"I want, through your radio, to say thank you very much to international organizations and to the U.S. Congress, and also to the many people who sent telegrams, postcards, and letters to me -- 40 or 50 of them. [Hospital officials] showed them to me once. But they are still kept by the head of the psychiatric hospital. I want to thank them."

 - Gurbandurdy Durdykuliev told Radio Free Europe following his release in Turkmenistan

 

"I would like to send a huge thank you to all Amnesty International members across the world whose support I could feel. The work of Amnesty International is very useful."

 - Yury Bandazhevsky, Belarus August 10, 2005

 

"They tortured me with electric shocks, they pulled out my teeth and fingernails, but they did not dare to kill me. Without Amnesty International's Urgent Actions I would not be alive today."

- Activist Imran Ezhiev Continues Work in Russia, Even After Multiple Arrests and Torture

 

"For the first time in over a decade, I have taken my first sweet breaths of freedom and democracy."      

- Thich Tri Luc, Buddhist dissident and former prisoner of conscience, fled from Vietnam to Cambodia

 

 

"It Works!"

- In China, Wang Dan, Tiananmen Square activist thanks UA activists when asked about the Urgent Action Network

"Perhaps they can't quite imagine how much courage, moral comfort, protection and happiness their actions gave me," he wrote. "I will remain forever grateful...".

- Portions of a letter written after his release, in which N'sii Luanda Shandwe thanked Amnesty International members throughout the world for the support they had given him during his detention in Congo.
 

"My case is insignificant compared to most people who have been arrested. They have suffered in ways which are unimaginable. I was not tortured and I was released after only a very short time in prison compared to others. I feel that my release was due to international pressure brought about by you and others. Without the support that you gave on my behalf, I think I would not be here today. Please accept my deepest thanks. . ." 

- Tibetan tourist guide, Gedun Rinchen

". . . I knew that I was not alone, and held on to the thought till the end. . . I thank the staff and members of Amnesty International worldwide. My special thanks to USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Northern Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Bermuda, Holland and Italy branches for their overwhelming responses. Thank you Amnesty for going that extra mile to obtain a true picture of what brought about our ordeal, and for your strenuous efforts in sensitizing the world community to our case. . .
    I thank all those thousands of people of the world who gave me strength and encouragement through cards and notes. I shall never forget your kindness. Thank you with all my heart."

     - Christine Anyanwu, Nigeria