From the office

War Resisters' International is extremely concerned about the life of imprisoned pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad. Although the military appeal court declared the initial sentence of three years' imprisonment void, and ordered a re-trial of the blogger, who has been on hunger strike since 23 August, the court did not order his release pending re-trial. While today's judgement looks positive on first view, it is a de-facto death sentence for pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad, as he might not survive long enough to see his re-trial, which could be in one week or even up to one month.

Justícia i Pau (Centre Delàs), Fundació per la Pau, War Resisters' International and the European Network Against Arms Trade invite you to the seminar: “War Profiteering and Peace Movement Responses” to be held in Barcelona between 29 September and 2 October, 2011.

Visit of friends and relatives denied by prison authorities

The support group of Maikel Nabil Sanad informed that imprisoned Egyptian conscientious objector and critic of the military Maikel Nabil Sanad, who is on hunger strike since 23 August, began a thirst strike on Monday, 12 September 2011.

War Resisters' International calls for release of unjustly imprisoned blogger

On Tuesday, 23 August 2011, imprisoned pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad began a hunger strike in protest against his continued imprisonment, and delays in dealing with his appeal. Today, one week later, he escalated his hunger strike and now also refuses to drink. In his declaration of hunger strike from 23 August 2011, he wrote that he had decided: "to go on a hunger strike, starting from today. Should there be no response, I will escalate my hunger strike to include water and medicines. It will continue until death or until I am set free." [1]

War Resisters' International calls for release of unjustly imprisoned blogger

War Resisters' International, the international pacifist network with more than 80 affiliated organisations in more than 40 countries, calls on the Egyptian authorities to release imprisoned pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad. Maikel Nabil Sanad was arrested at the end of March 2011, and sentenced to three years' imprisonment on charges of violation of article 184 of the Egyptian penal code, which criminalizes "insulting the People’s Assembly, the Shura Council or any State Authority, or the Army or the Courts", and article 102, "spreading false information". His trial in front of a military court and sentencing did not meet international legal standards [1].

Over 150 peace activist from 17 countries will take action against the military training area NEAT in northern Sweden on Tuesday (26 July).

"NEAT is used by NATO to fine tune their unmanned aircraft for assignations.  They transform murder into a click on a computer screen" said Patrick Sheehan-Gaumer from the USA.

Contents

As we get ready for another WRI get-together - with WRI's Council meeting taking place in Luleå, as part of the activities of War Starts Here, organised by Swedish antimilitarist group Ofog – here we have an issue of The Broken Rifle focusing on what we do best at WRI: mutual support and international solidarity. WRI is a network of groups committed to antimilitarism and nonviolence, the network depends on the work and support of its members - as many of you know WRI has a
very small office run by two staff.

Joint statement of Amnesty International, Conscience & Peace Tax
International, International Commission of Jurists, Quaker United
Nations Office, Geneva, and War
Resisters' International

The
Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, in a
ground-breaking judgment (issued on Thursday) in the case of Bayatyan
v. Armenia
(Application no.

This is the newsletter for the international action camp War starts here in Luleå, Sweden, 22-29th of July 2011

Content Mass action 26th of july - come and expose the war industries! Transport Volountary donation for the camp Alcohol Policy Languages 1. Mass action July 26th - Come and expose the war industries!

Luleå, Sweden
Thursday, 27 July 2011

Free detained activists!

War Resisters' International is calling for the release of ten activists who were detained by Swedish police during the “War Starts Here” nonviolent action at the North European Aerospace Testing Area (NEAT) near Vidsel, Sweden. The test site – covering an area the size of Belgium – is used for testing a range of innovative weapons, including planes, missiles and “drones” (remotely piloted weapons). Despite its size, NEAT is a little known site – even in Sweden – yet plays a crucial role in multi-national preparations for war.

This is a newsletter for the international peacecamp “War starts here” in Luleå, Sweden the 22nd to 29th of july 2011.

Content

1. International seminar
2. Participating organisations
3. Portraits of resistance
4. War starts here 1. International seminar