NEW members and friends are welcome to join Farnham Amnesty International Group’s 20th ‘Candles of Hope’ celebration at St Andrew’s Church at 7.15pm for a 7.45pm commencement on Saturday, December 5.

Each of the last three decades of rich involvement and experiences will be reflected on through music, readings, and artwork. Nibbles will supplement food provided by Vietnamese friends whose issues have been a particular focus for the group for some time.

The season began with a summer visit to Woking’s Shah Jahan Mosque. The Imam’s wife, Kauser Akhtar, who had talked to AI Farnham earlier in the year was the knowledgeable guide.

Employed by The Church of England, on inter-faith understanding, she is a modern, passionate, spokesperson for Islam and women’s rights.

The mosque was actually built in 1889 as part of an oriental study centre by Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner and only came into active religious use much later.

Newer buildings can hold a thousand in the men’s room and 600 in the women’s with people travelling from far and wide for festivals.

Kauser finished by thoughtfully answering some tough questions. It was agreed that every community needs a Kauser.

Other meetings have discussed the laws on forced labour and the refugee crisis. The ‘Write for Rights’ campaign brought members together at The Shepherd and Flock to send seasonal greetings cards to political prisoners worldwide and to read the thanks from those who have been touched to receive them in the past.

The new year’s spring season will start with the Guildford branch presenting the migration lawyer for the Open Society Justice Initiative Simon Cox’s talk ‘The War on Migrants: how the EU migration policy created its own crisis and what we can do about it’.

All are welcome to St Nicholas Parish Room, Bury Street, Guildford GU2 4AW. for this free event.