From a gospel singer in Eritrea who is believed to be imprisoned in a metal shipping container for refusing to abandon her Christian faith to a survivor of gang rape in Gujarat in India who is bravely pursuing a fight for justice, Amnesty International is asking people in the West Midlands to spare a moment and add an extra name to their greetings card list this year.

Anyone can get involved by coming along to St Martin’s in the Bullring, Birmingham on Saturday 10th December (International Human Rights Day) from 10am till 4pm where they will find details of individuals together with greeting cards and stamps - all in exchange for a donation to Amnesty International’s work.

This year’s West Midlands Amnesty International campaign is also highlighting the case of a 24-year old student in Nepal who has not been heard from since his arrest in October 2003 by police and army personnel. Sanjiv Kumar Karna’s arrest is believed to be linked to his interest in student politics.

Simon Ware, Press Officer for West Midlands Amnesty International, said:

“We hope that local people will send cards to these people who have fought for justice in the face of hostility.

“As well as offering a great source of hope, the cards send a powerful message to the authorities: that the eyes of the world are upon them, and we will not sit idly by while someone’s rights are abused.”

The West Midlands Amnesty International greetings card campaign 2005 includes:

Bilqis Yakoob Rasool, a human rights defender from India who survived the massacre of her family in which her daughter was killed and she was gang raped. Bilqis’ fight for justice for her and her family has encouraged other women to come forward.

The family of Florentín Gudiel in Guatemala: well known in his community for carrying out strong human rights work, Florentín Gudiel was murdered in December 2004. Following his death, Florentín Guidel’s family has received many death threats.

Helen Berhane is a well-known gospel singer from Eritrea who was arrested when she refused to sign a document pledging to end all participation in Christian activities, effectively forcing her to abandon her faith. She is believed to be imprisoned in a metal shipping container.

Over the past two years, members of grassroots activist group Women of Zimbabwe Arise have been repeatedly arrested for engaging in peaceful demonstrations against the worsening economic, social and human rights situation in Zimbabwe.