Justice for Soni Sori

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Dear friends,

Soni Sori was brutally tortured by police after trying to stop their corrupt practices. Locked up without treatment or trial, she's made a desperate plea for help. A massive national outcry now can push the government to investigate the police crimes and save Soni -- sign and share this with everyone:

In retaliation for bravely trying to stop local government corruption, tribal teacher Soni Sori was brutally attacked by police who used unspeakable and depraved tactics to torture her. Locked up and denied medical treatment, she made a final plea for help: "The government is simply waiting for me to die … My health is not good ... I pray to all of you, please help me stay alive."

While Soni remains in jail, the police have never been investigated, and her head torturer even received a national gallantry medal on Republic Day! A public outcry backed by India's powerful personalities is already supporting Soni -- but it's not big enough to force the government into action. If we all stand with Soni at this crucial moment when Tribal Minister Kishore Chandra Deo is taking over the case, we can secure her medical treatment and justice.

Let's build an unprecedented call for Minister Deo to assure Soni's release and access to medical care and PM Singh to launch a commission to prevent future police abuse of women. Sign now and share this with everyone -- if we reach 100,000 we'll deliver it straight to PM Singh and Minister Deo:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_soni_sori/?vl

Soni Sori is a mother of three from Chhattisgarh who constantly strives to better her community and fight for justice. But when she shone a light on police corruption in the lucrative local timber trade, the ruthless local police started to target her. Their tactics were vicious -- beating her and violating her private parts with rocks and stones.

By falsely framing Soni as funding the Naxalites the police hoped that people would ignore and forgive their crimes. Until now that strategy has worked -- but with Minister Deo now taking hold of the case and public outcry growing across the country, we have an opportunity to force the government into action to provide justice for Soni and stop further abuse of women by police nationwide.

Soni loves her country -- on Independence day she raised the national flag and refused to back down when local Naxalites threatened her family. But now she is up against a force too powerful to fight alone and she needs our help. Sign the petition to secure justice for Soni and send this to everyone you know:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_soni_sori/?vl

Winning justice for Soni will spark changes far beyond remedies for one woman and her family. India has thousands of women just like Soni who are beaten and assaulted and then lost in a system that struggles to shine light on such horrendous crimes and bring their perpetrators to account. Justice for Soni can show that these people will be forgotten no more, and can be the first step to legal and cultural changes that prevent such heinous acts in India's future.

With hope,

Ian, Ben, Antonia, Alice, Ricken, Emily and the whole Avaaz team


MORE INFORMATION

The Inconvenient Truth Of Soni Sori:
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main50.asp?filename=Ne151011coverstory.asp

Punjab academicians, Sahitya Akademy award winner authors write to PM for tribal teacher Soni Sori' release:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-12/india/31679500_1_arundhati-roy-tribal-teacher-human-rights-activists

Outrage over gallantry award for Chhattisgarh police officer:
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/outrage-over-gallantry-award-for-chhattisgarh-police-officer-171391

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