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Amnesty International NI
@amnestyni.bsky.social
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Amnesty International in Northern Ireland: human rights news, events, campaigns and comment
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amnestyni.bsky.social
Sunday World journalist Martin O’Hagan was shot dead by paramilitaries in Northern Ireland on this day in 2001.

No one has ever been held accountable.

We demand the Police Ombudsman’s report is published — and a fresh investigation into his murder. www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
September 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM
amnestyni.bsky.social
Amnesty International has written to Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn to request a public inquiry into unlawful state surveillance in Northern Ireland.

Amnesty's @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social spoke to Paul Clark at UTV News to explain why. #PressFreedom
September 25, 2025 at 2:53 PM
amnestyni.bsky.social
'Shocking' attempt to cover up police surveillance of journalists

“Unfortunately, the PSNI has shown itself to be a repeat lawbreaker when it comes to covert surveillance of journalists. These revelations strike at the heart of public trust in policing.”

More: www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
Belfast Telegraph: Unlawful surveillance of NI journalists was withheld from watchdog by PSNI Public inquiry call as reporter asks what else police failed to disclose
September 8, 2025 at 4:34 PM
amnestyni.bsky.social
“The people at the heart of this story seem to be forgotten... the refugees themselves who have often fled war and persecution and are simply seeking safety for themselves and their families” - Patrick Corrigan of Amnesty International

Link www.itv.com/news/utv/202...
Screenshot of UTV news report, featuring Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International -- 'Northern Ireland councils asked to investigate legal status of hotels housing asylum seekers'
August 22, 2025 at 2:08 PM
amnestyni.bsky.social
Northern Ireland: Asylum seekers deserve to live with dignity

Hotels are unsuitable for housing people seeking asylum. This judgment and further challenges must not lead to even further disruption and insecurity for refugees trying to rebuild their lives. More 👉 www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
Amnesty supporters holding 'refugees welcome signs'
August 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
amnestyni.bsky.social
Amnesty International has called on the PSNI to “uphold people’s right to protest against the genocide being perpetrated in Gaza”.

> Police probing possible offences following pro-Palestine rally in Belfast - UTV News
www.itv.com/news/utv/202...
The PSNI issued warnings at the event regarding potential offences being committed. Credit: UTV
August 19, 2025 at 10:24 AM
amnestyni.bsky.social
Amnesty International has written to PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher following the arrest of a woman for wearing a 'Palestine Action' T-shirt.

Arresting people on terrorism offences for wearing a T-shirt flies in the face of international human rights law. www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
Excerpt: I am writing regarding the policing of protest related to the proscription of Palestine Action and the violations of international human rights law that this has involved. I write following the arrest of a woman on Saturday 9th August at a Refugees Welcome rally in Belfast which I addressed. Since Palestine Action was proscribed on 5th July 2025, there have been a series of protests by groups and individuals opposed to that decision. These protests have occurred in various locations including in Northern Ireland, where protesters have displayed signs or worn t-shirts with messages such as, ‘I Oppose Genocide. I Support Palestine Action’ or similar. These protests have been entirely peaceful. Nevertheless, as you will know, very large numbers of these protesters have been arrested for offences under Sections 12 and 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 across the UK, including now in Northern Ireland. The arrest of otherwise peaceful protesters solely for expressing the statement ‘I Oppose Genocide. I Support Palestine Action’ is a violation of the UK’s international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Further arrests on this basis would violate international human rights law. As such, we urge you to instruct your officers to comply with the UK’s international obligations and act with restraint in their response to any such protests that occur, by not arresting protesters who display messages that state they oppose genocide and support Palestine Action. Under the international human rights framework to which the UK is a party, state interference with expression and peaceful assembly must be lawful, and a necessary and proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. In this context, protest speech can only be criminalised if it incites violence or advocates hatred or discrimination. Excerpt: The High Court in England & Wales has recently granted permission for Palestine Action to pursue judicial review proceedings against their proscription. In doing so the High Court has ruled that it is at least arguable that the proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful. The legal foundation for the section 12 and 13 offences under which arrests have taken place up to now is therefore in doubt, and subject to what the court referred to as a ‘serious issue to be tried’. In these circumstances, continuing to implement arrests would be a reckless use of police power, and inevitably risk breaching the test of legality. People are understandably and justifiably outraged by the ongoing genocide being committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza. They are entitled under international human rights law to peacefully express themselves. There is no reasonable basis for peaceful protesters to be regarded as inciting violence. It is therefore disproportionate, and a clear violation of the UK’s human rights obligations, to be arresting and treating them as terrorists. We urge you to ensure the PSNI’s approach to such protests is in compliance with the international human rights standards to which the UK has signed up.
August 12, 2025 at 10:08 AM
amnestyni.bsky.social
Belfast - a city of welcome.

