FOURTEEN people sat quietly in the Quaker Meeting House in Minehead on Wednesday writing letters on behalf of individuals denied basic justice.

Although emails and social media predominate nowadays, Amnesty International continues to send hand-written letters to those in power who can decide whether to be humane or tyrannical.

In the space of one and a half hours, 52 letters were written on behalf of nine people.

One of them is a 15-year-old girl, Ciham Ali Ahmed, of dual American and Eritrean nationality, who was imprisoned five years ago. She has never been charged with any offence, and even her parents do not know where she is being held.

Several people wrote to the President of Eritrea, Isaias Afweki, to ask for her release.

Amnesty International Minehead’s next letter writing session will be on July 18 from 2pm until 3.30pm at the Quaker Meeting House. Anyone may drop in for ten minutes to write a letter encouraging the powerful to adopt a more humane approach, or stay longer to do more.