May 2016: Amnesty Insider‏

VICTORY: KHADIJA ISMAYILOVA RELEASED! Blackmail, threats and efforts to smear her reputation could not silence Khadija Ismayilova's journalism—so the Azerbaijani government put her in prison. Khadija found and distributed evidence of how the President of Azerbaijan, his wife and two daughters secured secret ownership in a wide range of companies doing business with his government in order to amass more power. She also exposed human rights violations committed by authorities.  She was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years for her groundbreaking work—but has now finally been released by the supreme court after they overturned two of her convictions. While she hasn’t had all of her outstanding convictions acquitted, she now walks free in part because of activism from supporters like you. For more information on Khadija Ismayilova's release, please see the full press release here. INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S NOTE Today, there are more people fleeing war and persecution than any other time since World War II. They are mothers, fathers and children; they are students, working-class people, and white-collar professionals. They're being forced from their homes, often under threat of violence. They're human beings, looking for the same safety we all want and have a right to. While politicians in Congress and state legislatures continue to demonize refugees, the vast majority of the American public wants to do more to help them.In a groundbreaking new poll conducted by Amnesty International, 71% of Americans said they welcome refugees to their country, and the vast majority said the U.S. government should do more to help them. Amnesty International is playing an increasing—and critical—role in making sure that happens. For many years, Amnesty International has documented the human rights abuses refugees face around the world. Now, we're pressing governments to both protect refugees and address the bigger problems that have created this crisis in the first place. As we have for 55 years, on a wide range of human rights issues, we're mobilizing millions of people in the U.S. and around the world to press for fundamental change that will protect all people from injustice. The U.S. can do more, and it must. We're pressing President Obama to increase the number of refugees that can resettle in the U.S., and we're pressing the president and Congress to increase U.S. support to help countries that are taking the vast majority of refugees. Take action today to ask Congress to do more, and ask your friends to take action, too. Thank you for your activism, Margaret Huang Interim Executive Director Amnesty International USA DON'T LEAVE THIS TORTURE SURVIVOR AT GUANTÁNAMO For 13 years, torture survivor Toffiq al-Bihani has been held without charge by the U.S. government despite being cleared for release by national security agencies six years ago. Toffiq has been held since 2003 and was tortured by the CIA—now public figures are promising to keep Guantánamo open forever and bring back torture. All detainees should be either charged and given a fair trial or released. Tell the U.S. Government: Immediately transfer Toffiq al-Bihani out of Guantánamo.   ON AMNESTY'S BIRTHDAY WE WANT TO THANK YOU From the smiles of Shaker Aamer who's now free from Guantanamo, to the long overdue release of Albert Woodfox in Louisiana, to Burkina Faso's commitment to eradicating early and forced marriage, it's been a phenomenal year. Amnesty's victories are made possible because of activism from people like you. Check out our video of thanks on Facebook. Amnesty's birthday was also featured in Teen Vogue which looked at how youth across the U.S. are getting involved. Read their story here. LOCAL HIGHLIGHT: AMNESTY GROUP 11 In Fall 2015, Manhattan's Group 11 decided to campaign for Teodora del Carmen Vásquez (one of this year's Write For Rights cases), imprisoned in El Salvador for the 'crime' of suffering a stillbirth. Group 11 has a dynamic, involved membership, with new attendees each month. Working in consultation with Larry Ladutke, Country Specialist for El Salvador, member Martha Spittal has spearheaded the group's work on Teodora's case, saying "I find it energizing to have people do this together." The group's focused case strategy has involved consulting state and local politicians, submitting a petition to decriminalize abortion in El Salvador signed by 838 international doctors and health professionals, and a visit to the prison by an AI representative.  To get more involved alongside Group 11, take action online for Teodora today! How did you like Amnesty Insider? Let us know what you think. © 2016 Amnesty International USA | 5 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001 | 1-800-AMNESTY