Compassion, dignity, and human rights for all.

🧡 #RefugeesWelcome
📍 #Belfast
Say no to racism. Ten Square Hotel. Sat 9th August, 1pm. United Against Racism.
August 7, 2025 at 3:36 PM
amnestyni.bsky.social
Our Belfast: free from racism

Sunday 1pm, Belfast City Hall

We are proud to join with our neighbours in standing against the rise of racism and racist attacks on our community. Please join us.
Our Belfast: free from racism Peaceful community gathering Sunday 23 March at 1pm, Belfast City Hall
March 22, 2025 at 11:19 AM
amnestyni.bsky.social
Northern Ireland: latest PSNI figures show race hate crimes hit ‘all-time high’ during summer 2024

‘Years of complacency about the rise of racism here left bigoted thugs, including paramilitaries, emboldened to carry out an ever-greater number of attacks’ www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
Police recorded race incidents each month April 2019 to December 2024, showing highest and lowest levels in each financial year. Graph shows spike in incidents in summer 2024. Extracted from PSNI / NISRA report here: https://www.psni.police.uk/system/files/2025-02/2023864648/Hate%20Motivations%20Bulletin%20Period%20ending%2031st%20December%202024.pdf
February 27, 2025 at 11:46 AM
amnestyni.bsky.social
This ban is discriminatory and violates human rights. All women have the right to choose what to wear.

The sports hijab bans in France are yet another measure underpinned by Islamophobia and a patriarchal attempt to control what Muslim women wear.
France - Senate votes to ban wearing a hijab in sports
February 20, 2025 at 9:51 AM
amnestyni.bsky.social
Today, tomorrow, and every day after that. Women have the right to choose what to wear.
Text on graphic reads 'Women have the right to choose what to wear'. The word choose is emphasised in yellow text, whilst the rest of the text is white on a grey background. An illustration of seven women in different kinds of clothes.
February 20, 2025 at 9:46 AM
amnestyni.bsky.social
Happy Valentine's Day
Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. - Maya Angelou
February 14, 2025 at 9:45 AM
amnestyni.bsky.social
76 years ago the United Nations adopted the Genocide Convention - a treaty adopted in the aftermath of the Holocaust to ensure such mass atrocities never happened again.

Tragically, this has not been the reality, as we now see in Gaza.

Read our report: amn.st/6017QR1gz
Text: 'This is genocide', with image of devastation in Gaza
December 10, 2024 at 4:50 PM
amnestyni.bsky.social
Syria: ousting of Assad is 'historic opportunity' to redress decades of human rights violations

“After over five decades of brutality and repression, the people of Syria may finally have an opportunity to live free of fear with their rights respected.”
www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
Image of Assad in a picture frame with broken glass
December 8, 2024 at 1:36 PM
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Sign up now: Tuesday 3 December, 6pm - online.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese will speak to her latest report, Genocide as Colonial Erasure, in which she examines the unfolding horrors in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Register free: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/genocide-a...
Image of Francesca Albanese Text: Genocide as Colonial Erasure Amnesty International NI Annual Lecture with Francesca Albanese NI Human Rights Festival Amnesty International
November 27, 2024 at 10:19 AM
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NEW: Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, will deliver this year’s Amnesty International NI annual lecture.

The event, chaired by @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social, will be available to view online www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Photo: Ned Mansour
November 25, 2024 at 10:06 AM
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Join us for the Voices of Afghanistan webinar with the
Amnesty Feminists network

🌍 Hear from young Afghan women advocating for change. Featuring Ariana Abawe & Sara Wahedi.

🗓️5th Dec. 🕐1pm 🎟 Register now 👉🏽
zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join us for the Voices of Afghanistan webinar with the Amnesty Feminists network Hear from young Afghan women advocating for change. Featuring Ariana Abawe & Sara Wahedi. 5th Dec. 1pm. Register online.
November 24, 2024 at 12:11 PM
amnestyni.bsky.social
WANTED:
❌Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu
❌Israel’s former defence minister, Yoav Gallant
❌Al-Qassam Brigades commander, Mohamed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri

Should these wanted men enter the UK, the authorities must arrest them in compliance with international law.
Image of PM of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. WANTED by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity
November 21, 2024 at 4:54 PM