Letter-writing guide

Victims and prisoners are encouraged when they receive a letter personally or hear that letters concerning them are being sent to officials. It lets them know that they are not forgotten, that someone, somewhere, cares. Many of the letters in the New Testament were sent to encourage and to support Christians through difficult times. Those letters were so important that they have been preserved for us to read.

The Bible calls us to “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who suffer as if you yourselves were suffering”, Hebrews 13:3. By writing a short letter, you can indeed “visit those in prison”, Matthew 25:36.

Letters to influence decision makers have made a dramatic improvement to the situation of victims of religious persecution. Torture has been stopped, access to doctors or lawyers has been granted, death sentences have been commuted and prisoners have been released. All governments, even the most repressive ones, dislike bad publicity because all governments depend upon claiming legitimacy and authority. Exposing the illegal and inhumane acts of repressive regimes damages their trade, their tourism and their world standing. These things matter to them, so by showing international concern through writing letters, you can really make a difference.

“I didn’t receive the letters you sent. But I received lectures: ‘You must not believe that you will be helped. You are forgotten. You are forgotten in America; you are forgotten in Britain; you are forgotten in Australia and everywhere.’ That was the best news I had heard. I knew then that I was not forgotten. I’ve seen miracles in my prison experience. If you can estimate what you can do with your letters, you can never properly estimate what you can do with your prayers.”
Irina Ratushinskaya, Christian poet imprisoned by the Communists in Russia

Mama Lupita, a former prisoner in Mexico, covered her wall with letters from CSW supporters. As a result, her re-trial was moved to an area where the judge could not be pressured.

My 20-year sentence was like a crown of thorns I had to wear. The bible tells us how Peter was freed by angels. You were my angels. You who wrote and prayed for me were my angels.
Wuille Ruiz Figueroa, former Prisoner in Peru

Siham Qandah, a Christian mother in Jordan, on the brink of losing her two children to a Muslim guardian, was summoned by an Intelligence Official. He told her that due to the international attention her case had received, he had been appointed to help her.

All sorts of people have written letters to officials in the past, from young children to experienced professionals, and so can you! Your letter doesn’t have to be long and detailed, and you don’t need to be an expert in international law.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) will tell you exactly what request to make and the address of who to write to. All you have to do is show your concern by making a simple request.

Officials in closed countries know less about us than we know about them, and this is one reason why our letters make such a strong impact. Senior officials grow afraid of what the campaign might portend, and for lower ranking officials the letters are a source of lively curiosity and gossip.

It is useful also when we raise very specific points. For example if we learn of an incident where a prisoner has been maltreated, then a letter will make a very strong impact if it includes the date and place of the incident, its nature and especially if we can name the officers present/responsible. Oppressive regimes detest this kind of scrutiny and will take measures to avoid repeats, even if not for the worthiest of reasons. Such detailed information may at first be difficult to obtain, but the more involved we become then the more likely we are to build up trustworthy contacts.

· Give the full name of the prisoner or victim and other relevant facts such as the date of the arrest

· Write in English (or your native language) unless you are sure you can get a proper translation

Please DON’T mention the name of CSW or any other similar organization
as it may be used against the prisoner

a) Writing your letter

Start by identifying the case in question. You can also identify yourself, if you wish. e.g.:

I am a student at State University, reading History and Politics and am very interested in human rights issues. I was very concerned to hear about the case of...

I understand that (name) is being detained in (such and such) prison on the grounds of...

I am concerned about the state of Mr. Gonzalez Leiva’s health, as he was severely beaten by State security forces upon his arrest to the point that he needed four stitches on his head. It worries me that he has been transferred to a prison in Holguin province, which forces his wife and family to travel over five hours in order to visit him. You may be aware that he has been denied the right to keep his Braille Bible, and has been forced to share a cell with a criminal prisoner who is fairly aggressive. All these things appear to be serious infringements upon Mr. Gonzalez Leiva’s basic human dignity.

Then make your requests in a separate paragraph. Only request that which CSW has asked you to! For example, if they have asked for medical assistance, don’t instead ask for a release.

I would be very grateful if you could order an investigation into what action the security forces took in the village of (name) on (date).

Please could you write to (name), requesting him to restore the joint electoral system that protects the equal right of all citizens...

Please could you raise these concerns with the (nationality’s) authorities over the fresh wave of violence in (place), asking for the immediate withdrawal of (warring group).

The last paragraph is usually very short and serves to round off the letter and encourages a reply.

I would be grateful if you could confirm that (name) is being given access to sound medical advice

Please reply to let me know of any initiative the US government is taking to help the situation in (place)

b) Addressing Officials and Signing Off

His Excellency Mr. Yang Jiechi
Ambassador
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the United States
2300 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington DC 20008

I am disturbed to learn of the recent detentions of several Christians in Huadu Detention Center, Huadu, Guangdong province, Southeast China and of similar crackdowns on Christians elsewhere in China during July. I am particularly concerned about the arrest of Pastor Li Dexian and others on July2 6th, and the fifteen-day detention of Ah Kong for holding an unregistered Christian meeting in his home.

