Fwd: WEEKLY URGENT ACTIONS FOR 2 APRIL 2012

[Kirsty Hetherington]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "QLD AIA Mailbox" <qld...@amnesty.org.au>
Date: 02/04/2012 2:56 PM
Subject: WEEKLY URGENT ACTIONS FOR 2 APRIL 2012
To:

Dear Urgent Action Network, 

First of all, you will find attached an update regarding two urgent actions previously sent. The first update concerns an Iranian teacher convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God). His request for pardon has been rejected and is now at risk of imminent execution. The second update is a stop action regarding seventy-year-old Alabama death row prisoner Thomas Arthur who has received a stay of execution from a federal court. 

The Urgent Actions for the week concern two new cases in Honduras and Syria. In Syria, two Turkish journalists went missing while reporting on current events in northern Syria, close to the Turkish border. They may have been subjected to enforced disappearance, which would put them at grave risk of torture and other ill-treatment. The case in Honduras is about Women's rights. Honduras is on the verge of becoming the only country in the world that criminalises the emergency contraceptive pill due to a Supreme Court conclusion that a ban is not unconstitutional. Women and girls who have been raped or whose contraceptive method has failed will no longer have the option of emergency contraception. The fundamental rights of Honduran women and girls are in jeopardy. 

Update cases: 

FU UA: 102/10 Iran MDE 13/020/2012

CLEMENCY DENIED FOR IRANIAN MAN ON DEATH ROW

An Iranian teacher who was convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God) and sentenced to death has had his request for pardon rejected. He is at risk of imminent execution.

fu ua 65/12 USA (AMR 51/026/2012)   Stop Action

FEDERAL COURT BLOCKS ALABAMA EXECUTION 
Seventy-year-old Alabama death row prisoner Thomas Arthur has received a stay of execution from a federal court. He had been scheduled to be executed on the evening of 29 March for a murder committed in 1982.

New Urgent Actions:

UA: 82/12 Syria MDE 24/031/2012

FEARS FOR TURKISH JOURNALISTS IN SYRIA

Turkish journalists Adem Özköse and Hamit Coşkun went missing while reporting on current events in northern Syria, close to the Turkish border. They were last heard from on 10 March. They may have been subjected to enforced disappearance, which would put them at grave risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

UA: 81/12 Honduras AMR 37/005/2012

HONDURAS SET TO BAN EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE

Honduras is on the verge of becoming the only country in the world that criminalises the emergency contraceptive pill due to a Supreme Court conclusion that a ban is not unconstitutional. Women and girls who have been raped or whose contraceptive method has failed will no longer have the option of emergency contraception. The fundamental rights of Honduran women and girls are in jeopardy. 

You will find more information on these cases in the files attached. Please, feel free to contact me if you have any inquiries, questions or suggestions about our Urgent Actions Network. 

Thanks again for your continued support of human rights. 

Best regards,

Camille Foulquie (Intern)

Urgent Action Coordinator

-- 
Amnesty International Australia
Level 1 354 Brunswick Street
FORTITUDE VALLEY  QLD  4006
Our office is situated on the traditional lands of the Jagera and Turrbal Peoples.
 
P:  07 3136 6400
F:  07 3126 0235
E:  qld...@amnesty.org.au

Stop the slaughter in Syria - take action: http://www.amnesty.org.au/action/action/28053/