On the beautifully sunny afternoon of the 15th of June, CUAI hosted its annual AmnesTea Party on Jesus Green. Surrounded by Amnesty bunting, balloons, stickers and badges, guests enjoyed the glorious weather and chatted about upcoming CUAI projects.
As well as the summertime beverage par excellence (ie. Pimm’s), AmnesTea Party goers were treated to a variety of delectable savoury goods donated generously by Cambridge student favourites – Nanna Mexico and Gardies – and the delicious Bridges Cafe. However, the selection of sweet treats was even more impressive, consisting of scrumptious donations from Krispy Kreme, Patisserie Valerie, Chocolat Chocolat, Savino’s Caffè Bar Italiano, Fudge Kitchen, and Mr. Simms’ Old Sweet Shoppe.
Of course, the event would not have been complete without CUAI’s trademark letter writing session, campaigning to protect the human rights of Syrian refugees M.F. and J.B. (names withheld for security reasons), at risk of being forcibly returned to Turkey under the illegal EU-Turkey deal, and Azerbaijani youth activists Bayram Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov, who were arrested on 10 May in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, for alleged drug possession after they painted political graffiti on the former President’s statue.
Keen human rights defenders wrote letters to the Chief of Staff of the Hellenic Police, Zacharoula Tsirigoti, urging the Greek authorities to ensure that M.F and B.J. are not returned to Turkey and to examine the substance of their asylum claims in Greece; and calling on them to immediately halt the return of all asylum-seekers and refugees to Turkey who would be returned on the grounds that it is safe.
They also addressed the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, insisting that Bayram Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov are examined by an independent forensic expert and that their injuries are appropriately documented; and calling on the authorities to carry out an immediate, effective and impartial investigation into their allegations of their ill-treatment and the fabrication of false charges.