Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I will write, tweet, stand up for Nabeel Rajab

 I got this from Amnesty International:

 http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/c.6oJCLQPAJiJUG/b.8453639/k.7BFE/Nabeel_Rajab/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?msource=W1211EAIAR2


Dear Tracy,

You saw it with your own eyes – the power of Amnesty International's Write for Rights. Jabbar Savalan, an Azerbaijani student who spent almost 11 months in prison for a Facebook post, was released shortly after being featured in the 2011 Write for Rights event. That's the power of your letters.

I hope you’ll join me in taking action for Nabeel Rajab, an activist in Bahrain initially detained for a tweet. Nabeel is one of our 2012 Write for Rights cases and needs your support.

I know, with your help, we can have as big of an impact as we did in 2011. I write letters to save lives. I hope you will too.

Thank you,

Beth Ann Toupin


ear Tracy,

Is tweeting a crime in Bahrain?

Ask @NabeelRajab. After tweeting a sentence shorter than the one you're reading right now to Bahrain's Prime Minister demanding political change, Nabeel Rajab was arrested.

Is protesting a crime in Bahrain?

For taking that same message to the streets through organized protests, Nabeel was once again charged and this time, sentenced to 3 years in prison. In fact, since May of this year, Nabeel – a prominent leader of the human rights movement in Bahrain – has been kept in a small, dark cell.

Tell Bahraini authorities to free Nabeel Rajab now! Send a message by Tuesday and we'll amplify your voice during our upcoming demonstration in Washington, D.C.

Unfortunately, we know that Bahraini authorities aren't just after Nabeel Rajab. They want to tear down everything he stands for. They want to intimidate others so that no one will stand with him. They want Nabeel Rajab to sit in that small, dark cell and feel alone.

But that won't happen. Nabeel Rajab will never sit alone in darkness because Amnesty International will always be there to shine a light. It's what we do. It's who we are.

Nabeel's peaceful actions for freedom in Bahrain -- from tweets to marching in the streets -- exemplify why he is a signature case for Amnesty International's annual Write for Rights event. That is because whether you show solidarity by writing and mailing letters, updating your Facebook status, organizing rallies or taking any solidarity action in between, you can make a difference in the lives of this year's 10 Write for Rights cases.

Mark your calendars, because from December 5 - 16, we will build upon Amnesty's 51-year tradition and incredible history of writing letters to save lives. Thousands will gather in classrooms, coffee shops, community centers and more; united by the power of the letter and for the cause of writing for human rights.

But we start building momentum today. Your action for Nabeel Rajab right now will fuel our special demonstration in D.C. on Tuesday to draw attention to Bahrain's disgraceful treatment of Nabeel Rajab and its crackdown on human rights. For every 100 actions taken, we will hold a special place so that we can represent our full force -- that means you! -- when we hit the streets.

You'll just have to stay tuned to see how your actions will add power to our work to free Nabeel. Take action to free Nabeel Rajab now so that we can add your voice to Tuesday's special demonstration.

The spark for this year's Write for Rights begins with you, but the flame that burns for Nabeel Rajab and others who defend human rights will last forever.

In Solidarity,

Beth Ann Toupin
Country Specialist, Bahrain
Amnesty International USA





P.S. We will keep you posted in the upcoming weeks about how you can connect with the thousands of awe-inspiring letter-writing events being organized all across the country.

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