Do you spot Reprieve’s name as you scan the news headlines and feel proud to have been a part of it? A BBC journalist is released after facing a death sentence in Bangladesh. More prisoners are released from Guantánamo Bay. The execution rate in the US falls to its lowest in 25 years. I know I’m not the only one.
We’re all part of a unique organisation. One where public pressure from all of us and legal work by Reprieve’s staff are combined – and we see the results in the world’s headlines. It’s the petitions you sign, the letters you write and the money you donate that helps Reprieve save lives.
Now is the time for us to make sure that Reprieve’s staff can continue their work – so we can all save lives and deliver justice in 2017. We can do that by donating. And right now, all donations we make will be doubled, so please maximise your impact and donate now.
Save lives and deliver justice in 2017
Here are just a few examples of what our donations have helped Reprieve achieve this year:
- 81-year-old BBC journalist Shafik Rehman was released in Bangladesh after Reprieve took on his case and thousands of us joined the campaign to free him.
- 2016 saw “the end of the open market for lethal injection drugs”, after Pfizer became the final FDA-approved manufacturer to block their sale to death rows. Lack of access to drugs for lethal injection resulted in the lowest number of US executions since 1991, while public support for the death penalty in the US fell below 50% for the first time in 40 years.
- We secured the acquittal of British nationals who both faced death sentences in the United Arab Emirates – an incredible result in a region where such wins are few and far between.
- 3 more of Reprieve clients were released from Guantánamo Bay, bringing the total number of men we’ve helped to free to 77 – that’s more than any other organisation.
- We twice helped to temporarily stay the execution of schizophrenic Pakistani prisoner Imdad Ali when he was hours away from the noose. The fight goes on to get his sentence commuted for good.
This coming January, we will remember that a year ago 47 people were executed in one day by the Saudi authorities. It’s a staggering illustration of what we’re up against.
But we will also remember that 50 people were supposed to be hanged on that day. Three were saved – Reprieve’s clients Ali, Dawood and Abdullah. All were sentenced to death as children after pro-democracy protests swept the country, and all are still at risk.
We know that there are challenges ahead in 2017. But we also know that we can make a difference even in the most difficult circumstances.
Thank you for being part of it. Thank you for campaigning so hard for victims of human rights abuses this year, and thank you for donating now to make sure Reprieve is ready to fight back and hit the ground running in 2017.