MCC Manchester News

Please go to an online opinion poll on our website at http://www.mccmanchester.co.uk/polls.shtml which asks whether you would feel confident in reporting a hate crime (arising from your sexuality or gender identity) to the police.

A number of our members serve on police advisory groups and work with police officers and staff on diversity issues.  Your feedback on this topic will help to inform us about the realities of hate crime reporting.

Thao Moua and Pa Fue Khang were arrested in June 2003, along with an interpreter and two European journalists, who had been researching a news story on ethnic Hmong. All were charged and given long sentences after an apparently politically motivated trial. The Laotians had no legal representation and the trial’s outcome was apparently pre-determined.

The journalists and interpreter were subsequently deported, but Thao Moua and Pa Fue Khang remain in Samkhe prison in the Laotian capital, Vientiane. They are serving sentences of 12 and 15 years respectively.

Amnesty International believes their unfair trial was politically motivated because of their involvement in researching a news story about the plight of the Hmong hiding in the jungle.

Ethnic Hmong prisoners receive particularly harsh treatment and are at increased risk of torture, denial of medical treatment and harsh punishments.

What can I do?

1) Send a non-religious card with a message of support to:
 
Thao Moua/Pa Fue Khang
c/o Samkhe Prison
Vientiane
Laos People’s Democratic Republic
 
Salutation: Dear Thao Moua and Pa Fue Khang

Suggested message: Greetings from a well-wisher who is thinking of you.

Important information: For the safety of the recipients, do not make political comments. Avoid referring to religion, e.g. you should write “you are in my thoughts” rather than “you are in my prayers”. Do not put your full name and address in the card - instead, sign your card with your first name or initials only, and state just the town and country you are writing from.
 
2) Send an appeal to the Laos authorities via the Amnesty Website by following this link
 
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp.ActionID=360

Basic instructions from Amnesty:

• Do not use cards with Amnesty’s name or logo, or mention Amnesty in your message (unless otherwise stated).
• Simple messages of goodwill are enough. Never include political comments.
• As a rule, only send non-religious cards. In cases where we say religious cards can be sent, you may send either a card of any religion or a card of a specific religion as directed, without causing offence or posing a threat. When a non-religious card is advised, avoid referring to religion in your message. For example, rather than writing ‘you are in our prayers’, write ‘you are in our thoughts’.
• Put your name and address (including country) on your card, except if we specifically ask you not to. If you receive a reply, please send a copy to Amnesty International.
• Write your message in English or your first language. Only write in the recipient’s language if you are confident your message will be accurate. Suggested messages translated into the recipient’s first language are available at www.amnesty.org.uk/cases.
• Take note of the instructions for addressing your card.
• Use airmail stickers for sending cards overseas.
  

Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)

Since early 2003, members of the activist organisation Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) have been repeatedly arrested during peaceful demonstrations against the worsening social, economic and human rights situation in Zimbabwe. They have been subjected to intimidation, harassment and ill-treatment by police officers. Mothers with babies and children, and pregnant women have been among those arrested.

On more than 10 occasions, WOZA members have been severely beaten while in police custody and the police have repeatedly denied them access to food, lawyers and medical care.

On 19th March 2007, two WOZA members reported being taken from thier homes at gunpoint by police. They were questioned about WOZA, assaulted and left in the bush.

On 6th June, seven members of WOZA were arbritrarily arrested after engaging in peaceful protest. Two of them were also reportedly beaten while in police custody.

The treatment of WOZA by the police illustrates the Zimbabwean government’s increasing intolerance of peaceful criticism of government policies. But in the face of an increasing clampdown, women human rights defenders demonstrate incredible resilience, bravery and determination.
 
What can I do?
 
1) You can show your support for WOZA in a really practical way by making roses for them out of crepe paper, which they can use in their peaceful campaign actions around Valentine’s Day on 14th February. Simply roll red crepe paper into a rose bud shape and secure it with green cotton or stickly tape (remembering to ensure that your creations are lightweight for easy posting). Then send your roses together with a religious or non-religious card with a message of support to:
 
WOZA
PO Box FM701
Famona
Bulawayo
Zimbabwe
 
Salutation: Dear members of WOZA

Suggested message: In solidarity with your important human rights work. With best wishes.

Important information: For the safety of the recipients, do not make political comments. You may put your name and address in the card .
 
2) Send an appeal to the Zimbabwean authorities via the Amnesty Website by following this link:
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp.ActionID=364

Basic instructions from Amnesty:

• Do not use cards with Amnesty’s name or logo, or mention Amnesty in your message (unless otherwise stated).
• Simple messages of goodwill are enough. Never include political comments.
• As a rule, only send non-religious cards. In cases where we say religious cards can be sent, you may send either a card of any religion or a card of a specific religion as directed, without causing offence or posing a threat. When a non-religious card is advised, avoid referring to religion in your message. For example, rather than writing ‘you are in our prayers’, write ‘you are in our thoughts’.
• Put your name and address (including country) on your card, except if we specifically ask you not to. If you receive a reply, please send a copy to Amnesty International.
• Write your message in English or your first language. Only write in the recipient’s language if you are confident your message will be accurate. Suggested messages translated into the recipient’s first language are available at www.amnesty.org.uk/cases.
• Take note of the instructions for addressing your card.
• Use airmail stickers for sending cards overseas.
  

