"As a Mancunian, I feel anger and shame at the complicity of our city's commercial links with the United Arab Emirates, reported to be funding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which are committing war crimes in Darfur. I work as a medicolegal report writer at Freedom from Torture and have borne witness to the awful impact of the Janjaweed militia (which has morphed into the RSF) on people from Darfur."
"The Manchester Amnesty group has been campaigning for the release of the Emirati human rights activists Ahmed Mansoor and Mohammed al-Roken for more than 10 years and has been met with a wall of silence from Manchester city council. We are now supporting Manchester4Sudan, an amazing group of the Sudanese diaspora asking the same questions, now more urgent than ever, about the links between our city and the UAE."
"I recognise that this is not easy, but there is no reason to stop supporting the club your voice is far more powerful as a fan and there are many ways to act. Newcastle United fans have led the way by setting up a group campaigning for human rights in Saudi Arabia (NUFC Fans Against Sportswashing). Alternatively you can join our Amnesty group, donate to Human Rights Watch or, best of all, support Manchester4Sudan."
Commercial links between Manchester and the United Arab Emirates create complicity with forces accused of funding and committing war crimes in Darfur. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), evolved from the Janjaweed militia, have caused widespread atrocities and forced displacement; survivors presented at Freedom from Torture bear witness to severe abuses. Manchester Amnesty has campaigned for the release of Emirati activists Ahmed Mansoor and Mohammed al-Roken for over a decade and has faced silence from Manchester city council. Manchester4Sudan, formed by the Sudanese diaspora, now presses urgent questions about city–UAE ties. Football fans can wield influence through organised campaigns, donations, and joining human rights groups.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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