Amnesty Launches Letter-Writing Campaign

Amnesty International is launching a letter-writing campaign in support of individuals and communities suffering human rights abuses.

Amnesty says it hopes the "Write For Rights" campaign, from December 6-17, will generate more than 2 million letters, faxes, e-mails, and text messages in support of 12 individuals and communities.

The rights watchdog's campaign is devoted to pressuring authorities to release prisoners in five countries -- Ethiopia, Burma, Bahrain, Tunisia, and Russia -- and for authorities to stop victimizing individuals in Cambodia, Mexico, Turkey, and Belarus.

The campaign also seeks to halt the persecution of communities in Nigeria, Palestine, and Honduras.

In Russia, Amnesty has described as "prisoners of conscience" three people jailed after last year’s Bolotnaya Square protests.

In Belarus, Amnesty says Ihar Tsikhanyuk, described as a "drag artist," faces police harassment.