What is the Urgent Action Network?
The concept is simple: Take Action, Change a Life.
Urgent Actions ask our community of volunteers to flood the mailboxes, inboxes, phones and social media of authorities when someone is in imminent danger of human rights violations. Your letters, emails, phone calls, faxes and Tweets have helped to halt executions, support human rights defenders and free prisoners of conscience—people jailed solely for the peaceful expression of their beliefs and identity.
Please note that the US postal service has suspended service to some countries in light of COVID-19 – reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.
How Does It Work?
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STEP 1: Sign Up Today!
Sign up to receive Urgent Action emails. You can choose to receive all emails or a more limited number. You can also choose to receive emails on specific issues or regions.
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STEP 2: Take Action Now!
Urgent Action emails specify the case, local and international government officials to contact, their contact information and suggestions about what to write, say or Tweet.
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Our Educator’s Guide
Are you an educator looking for ways to engage your students in human rights? Find out how your students can show their power through letter writing!
In many cases, your action on these cases leads to better conditions for prisoners and their eventual release. Those individuals at the center of these Urgent Actions often send their thanks to Amnesty International, citing that these messages serve as a source of hope.
The reason we could resist the ban and move forward was the international support and solidarity by Amnesty International activists around the world. We could not have gone further without your support.
I am very grateful for all the support I received while I was in prison. Life in prison was very difficult and I was treated badly, but the support of those who believed in me made me strong.
My case once again showed how important solidarity and attention are in protecting the freedom of speech and human rights. I admire your noble work and boundless courage, dear activists.
Browse Urgent Actions
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! – Tajikistani Prisoner of Conscience Released (Tajikistan: UA 139.18)
On 22 August, independent journalist and prisoner of conscience Khairullo (Khayrullo) Mirsaidov received a non-custodial sentence and was released in the courtroom, after spending more than eight months behind bars.…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! – Chechen Asylum-Seeker Acquitted of All Charges (Russian Federation: UA 254.17)
Chechen asylum-seeker Imran Salamov, who was forcibly returned to Russia from Belarus on 5 September 2017, has been acquitted of all charges. The prosecutor appealed against the acquittal but his…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Nebraska Conducts First Execution Since 1997 (USA: UA 136.18)
The US state of Nebraska carried out its first execution in 21 years on 14 August, and the first by lethal injection. The 60-year-old prisoner, Carey Dean Moore, had been…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! – All 14 Charges Against Political Activist Dropped (Malaysia: UA 238.15)
Khalid Mohd Ismath, former prisoner of conscience, has had all charges against him dropped. Arrested on 13 October 2015 and released on bail later that same month, Khalid Mohd Ismath…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Istanbul Vigils Must be Allowed to Take Place (Turkey: UA 162.18)
On 25 August, police in Istanbul used unnecessary and excessive force to disperse people taking part in a longstanding weekly peaceful vigil. The authorities must ensure that future vigils, including…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Businessman Arbitrarily Detained for 4 Months (South Sudan: UA 159.18)
Kerbino Agok Wol, a South Sudanese businessman and philanthropist, has been languishing in detention since 27 April. He is being held at the National Security Service (NSS) headquarters in Juba.…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Activist Arbitrarily Detained (South Sudan: UA 147.18)
Bashir Ahmed Mohamed Babiker, a member of the South Sudanese civil society, was arrested by the National Security Service (NSS) in Yambio on Wednesday 8 August. He is being held…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Prisoner at Risk of Losing Eyesight (Kazakhstan: UA 157.18)
Kazakhstani activist and blogger, Muratbek Tungishbayev risks losing sight in his left eye due to the penitentiary authorities’ failure to provide him with necessary medical care following surgery he had…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Christians Sentenced for Practicing Their Faith (Iran: UA 156.18)
Iranian Christians, Victor Bet-Tamraz, his wife Shamiram Issavi, Amin Afshar-Naderi and Hadi Asgari, have been sentenced to a combined total of 45 years in prison solely for practicing their Christian…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Opposition Politician Detained, Signs of Torture (Uganda: UA 154.18)
On 14 August, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, a Ugandan singer turned politician was arrested and later charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition on 16 August.…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Activist Missing for Over One Month (Cameroon: UA 168.18)
Activist Franklin Mowha, the president of the NGO Frontline Fighters for Citizens Interests (FFCI) went missing on 6 August during a mission in the southwest region of Cameroon. His friends…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Execution Looms for Iranian Kurdish Prisoner (UA: Iran 171.17)
Iranian Kurdish prisoner Ramin Hossein Panahi, sentenced to death in January 2018, is at imminent risk of execution. The Office for Implementation of Sentences has said that his execution will…