Human Rights Action update Oct.8-15

Miriam, human rights defender

EGYPT 
First some good news. The two Palestinian refugees from Syria that the Egyptian authorities had been preparing to forcibly return to Syria or Gaza have now been resettled in Europe. Thanks to all who wrote on their behalf.

HONG KONG 
Peaceful protesters were detained. At least 26 people, including several poets and artists, have been detained in Beijing for showing support for the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Thirteen people are known to have been accused of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble", and could face up to five years in prison if formally charged. In one case, a mother and a one year old baby were detained without food or water while trying to obtain information about the detained husband/father. The detained are:
Names:
Activists criminally detained in Beijing on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”:
Han Ying (韩颖) (f), Liu Huizhen (刘惠珍) (f), Li Dongmei (李冬梅) (f), Jiang Liuyong (姜流勇) (m), Guo Zhiying (郭志英) (f), Chen Lianhe (陈连和) (m), Wu Xiaoping (吴小平) (f), Han Suqing (韩淑清) (f), Cui Baodi (崔宝弟) (f), Zhang Zonggang (张宗钢) (m), Wang Chongxi (王崇喜) (m)

Activists from Songzhuang art community in Beijing criminally detained on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”:
Zhang Miao (张淼) (f), Wang Zang (王藏) (m)

Activists from Songzhuang art community in Beijing:
Cui Guangxia (崔广厦) (m), Zhu Yanguang (朱雁光) (m), Fei Xiaosheng (费小胜) (m), Ren Chongyuan (任重远) (m), Ding Ding (丁酊) (m), Wang Lin (王琳) (f), Zhui Hun (追魂) (m), Lü Shang (吕上) (m),

Other activists detained in Beijing:
Guo Hongwei (郭宏伟) (m), Wang Su'e (王素娥) (f), Ran Chongbi (冉崇碧) (f), Li Yufeng (李玉凤) (f), Li Xuehui (李学惠) (f)


Please open the link, protest and include the above names in your letter.

EL SALVADOR 
End The Ban On Abortion In El Salvador! The ban is killing women and girls. Women who suffer a miscarriage are treated like criminals; accused of 'aggravated homicide', they face up to 50 years in prison. Girls who have been raped cannot seek a termination.

Illegal abortions are common - and dangerous. More than half of all deaths of pregnant teens are due to suicide. Ask the President to end the ban. Please open and join the protest, just a click is needed.

AFGHANISTAN 
This is beyond belief. Brishna, a 10-year old girl from Kunduz province in Afghanistan was raped by a local mullah in May 2014. She is at risk of an “honour” killing by family and community members. The women’s rights defender who assists her is facing death threats. Please open and send a mighty rant!

UNITED NATIONS 
A UN agency is about to fire a union activist because he is a "troublemaker." A campaign a year ago, calling on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to respect workers rights, was successful. Please raise your voice in protest in this case.