Christian Advocacy Now

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners
—Isaiah 61:1

In December, we celebrate the One who came to set the captives free—Jesus. In recognition of the ultimate freedom we have in Christ, join us as we call for the freedom of just a few of the many who prisoners in unjust political systems. Send a note (or holiday card) to the following leaders on behalf of the prisoner indicated in the sample note. Let these notes be simple and short, but many! (When handwriting letters, underline the names of prisoners, shown in bold below, so that even a quick glance will highlight the person you are writing on behalf of.)

WRITE TO:

Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China
Wen Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie
Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Your Excellency:
I am writing to express my grave concern over the imprisonment of Shi Tao, a poet and journalist who has been imprisoned solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression and his rights to seek, receive and impart information. I urge you to bring about his immediate and unconditional release from prison.

Yours sincerely,

Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani
(care of) Public relations Office
Number 4, 2 Azizi Street
Vali Asr Ave., above Pasteur Street intersection
Tehran
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Your Excellency:
I am very concerned about Mansour Ossanlu, leader of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, who has peacefully sought better conditions for workers and an end to discrimination in employment. For his trade union activities, he was sentenced to five years in prison for “acts against national security” and “propaganda against the system.” I am calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

Yours sincerely,

Président Paul Kagame
Présidence de la République
BP 15
Kigali
RWANDA

Dear President Kagame:
I am writing to express my deep concern for the lengthy and unjust detention of Charles Ntakirutinka, who is being held merely for his political activities. I am calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

Yours sincerely,

President Berdymukhammedov
Presidential Palace
744000 Ashgabat
Turkmenistan

Dear President Berdymukhammedov:
I am writing to express my grave concern for Annakurban Amanklychev and Sapardurdy Khadzhiev, who were detained along with their colleague Ogulsapar Muradova on 16 and 19 June 2006. They appear to have been held solely because they are members or relatives of members of the non-governmental human rights organization, the Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation (THF), which has publicized human rights violations in Turkmenistan. I was furthered disturbed to hear of Ogulsapar Muradova's death while being detained, and I am now calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Annakurban Amanklychev and Sapardurdy Khadzhiev.

Yours sincerely,