Amnesty International (AI) has suspended a senior officer for raising concern over the charity’s association with groups that support the Taliban and promote Islamic Rights ideas. An article published on February 7 by the Sunday Times quotes Gita Sahgal as questioning AI’s high-profile relationship with Guantanamo-detainee Moazzam Begg. Gita Sahgal is or now was…head of AI’s gender division. A few hours after the article was published, she was suspended.
Who is Moazzam Begg? Begg belongs to a group called the Cageprisoners which has dubious links/support of the Taliban. According to Sahgal, AI has simply whitewashed the association between Begg and Cageprisoners and promoted Begg as a defender of human rights. Sahgal said she sent two memo’s to senior AI officials over the nature of Begg’s relationship with Cageprisoners.
This is a disturbing development. Sahgal has devoted 30 years to defend human rights. By questioning AI management over Begg and his group, Cageprisoners, Sahgal has found herself without a job and fears for her security.