Our October Author: Yasmina Khadra

Here are a few links related to our October selection, Yasmina Khadra's The Attack. For the scoop on how the author went from Mohammed Moulessehoul to Yasmina Khadra check out this Guardian article. There is an official site for the French speakers among us. PEN American Center has a biography and associated links for the author and Critical Mass offers some impressions of Khadra's appearance at the Center's events.

Visit with Senator Boxer's Staffer

On October 15 four of us from AI Group 22 met with Mr. Corey Jackson from Senator Boxer's Los Angeles office. We discussed our group's work on Eritrea prisoners of conscience, the AI special focus case of Shi Tao, and the Darfur crisis. Corey told us that input from constituents would be very helpful, so we're asking all you California folks to go to Senator Boxer's official web site and let her know that you're concerned about one or more of the three topics. For information on Eritrea POCs, see our sample letter to Boxer or visit the AIUSA Eritrea page or learn about imprisoned Eritrean journalists. Here's AIUSA info about Shi Tao, and here's the country page for Sudan/Darfur. We hope to report next month on what progress we've made toward obtaining Senator Boxer's help in these issues.