Blogger Karim Amer, 23, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on 22nd February 2007 for criticising Egypt’s al-Azhar religious authorities, the Egyptian president and Islam. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience.

A Misdemeanour Court in Alexandria jailed Karim Amer for writing internet blogs about Islam, the Egyptian regime and the sectarian riots which took place between Muslims and Christians in Alexandria in October 2005. It said the blogs were “inciting strife and defaming Muslims on the internet by describing the prophet of Islam and his comrades as murderers, which disturbs national peace”, and insulting to the president.

On 12th March, the Court of Appeal confirmed the sentence. Karim Amer lodged a further appeal to the Court of Cassation on 21st April, but no hearing has yet been scheduled.

Karim Amer is now in prison in Alexandria. He was held in solitary confinement for 65 days, reportedly in order to force him to give up his views about Islam. Since July, however, he has reportedly been allowed daily outdoor exercise and exchanged of letters with his mother. He plans to study literature at Alexandria University from October, if permitted by the prison director.

What can I do?

Print out, sign and send the 2 copies of the attached letter to the Egyptian President and the Egyptian Ambassador in London.

Letters - Karim Amer

See also http://www.amnesty.org/en/report/info/MDE12/006/2007

Dear Friends,

I wanted to email and let you know of some upcoming events in our life together. 

Sacred Space

For the last few years we have offered a “Quiet and Calm” service once a month.  This has been an oasis of calm in the week, with a simple celebration of Holy Communion, time for reflection and the opportunity for to be anointed with oil and prayed for.  Attendance at this service has grown and we are now going to offer a similar service every other week.  We have called this “Sacred Space” and it will follow a similar pattern each time  - with space for soft music, gentle reflection and prayer.  We will slightly change the content of the format, offering four variations:

Sacred Space: Communion           

This will be a simple service of Holy Communion, offering time and space to pray and reflect on the needs of our world, of our church and of those we love, offering all our prayers to God through the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Sacred Space: Healing                

We will make time to receive the Sacrament of the Sick for those ill in mind, body or spirit, again in the context of a gentle service of prayer and reflection.

Sacred Space: Reflect                 

Our service will contain a reflection based on the life of Jesus or a theme appropriate to the time of year, again with a lot of time and space for prayer and meditation.

Sacred Space: Adoration           

A time of quietness, prayer and reflection before the Blessed Sacrament. 

Over the space of two months we will experience all four of these themes.

Workshop on the Bible, Sexuality and Gender

On Tuesday 26th February at 8pm we are holding a workshop looking at what the Bible says about Sexuality and Gender and different interpretations of those passages.  We will consider different Christian views of the authority of the Bible and how we can use the Bible in our own journeys of Christian discipleship.  Please let me know if you wish to come.  

Come and Sing Day

Please join us on  1st March between 11am and 4pm as we look at the songs we will be singing over Holy Week and Eastertide.  This is for the choir and anyone else who enjoys singing.  Please let me know if you wish to come along. 

Membership Class

On Saturday 8th March, again between 11am and 4pm we will hold a membership class for anyone thinking of formally joining MCC.  This is required for anyone who wishes to join - or transfer from another MCC congregation.  Please let me know if you wish to come along. 

And don’t forget……

Our special worship in Lent!  Today we reflect on the Pharisees who  criticised Jesus helped by Robbie Williams and his song “Sin, Sin, Sin” which is what the Pharisees accused Jesus of doing.  John will be preaching for us.  Next Sunday we look at the the woman who anointed Jesus with her tears and use the Christina Aguilera song “Beautiful” to help us in our reflections.  If you haven’t taken a Smartie Tube yet please do so, and help us as we raise money for the Immigration Aid Unit. 

I hope to see you in Church, and at some of our events, soon.

love

Andy
Andy Braunston
Pastor
Metropolitan Community Church of Manchester
www.mccmanchester.co.uk

Our trans group leader invites us to go to http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/community/s/1035117_pc_mark_clifton_salford?related_link and vote for PC Mark ‘Bernie’ Clifton in the Manchester Evening News Chief Constables Award for Community Focus.

Simply visit the link above and click on the ‘Vote’ button in the right-hand column of the page.

PC Clifton has regularly attended our church’s Trans Discussion Group and has done much to improve relationships between trans people and the police.

See the Ekklesia article at http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/6723 describing the Employment Tribunal decision that the Anglican Bishop of Hereford had discriminated against a gay youth worker,  is now required to pay compensation and costs, and must undertake equal opportunities training.

See the Amnesty International page at http://tinyurl.com/2wbyo5 for details of how to campaign to save these men’s lives.  Tayyeb Karimi, Yazdan (surname not known), and four other unnamed men have been accused and sentenced.  Please write or send emails to the addresses given in the Amnesty article.