While I recognize that China has provided some opportunity for Christian activity with the existence of the official registered church, when Christians choose to worship freely, the penalties are unjustifiably severe. Attendees of unregistered churches are people who have only exercised their rights to freedom of religious practice and worship and are considered by the rest of the world to be part of mainstream Christianity.

In light of the recent decision to grant China the 2008 Olympics, I hope that your government will respect the basic rights of your citizens to enjoy freedom of religion, expression and association. These rights are all stated clearly in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which your government signed in October 1998.

May I respectfully urge you to convey my concerns to the Chinese Government. Formulating policy which would approve of Christians freely exercising their religion, without risk of persecution, torture or arrest would help China to be viewed as a legitimate player in the international arena.

If you are still having trouble writing a particular letter, please contact the CSW Office where we will be pleased to supply you with a sample letter for your use.

Pastor Saleem, a former prisoner in Pakistan, was being tortured. CSW-UK arranged for a fax from an MP to be sent. The moment it arrived, they stopped torturing the pastor.

CSW may often ask you to write to your Congressperson to enlist their help with certain cases. You may also feel you want to write to your Congressperson about a particular prisoner you are concerned about.

For Senators and Representatives: Call the Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202.224.3121 to find out your Congressperson's name

Senators: Write to your Senator at US Senate, Washington, DC 20510
Representatives: Write to your Representative at US House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515

· Be factual, pointing to the direct impact the Congressperson's legislation or communication might have. Avoid emotional philosophical arguments.

· Make it very clear what you are asking your Congressperson to do. For example, to approach the Embassy of the country concerned or to press the issue with US Secretaries or foreign government officials or to bring the issue into Congressional discussions.

· Ask for a reply. If your Congressperson decides to write an official letter within the US government, then you can request a copy of their response too.

· Never threaten that your vote depends on your Congressperson’s response. Remember that they are there to represent your concerns

You may also like to arrange an appointment to see your Congressperson at his/her office. You can do this through your Congressperson’s office at Capitol Hill or through the local party office. When you meet, you should briefly present the facts, avoiding reference to reams of paper.

Please feel free to contact CSW for tips on meeting with your Congressperson. You may also wish to encourage your Congressperson to contact CSW for more information on a given topic.

Re: arrest of Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva in Cuba

I hope you are well. I am a constituent of yours and am concerned about the arrest and beating of Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva in Cuba on March 5^th.

Mr. Leiva, who is blind, and other human rights activists, had gathered outside a hospital to draw attention to a journalist who was inside and recovering from an assault by local security officers. The group was then surrounded by the police and attacked. Mr. Leiva was severely beaten and suffered a blow to the head which required four stitches.

Mr. Leiva is now being detained in a cell with a violent and aggressive criminal prisoner. Since his arrest he has been on hunger strike.

I hope that the US Government will do everything possible to promote Mr. Leiva’s well being and to press for his immediate release.

Thank you for your attention to my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.

4. Answers to Your Letters

A: Please send a copy of your reply to CSW, clearly marking the country and the case. Whether the response is a positive one or a negative one, it means that you have made an impact. Often a negative reply will deny the advocacy organization's claims about the case. If you are unconvinced by the arguments presented to you in a reply, please contact the CSW office for advice on whether or not to press further on the case. Unfortunately, positive replies are seldom a regular occurrence, but if you do get one, rejoice! - and be sure to send a positive letter back to the writer.

A: First of all, remember that replies can often be a very long time coming. Months of waiting is not unusual, so be patient. If it looks like you are not going to get a reply:

· when you feel you have made your point enough times, present a different angle on this case or start on a different one

A: CSW will publish updates in the magazines, prayer calendars, web page or email network. If you don’t hear anything, it is most likely because CSW has no more news.

Remember, just because you are not getting a reply, it doesn’t mean that your letter hasn’t made an impact! We often see gradual changes in replies coming back from governments, demonstrating a change of policy and a registering of concern.

5. Writing to Prisoners and their Families

“It was great in prison to receive such a diversity of letters: some were personal, some contained current affairs, some were religious, some were lists of jokes downloaded from the Internet, and in my particular circumstances, the overtly pro-democracy letters were extremely welcome.”

A: CSW will advise you when it is safe and appropriate to write to prisoners. If you are not sure if you should write, contact the CSW office for advice.

A: Yes, many letters do, although some are intercepted. However, the authorities will still be made aware of your concern and the prisoner will often feel the benefits of better treatment, such as more food.

A: They can easily be forgotten and often need your support as much as the prisoners. Your letters help to break down their sense of isolation. Writing to a prisoner’s relatives is also another way of supporting the prisoner. During visits to the prisoner the family can tell him/her that their case is known abroad and that they are not forgotten. This is especially valuable when the prisoner’s mail is censored.

Q: Should I include my own address?

