Why Amnesty International may not survive JK Rowling's 'burning' fury – Murdo Fraser
The reputational damage to organisations listed as ‘anti-rights’ by Amnesty International could run into the millions
Readers of a particular vintage might recall the Secret Policeman’s Ball, a series of benefit shows which were created to raise money for the human rights charity Amnesty International. Set up by the Monty Python actor John Cleese in 1976, these shows featured comedians and musicians, and quickly gained a substantial public following.
Their profile contributed considerably to raising awareness both of Amnesty and of human rights issues more generally, and sharply increased Amnesty’s membership and donations. Although always regarded as a left-leaning organisation, Amnesty attracted support across the political spectrum. As a student, I can remember contributing to Amnesty fundraising and indeed my bathroom mirror sported an Amnesty sticker for many years.
Back in the 1980s, Amnesty was criticised by some on the left following the stance it took on human rights abuses in Nicaragua, under President Daniel Ortega’s government. The Nicaragua of the time was a cause célèbre for many on the left, who were appalled that a human rights organisation that they supported would be critical of the Ortega regime, but Amnesty demonstrated its political neutrality at the time by highlighting the regime’s abuses.
Hamas, Navalny and prostitution
More recent controversies suggest a different political outlook. Amnesty's statement that Israel was responsible for genocide in Gaza faced a significant backlash, with claims that too much reliance was put upon evidence from Hamas sources which painted a one-sided picture of the conflict.
In 2021, Amnesty stripped the Russian dissident Alexei Navalny of his status as a prisoner of conscience, a decision which critics said had been unduly influenced by partisan Russian news sources. Following the backlash, Amnesty was forced into a U-turn, reinstating Navalny’s status. And the organisation’s criticism of the actions of the Ukraine armed forces in the conflict with Russia added to concerns that the charity was being too heavily influenced by Putin propaganda.
But it is perhaps in relation to social issues where more recent stances taken by Amnesty have caused the most controversy. In 2007, Amnesty endorsed the complete decriminalisation of abortion, followed by the decision in 2016 to back the decriminalisation of all aspects of consensual adult sex work. This last choice was heavily criticised by feminist groups who regard all forms of prostitution as exploitation of women.
Deemed not to be ‘trans inclusive’
The most recent example of the decline of Amnesty as a credible, non-aligned human rights voice is, however, the most serious. The publication of a report naming more than 100 groups in the UK as being “anti-rights” because they are deemed not to be 'trans inclusive' has caused outrage, as many of those named are involved in supporting the rights of women.
On the notorious list is For Women Scotland, which has been successful in legal cases against the Scottish Government in determining that, under Equality Law, the definition of “woman” refers to biological sex, and that male-bodied prisoners should not be housed in the women’s prison estate.
Amnesty’s list also included the policy collective Murray Blackburn Mackenzie, and a range of Christian charities including the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, and the cross-party Christians in Politics. Other groups supporting gay and lesbian rights such as the LGB Alliance and the Gay Men's Network were similarly targeted. Amnesty’s report even called for the charitable status of these organisations to be reviewed.
Perhaps the worst example of an organisation smeared by Amnesty was Beira’s Place, the rape and sexual assault support service for women founded by the author JK Rowling. For an organisation – founded specifically to provide care and support for vulnerable women who have faced traumatic events – to be damned in this way is simply astonishing.
READ MORE: Amnesty's characterisation of JK Rowling and Lucy Hunter Blackburn is a travesty of the truth
Rowling’s pledge of financial support
The reaction to the Amnesty report was immediate and furious, with several of the organisations impacted flooding Amnesty with legal letters demanding that the report be withdrawn, a detailed explanation be provided as to why it had been published, a full apology, and compensation paid for reputational damage. Rowling herself described the attack on Beira’s Place as having left her “burning with the kind of fury that mounts with every passing hour”.
The author is a dangerous enemy to make. Rowling has already pledged that she is prepared to give financial backing from her own deep pockets to any of the women’s organisations targeted by Amnesty which wish to take legal action. The same offer is made to gay men’s groups named on the list.
The potential value of these claims, given the reputational damage that can be done to the organisations listed as “anti-rights” by Amnesty could easily run into the millions, not to mention the substantial legal costs that would be involved in defending any such actions.
All this is hugely damaging for Amnesty, an organisation which relies upon public and corporate donations for its very existence. It has withdrawn the report – although only on a temporary basis – and expressed regret that it was uploaded to the website without going through an established internal review process. But so far there has been no detailed explanation as to how this publication was made, far less any apology to the organisations listed.
John Cleese, the founder of the Secret Policeman’s Ball, is amongst those who have disowned Amnesty following this episode. He certainly will not be the last. Unless a fulsome apology is made quickly, and redress offered to those slandered, the consequences for what was once a respected human rights organisation will be catastrophic. Amnesty might very well not survive its capture by ideological extremists.
Murdo Fraser is a Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife
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