From my inbox to the tubes

Wednesday, 1 October 2008

Don't sleepwalk into 42 days

If this email is not displayed properly, click here

protect the human
TAKING ACTION
TOGETHER
FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS
downing street door

"Britain's terror laws have left me and my family shattered...

I am innocent yet was detained without charge in solitary confinement for days on end. It was a devastating experience"
- Hicham Yezza

This autumn the Government wants to push through a bill allowing police to lock people up for 42 days without charge if they are suspected of a "terrorism-related offence". Hicham Yezza - who was held for 6 days - has experienced first hand the devastation of detention without charge.

Imagine being detained for 6 whole weeks without even being told what you are accused of. This is an attack on our basic rights - let's not sleepwalk into it.

Say no to 42 days, sign our petition now

Hicham Yezza, an employee of the University of Nottingham, was arrested and detained without charge for saving a declassified, freely available document entitled 'al Qaida Training Manual' onto his computer. Hicham was sent the document by his friend Rizwaan Sabir, who he was helping with his research into terrorism for a Politics PhD. Hicham never opened the document, it sat forgotten and unread on his computer.

On May 14, Hicham and Rizwaan were arrested; it was 48 hours before Hicham was told why he was being held. He was detained without charge for 6 days.

The Counter-Terrorism Bill would allow the police to lock you up like this not for 6, but for 42 days. On its first reading, it was pushed through the Commons by only 9 votes; that's only a few MPs whose minds we have to change.

Don't let other people go through what Hicham has endured.

Sign now, say no to 42 days

"Fighting terrorism is a serious matter and needs to be tackled in a serious way.The real danger is that we are witnessing a slide into a Britain where the innocent are detained until proven guilty"- Hicham Yezza

Sincerely,

Kate Allen

Kate Allen
Amnesty International

actnow

 

petition icon

Sign now and say no to 42 days

Small actions X Millions = Big change

 

If you have any queries or feedback about this email or Amnesty's work, please get in touch with our Supporter Care team on sct@amnesty.org.uk or on +44 (0)20 7033 1777.

Stop receiving these emails
Stop receiving all Amnesty International emails

Amnesty International UK is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no 01735872, registered office

No comments: