As they light candles next Wednesday, Tri-City human rights activists will mark International Human Rights Day with a fundraising dinner and information session in Coquitlam.
“We light candles as a symbol of hope for people who are being unjustly imprisoned and mistreated,” said Myrta Hayes, a member of the Tri-Cities Amnesty International group. “The light is also to remind governments that even in the darkest corners someone is observing what they are doing and that they will be held accountable.”
Amnesty International is a movement of more than seven million people in 150 countries who work to free prisoners of conscience, to speak out against repressive governments, to demand an end to violence and torture and who believe that all people have the right to live in dignity.
For more than 10 years, Amnesty members in the TriCities have been hosting a Write for Rights dinner and inviting the community to join them in learning about Amnesty, human rights and current issues.
This year’s focus is on stopping torture as well as standing up for free speech. Presenter and Amnesty volunteer Nancy Furness of Port Coquitlam will speak about Raif Badawi, a blogger in Saudi Arabia who was imprisoned in May 2014, sentenced to 1,000 lashes and a fine of one million riyals ($15,000 Cdn.). His crime? He created Saudi Arabian Liberals, a website for social and political debate.
He received the first 50 lashes before international outrage pushed the government into suspending the floggings but not the rest of his sentence which includes media and travel bans.
Hayes has worked with the Tri-City Potters Association to create one-of-a-kind flower pots planted with thyme that guests will be able to buy and/or bid on during the dinner. Some of the pots are on display now at the Poirier Library. As well, local musician Tony Prophet will entertain guests with a selection of folk and protest songs.
The Write for Rights Dinner takes place on Dec. 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the MacDonald-Cartier Room at the Poirier rec centre in Coquitlam. Tickets are $20 and include dinner and dessert provided by Pasta Polo. For tickets, call 604-941-2606.
