Success Stories!

USA: On July 31, the Alabama Supreme Court voted 5-4 to indefinitely delay the execution of Thomas Arthur, who is seeking a DNA test he claims could prove his innocence. Another man has confessed to the crime and the state of Alabama has admitted that it has lost the rape kit containing the DNA evidence in question. Thanks to all who took action on his behalf!
2008-07-31

USA: Good News! The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended clemency for Kevin Young and on Thursday, July 24th, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry approved their recommendation and commuted Young’s sentence. Young was sentenced to death in 1996 after exchanging gunfire and killing a man during a botched robbery attempt. Young and another man went to the steakhouse with the intention of robbing the restaurant, yet the shooting was not premeditated and did not merit a capital sentence. The Pardon and Parole Board has recommended clemency four times in the past five years, yet Henry has granted only one clemency request during that time. Thanks to all who took action on his behalf!
2008-07-24

Zimbabwe: On Saturday, April 26, Amnesty International USA honored Betty Makoni, 37, a former high school teacher in Zimbabwe. She is the founder of Girl Child Network, a group that protects thousands of girls from abuse and empowers them to stay in school despite overwhelming violence in their communities.

» Listen to Betty Makoni speak during NPR interview
» Read more about Ginetta Sagan award winner, Betty Makoni

2008-07-14

USA: Good News! Just one day before he was scheduled to become the 100th execution in Virginia, Governor Timothy M. Kaine commuted the sentence of Percy Walton, a man with a history of serious mental illness, to life in prison. Thank you to all who took action on his behalf.
2008-06-09

Sudan, USA: Sami al Hajj, a Sudanese cameraman for the television station al-Jazeera, has been released from Guantanamo. He was held by the U.S government. without charge for over 6 years. Sami al Hajj has said that while in U.S. custody he was subjected to a range of torture and ill-treatment, including beatings and denial of prescribed medication for cancer. Amnesty International volunteers worldwide have written letters to U.S. authorities on behalf of Sami al Hajj, and AIUSA Local Groups 48 (Portland, OR) and 74 (Garden City, NY) "adopted" his case. Many thanks to all who wrote for Sami al Hajj.
»Watch a video of Sami al Hajj post-release
2008-05-05

Uzbekistan:

Human rights defender Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov was released on February 4 under a presidential amnesty. He had been serving a seven-year sentence, handed down in January 2006 after what was in effect a secret trial. He was indicted for libel, "information dissemination fomenting the panic" and "terrorism." Prior to his imprisonment, Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov was monitoring protests in the town of Andizhan which escalated on May 12-13, 2005. During the information blockade that engulfed Uzbekistan in the aftermath of the protests, messages from Saidjahon Zainabitdinov were forwarded to the leading world news agencies, TV channels, radio stations and newspapers.

2008-02-04

Belarus: Amnesty International welcomes the release from prison on January 23 of Zmitser Dashkevich, leader of a youth organization that advocates political freedom in Belarus. AI mounted a global campaign to win his release featuring his case in a Global Write-a-thon in December through which thousands of people across the United States appealed for his release. As one of Amnesty International USA's Special Focus Cases, Zmitser Dashkevich's case was a particular focus for action by Amnesty student activists, who joined youth activists around the world in sending 10,000 origami cranes to Belarusian authorities in a symbolic plea for freedom for Mr. Dashkevich and other prisoners of conscience.
2008-01-23

Saudi Arabia:

In 2006, a young woman known only as "The Girl from al-Qatif" and her male companion were kidnapped at knifepoint by a gang of seven men shortly after they met. The male companion was attacked and then released. The woman, however, was raped by each member of the gang.

We are happy to report that the sentences of flogging and imprisonment imposed on a woman rape victim, known only as the "Girl from al-Qatif", and her male companion, are reported to have been dropped under a pardon granted by Saudi Arabia's Head of State, King Abdullah. »Read More

2008-01-16