Chow Hang-tung
Op 4 juni 2021 riep Chow Hang-tung uit Hongkong via sociale media op om de slachtoffers van het Tiananmen bloedbad in China met een kaarsje te herdenken. Ze werd meteen opgepakt en kreeg 22 maanden cel voor ‘het organiseren en promoten van een niet-toegestane bijeenkomst’. Haar hangt nóg eens 10 jaar boven het hoofd omdat ze ook de nationale veiligheid in het gevaar zou hebben gebracht.
Chow is mensenrechtenadvocaat en een van de organisatoren van de jaarlijkse Tiananmen-herdenking in Hongkong. In 1989 werden op het plein in de Chinese hoofdstad Beijing duizenden mensen vermoord. Soldaten openden er het vuur op vreedzame demonstranten die opriepen tot hervormingen. De Chinese regering wil dat mensen vergeten wat er is gebeurd. Maar Chow ziet het als haar taak om de slachtoffers te blijven herdenken.
Stuur een kaartje, zodat Chow weet dat je haar steunt.
TIPS
- Schrijf in het Engels.
- Schrijf Chows naam niet op de envelop.
- Chow houdt van katten.
VOORBEELDGROET
Dear Chow,
I wish you strength. Please don’t give up.
ADRES
Prison Postzegel buitenland
PO Box No.75
Ma On Shan Post Office
New Territories
HONG KONG
To: His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Postzegel buitenland
Royal Hashemite Court
Amman, Jordan
Copy to: Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Postzegel Nederland
H.E. Mr. Daifallah Ali Daifallah Alfayez
Badhuisweg 79
2587 CD Den Haag
E-mail:
(Plaats, datum)
Your Majesty,
I am distressed to learn that the State Security Court in Jordan has convicted political activist and mathematics professor, Ayman Sanduka, of “incitement to oppose the political regime” solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression on social media.
On 21 December 2023, the State Security Court prosecutor summoned and detained Ayman Sanduka in relation to a letter he posted on Facebook in October 2023 addressed to Your Majesty, in which he criticized Jordan’s diplomatic relations with Israel. On 7 January 2025, the State Security Court convicted Ayman Sanduka of "incitement to oppose the political regime”, under article 149 of the Penal Code and article 15 of the Cybercrimes Law and sentenced him to five years in prison.
I urge you to ensure that Ayman Sanduka is immediately and unconditionally released as he has been convicted solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. Pending his release, I urge you to ensure that he is protected from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and has access to adequate medical care on request or as necessary.
Yours sincerely,
(Naam, adres)
To: Secretary for Justice, Paul Lam Postzegel buitenland
5th floor, Main Wing, Justice Place
18 Lower Albert Road, Central
Hong Kong
Copy to: Embassy of the People's Republic of China, H. E. Ambassador Tan Jian
Willem Lodewijklaan 10
2517 JT Den Haag Postzegel Nederland
E-mail:
(Plaats, datum)
Dear Mr. Lam,
Owen Chow Ka-shing is a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist. He was an active participant in the 2014 Umbrella Movement and 2019 Anti-extradition protests. Owen Chow has to serve a total prison term of in total 12 year and 10 months.
On 16 March 2024, Owen Chow was sentenced to 61 months and 15 days in prison for “rioting” over his participation in the 2019 storming of the Legislative Council Complex, to which he had pleaded guilty. The lengthy prison term was handed down despite the judge noting that Chow had not engaged in any acts of assault or violence. On 30 May 2024, he was found guilty of subversion under the National Security Law for alleged subversion by organizing and participating in unofficial primary elections in July 2020. Taken together, the slate of charges against Chow are nothing more than an effort to punish his peaceful exercise of freedom of speech and assembly, which should be protected under the ICCPR and the Hong Kong Basic Law.
I therefor urge you to release Owen Chow and drop all charges against him, as he was charged solely for peacefully exercising his rights.
Yours sincerely,
(Naam, woonplaats)
Let op: de mogelijkheid bestaat dat de autoriteiten in Hongkong vinden dat je met het deelnemen aan deze actie 'de staatsveiligheid in gevaar brengt'. Vermeld daarom niet je (volledige) naam en woonplaats. Dit geldt zeker als je een Chinees of Hongkongs paspoort hebt.
VOORBEELDBRIEF
Stuur een brief naar:
Gerasimov Sergei Yermagenovich Postzegel buitenland
Director of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Altai krai
Lenina prospekt, 147-B, Barnaul, Altai krai
656011, Russian Federation
E:
En een kopie naar:
Ambassade van Rusland Postzegel buitenland
Ambassador Alexander Tokovinin
De Frélaan 661180
Ukkel
of
E:
E:
E:
(Plaats, Datum)
Dear Director of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Altai Krai,
Director of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Altai Krai Gerasimov Sergei Yermagenovic
I am deeply concerned by the unjust imprisonment and alleged ill-treatment of a RusNews journalist Maria Ponomarenko who is under your control. Since her arrest in 2022 there have been multiple reports of her ill-treatment and arbitrary punishment in custody. Maria suffers from claustrophobia and other mental health conditions and cannot safely be placed in solitary confinement. This ill-treatment by the prison authorities under your control puts Maria Ponomarenko’s health and life at risk. It violates her human rights and I’m concerned this is being carried out as a form of reprisal for her expressing her anti-war views.
I urge you to release Maria Ponomarenko immediately and unconditionally. In the meantime, I request that you use your existing powers to ensure that the ill-treatment of Maria Ponomarenko is immediately stopped and that her treatment in any prison institution, as well as while in transit between them, complies with international law and standards. All those suspected of responsibility for Maria Ponomarenko’s ill-treatment must be brought to justice in fair proceedings in accordance with international law.
Yours sincerely,
(Naam, adres, handtekening)
To: Prosecutor General of the Republic Postzegel buitenland
Américo Julião Letela
Av. Vladimir Lenine nr. 121
Maputo, Mozambique
E-mail:
Copy to: Embassy of the Republic of Mozambique Postzegel buitenland
H. E. Excellency Ms. Ambassador Berta Celestino COSSA
Boulevard Saint Michel 97
1040 Brussels
Belgium
of
E-mail:
(Plaats, datum)
Dear Prosecutor General Américo Julião Letela of the Republic of Mozambique,
I am writing to express grave concern for designer Alcina Nhaume. On 5 March 2025, protests broke out in her neighbourhood Michafutene in Maputo, with residents barricading the road. According to witnesses the UIR-Rapid Intervention Unit had been deployed to disperse the protest, and soon after the police began chasing the protestors.
As Nhaume was about to grab her purse to go home, she heard several gunshots. One of the shots went through a metal barrier in the window of her shop and struck her in the face. Her face is severely disfigured. She is currently being fed through tubes, and according to her doctors she will never speak again, and will struggle to eat, unless she undergoes specialized surgery abroad. Even with such a surgery, it will take time for her to regain the ability to speak.
In light of the above, I call on you to promptly, independently, impartially and effectively conduct an investigation into Alcina Nhaume’s shooting, ensuring that the findings are made public, and the perpetrators are held accountable in fair trials.
Yours sincerely,
(Naam, adres)
