Every year, a group of people from across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody come together to put pressure on some of the most ruthless regimes in the world.
It usually comes just before Christmas and it usually comes in the form of dozens of letters. Only this year, like so many local charities and non-profits, the Tri-Cities Amnesty International chapter’s annual Christmas fundraiser and “Write for Rights” meet-up has gone virtual.
“During the pandemic, lots of governments have seized the opportunity to treat people with impunity and trample on their rights,” said Hazel Postma, a longtime organizer with the group.
“Human rights are always under threat but under pandemic, it’s even worse.”
This year, the group has decided to focus on two groups increasingly under violent threat: environmental activists and journalists.
Through a virtual Zoom, paid participants receive a "take-n-bake" meal from the Coquitlam restaurant Pasta Polo. Links are provided on the group’s Facebook page and proceeds from the $20 fee go to an up-and-coming student Amnesty group at Centennial secondary. In addition, people can bid on a variety of gift sets, from a Moscow mule cocktail kit and a set from Yellow Dog Brewing to handmade artisanal products from local artists and a variety of gift certificates to local businesses.
As people dine together, the hosts will tell stories of Khaled Drareni, an Algerian independent journalist who was arrested on March 27, 2020, after covering protests calling for increased freedom and an end to corruption.
Charged with “inciting an unarmed gathering,” according to Amnesty, he was sentenced to two years in prison for his reporting.
“He’s just one of many journalists who have been imprisoned and actually killed this year,” said Postma.
But it’s not just far off places and names that will be brought to the virtual table on Dec. 10. Others, like Coquitlam’s Soheila Talebi-Eskandari, will be on hand even as her brother and sister-in-law remain locked away after they were arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned by Iran’s intelligence agents.
She is calling on the Canadian government to put pressure on the country at a time COVID-19 cases are on the rise across the prison system.
“If they get the disease, it’s a better way because they don’t have to answer to anybody. It’s convenient for the government,” Talebi-Eskandari, who’s family are members of the persecuted Bahá’í religious group.
But the night will be more than a collection of grim stories. Port Moody ethnomusicologist, musician and songwriter Roham Behmanesh will be on hand to entertain the virtual crowd — Behmanesh is a master of the piano, flute, clarinet and setar.
Those not able to pay the $20 donation are still encouraged to attend. Everyone, said Postma, is encouraged to light a candle on their window sill as a gesture of hope.
“There are more than a million Amnesty members around the world. We all write letters. People are released because of these,” said Postma in response to questions from this skeptical reporter.
“We don’t just send them to the presidents of a country — they go to the judges, they go to the prisons. There are groups all across Canada. That’s thousands of letters. And they do make a difference.”
This year, instead of dozens of people signing a single letter, everyone will be provided with templates in a kind of democratization and amplification of the letter-writing campaign process.
“It’s a first for us. But it’s been the first for lots of people this year. This is something that people are going to feel good about: learning about other parts of the world and other people,” added Postma.
“I find in this pandemic if you can actually do something that has meaning, that’s important, it feels really good.”
