Christian Advocacy Now

Act!

While the country of Ethiopia likely evokes images of famine and starvation in the minds of most Americans, there is a growing concern for human rights in this country amid an increasing hostile and repressive response by the government against any form of dissent. Since 2009, the Ethiopia government has used the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation and Criminal Code to arrest opposition politicians, independent journalists, and others exerting their freedom of speech. Two such cases are journalists Woubshet Taye and Reyot Alemu, who were arrested on 11 June 2011 and convicted six months later of terrorism, due to their reporting of—and alleged involvement in—the appearance of the slogan Beka! (Enough!) around Addis Ababa, as part of a peaceful protest against the Ethiopian government at the start of the Arab Spring. CAN is joining Amnesty International and others in calling for their freedom.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

Suggested points:

• Call the immediate and unconditional release of journalists Woubshet Taye and Reyot Alemu, arrested on 11 June 2011. While they were convicted of acts of terrorism, they are, in fact, being imprisoned solely for exercising their human right of freedom of speech and peaceful dissent.
• Also urge the prime minister to cease the use of criminal prosecution as a means to silence opposition by politicians and independent media. Call for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia and improved attitudes toward and protections of those who speak out against the government.

Act Again!

The world was astounded by the stunning case of Rimsha Masih, a young Pakastani Christian girl, who was falsely accused of burning pages of the Koran. While she was recently exonerated of these charges, and the cleric who planted the pages in her trash is being prosecuted, Rimsha still faces further charges of blasphemy and is far from safe within her own country. Write to the Pakistani Ambassador to the United States urging her intervention on behalf of Rimsha.

Her Excellency Ambassador Sherry Rehman
Embassy of Pakistan, Washington D.C
3517 International Court NW
Washington, DC 20008

Suggested points:

• Express how encouraged you were to hear that the young girl, Rimsha Masih, who was falsely accused of desecrating the Koran was cleared of these charges. Urge that the ambassador do all she can to see that the further charges of blasphemy are dropped also.
• Express your gratitude that the cleric, who had planted those papers in her trash, is being charged with that crime, and your hope that he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, in an effort to deter this increasingly frequent persecution of Christians and other minorities by falsely accusing them of crimes against Islam.
• Express your ongoing concern for the safety of Rimsha Masih, and urge the ambassador to do everything in her power to protect Rimsha, until she can be relocated permanently to another country.
• Thank the ambassador for her prompt and careful attention to this very important case.