Rushdie accuses Amnesty International of “moral bankruptcy”
February 21st, 2010 - 1:12 pm ICT by ANILondon, Feb. 21 (ANI): Salman Rushdie has slammed Amnesty International’s association with former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg, by saying that the charity is suffering from “moral bankruptcy” as it “has lost the ability to distinguish right from wrong.”
The Booker prize-winning author, whose plight was championed by Amnesty when he was placed under a fatwa by the Iranian regime for his novel The Satanic Verses, said the charity had done “incalculable damage” to its reputation by collaborating with Begg and his organisation Cageprisoners.
“It looks very much as if Amnesty’s leadership is suffering from a kind of moral bankruptcy and has lost the ability to distinguish right from wrong,” The Times quoted Rushdie, as saying.
Kate Allen, Amnesty UK, said it took criticism “seriously” but would continue to press for “universal respect” for human rights.
His accusation follows the suspension this month of Gita Sahgal, a senior Amnesty official, who raised concerns about the organisation’s links to Begg and Islamic insurgents. (ANI)
- Gita Sahgal leaves job over Amnesty-'pro-jihadi' links scandal - Apr 13, 2010
- Amnesty International accused of shielding terrorists - Feb 07, 2010
- Amnesty faces outburst after suspending official over link with ex-Gitmo detainee - Feb 12, 2010
- Outrage as Amnesty sacks Indian rights campaigner - Feb 09, 2010
- Outrage as Amnesty sacks Indian rights campaigner (Lead) - Feb 09, 2010
- Amnesty accused of campaigning with 'Taliban supporter' - Feb 07, 2010
- Rushdie's Jaipur visit under cloud (Lead) - Jan 09, 2012
- Rushdie's Jaipur visit under cloud (Second Lead) - Jan 10, 2012
- Salman Rushdie for Jaipur Lit Fest Jan 20-22 (Lead) - Jan 04, 2012
- Rushdie to speak via video on 'Midnight's Children' (Second Lead) - Jan 23, 2012
- Sentiments vs freedom: Rushdie issue festers - Jan 29, 2012
- Salman Rushdie to attend Jaipur Lit Fest Jan 20-22 - Jan 03, 2012
- Fatwa changed history of 'The Satanic Verses', says Ben Okri - Jan 22, 2012
- Tight security for Rushdie's arrival - Mar 16, 2012
- Rushdie visit cancellation sparks outrage on social media - Jan 17, 2012
Tags: accusation, amnesty international, amnesty uk, begg, booker prize, cageprisoners, charity, fatwa, gita, guantanamo bay, incalculable damage, iranian regime, islamic insurgents, kate allen, london feb, moral bankruptcy, plight, salman rushdie, satanic verses, universal respect