A: It is entirely discretionary. A pen-pal relationship with a religious prisoner can be very enlightening and inspiring. One caveat, however, is that you may receive letters requesting financial help. Always ask CSW about these requests before acting on them.

Guidelines on how to write to a prisoner:

· Say who you are (e.g. a teacher from Glasgow) and say that many people in the U.S. know and care about them

· Unless you are sure it is safe to do so, avoid being overtly Christian when writing to prisoners in Muslim or Communist countries. It is enough to say that you are thinking of them and are praying for them.

· Prisoners will appreciate receiving a variety of types of letters. It is probably best to write whichever letters you are most comfortable with, while remaining sensitive to the particular circumstances of the case.

· Oppressive regimes often attempt to demonize foreigners through their propaganda. They try to make their people believe that we are cruel and greedy, without morals and interested only in destroying or taking over their country. This nonsense can be countered if in some of our letters we humanize ourselves. That is, if we make it clear that we are ordinary men and women who are in so many ways just like them. To achieve this we could give a little background about ourselves: where we are from, what our work is, what our interests are. We could even include a photograph of our family.

· CSW can provide you with basic guidelines for letter-writing in various countries (i.e. when and where God can/ cannot be mentioned, when to avoid any criticism of governing bodies, how to avoid being censored in certain countries, etc.). Please contact the office with your specific request.

Here is an example of a letter to a prisoner:

Dr Salai Tun Than
Insein Prison
Rangoon
Burma

Dear Dr Salai Tun Than,

Please excuse me for writing to you even though you do not know me. I am a second year student studying engineering at Purdue University in the United States and I am writing to say that many people here in the U.S. are thinking about you and praying for your well-being. I read about your case in our university magazine and then found further details about your situation on the Internet. I was interested to read that you have traveled to Europe, Japan and the USA to give lectures on agriculture; I think you must be quite an expert in the field! I do hope that you receive everything you need to keep well.

I am very interested in Burma as it is such a beautiful country and because I have heard that the people there are exceptionally friendly and kind. I do hope I can visit one day.

I am not sure if you take an interest in current affairs but the news at the moment is that there is still a great deal of trouble between Israel and Palestine. The situation there is very bad. Did you hear that China is hosting the Olympics in 2008? And just this week there has been a real setback for football fans – Terrell Davis has torn a ligament and may be forced into retirement! It is bad news, but we know that much worse things happen.

I have a great deal of respect for you and for the exceptionally brave way you have taken a stand for your country. I hope that the prison authorities treat you with due respect and that the courts soon find that you are an innocent man and that you are released.

My friends and I have written to the United States government about you. We will not forget you.

6. Some Frequently Asked Questions

A: Pick up a copy of International Mail Rates from your Post Office. It contains details of all postal rates and weight limits.

A: This is a possibility in some situations. CSW will always advise you when to write.

Q: Is it dangerous for me to sign my letters? Will that country refuse to let me visit in the future?

A: There is no record of this happening. Thousands of people sign their letters without any subsequent problems. However, if you have close business or other ties with a particular country and are concerned about writing, why not choose another case to write a letter on?

A: Fax - You could send your message of concern by fax, if you have access to a machine and if a fax number is given with the appeal. Bear in mind that if sending a fax, lines can get jammed and authorities may unplug their machine if they are getting inundated. If this happens, send your message by mail.

E-mails - Send an email if you have your own email address and if an email address is given with the appeal. Remember to include your postal address and country. This lets officials see where the email has come from and makes your request sound more authentic. Members of Congress respond well to emails. Remember, though, that emails are easy to delete and can appear less “serious” than letters or faxes.

Express airmail - If you want to, you could send your letter by express airmail, such as FedEx. Although it is more expensive, letters will reach their destination much more quickly and as the envelope usually has a different appearance, it may attract the attention of officials.

A: Many letter writers worry that when their letters arrive they are simply thrown into the bin. However if it is handled by a lower ranking official, then he may be tempted to keep hold of what you send if, say, you write it on the back of a pretty post card. Scenes of the Rocky Mountains, or landmarks, or of New York City, would be items of some interest in closed countries.


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OFFICIAL	SALUTATION	VALEDICTION
Monarchs	Your Majesty	Yours respectfully and sincerely
Heads of State, Presidents	Your Excellency	Yours respectfully and sincerely
Prime Ministers	Dear Prime Minister	Yours respectfully and sincerely
Ambassadors or High Commissioners	Your Excellency Mr./ Mrs.... (if you know the name)	Yours respectfully Yours respectfully and sincerely (if you have used their name)
Local authorities	Dear Sir/ Madam	Yours faithfully
Prison governors	Dear Sir/ Madam	Yours faithfully
Judges	Your Honor	Yours faithfully
Military officials	Dear General, Colonel, etc.	Yours faithfully
Members of Congress	Dear Senator/ Representative	Yours sincerely
Secretaries of the US Government	Dear Secretary ________	Yours sincerely