JOURNALIST TURAL ABBASLI IS IN JAIL FOR USING FACEBOOK.
Amnesty International USA
Tural Abbasli, a political activist, postgraduate journalism student,
and blogger in Azerbaijan, used Facebook to peacefully protest his
country’s government. He’s now in prison.
In March of 2011, Tural was helping plan non-violent protests against
human rights abuses by the government. He was arrested during the
protest for “organizing public disorder” and while in custody, he
was kicked and beaten with a baton.
Until he is free, Amnesty will fight for his release. Will you help
by joining our global grassroots movement?
Emerging technologies — like social media –create both new
opportunities and new challenges for our fight for human rights. But
Amnesty International will continue to harness new technologies
to fight for free speech and expression, and we’ll also continue
to stand up to governments who attempt to use technology as a tool
of repression.
Our powerful movement has freed courageous dissidents many times
before.
A year ago this month, we helped free another outspoken journalist from
Azerbaijan –Eynulla Fatullayev. Eynulla was released after serving
over four years in prison for investigating his government’s history
of human rights abuses. Amnesty International organized our grassroots
movement to apply pressure until his release on May 26, 2011.
To mark our 51st birthday on May 28, we plan to recruit 1,500 new
supporters who can help Amnesty keep urgent pressure on governments
like Azerbaijan by:
Investigating human rights abuses through research missions to key
countries.
Empowering volunteers to put pressure on key leaders through creative
tactics.
Mobilizing protests that raise the profile of specific cases of
concern.
Participating in global efforts like Amnesty’s Write for Rights
initiative, the world’s largest annual human rights event.
But we are only as strong as our movement of supporters. I know you
believe in fighting for human rights. Take the next step, and join
Amnesty International with a gift of support.
You can help Tural Abbasli mark 2012 on his Facebook timeline as the
year he got out of prison a free man.
Sincerely,
Michael O’Reilly Senior Campaign Director, Individuals at Risk Amnesty
International USA “These technologies should be in place to empower
citizens, not to repress them.”
– President Obama
Journalist Tural Abbasli is in jail for using Facebook.
Join Amnesty and help us fight for his release.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
