrow light on the human rights violationsthat Russia authorities would prefer tohide behind the celebrations.

    Freedom under ThreatRUSIA

    No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrestArticle 9, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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    Activate your pens and your keyboards!Please write a letter to President Putin c/o theembassy in Ottawa. Start with Dear President Putin. Describe who you are and what concerns you

    about the increasing number of attacks on civilsociety and on the rights to freedom of expression,assembly and association. Ask him to get rid of laws that (choose two orthree) Re-criminalize libel, Restrict public protests, Broaden the legal definition of treason and

    espionage to target opponents, Oblige NGOs to register as foreign agents,

    Make propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors anoffence, Criminalize the act of insulting the religious feelings of believers.

    Tell President Putin that you expect him to uphold the rights to freedom ofexpression, association and assembly in Russia.

    Send your letter to:

    President Vladamir Putin

    c/o His Excellency Georgiy MamedovEmbassy of the Russian Federation285 Charlotte StreetOttawa, Ontario K1N 8L5

    Postage: $.63Fax: (613) 236-6342E-mail: [email protected]

    Learn more about this case,

    Watch a video and share writeathon.ca/sochi