Denunciation and Puzzlement at Amnesty International's appointment of Michael Abraham Levy
17
December 2013, GNRD Press Release – The Global
Network for Rights and Development and the undersigned organisations express
their denunciation and profound puzzlement at Amnesty International's recent
decision of appointing Michael
Abraham Levy, as a member of its Secretary General's Global
Council, and urge for reconsideration of that decision.
While we recognise the important role of Amnesty
International on the international human rights arena, and strongly support its
independence. Nevertheless, we draw attention to the need to circumvent
repetition of historical errors the organisation has committed in the past that
still haunt its reputation, for example the refusal to consider the
international freedom-fighter Nelson Mandela as a prisoner of conscience, and
opting instead to designate him a terrorist.
Amnesty International now manifests yet another harsh
example of political interference onto its professional track record, by
appointing a controversial personality, whose assumption of a leadership
position raises many questions about the future trends of the organisation, and
its direct susceptibility to extremist views, especially at decision-making
level.
The undersigned organisations to this press release
stress that Mr. Levy, born in 1944, is one of the major supporters of
settlement and extremist institutions in Israel, he stands behind vast
donations to support and promote the concept of occupation. Moreover, that his 9-year tenure
as adviser to the former British Prime Minister, Tony
Blair, saw the implementation of various policies against human rights, be it
on the level of support for Israeli occupation, or participation of that
government in aggression against Iraq and in crimes against humanity. Many
people around the world realise the fanaticism and extremism of advisory
opinions promulgated by Mr. Levy during that period, and their threat of world
security and peace, as he was considered among the key people to launch the
trend of forsaking basic rights for the higher interests of state.
The Global Network for Rights and Development and the
undersigned organisations believe that a person with such record shall wreck
the credibility of Amnesty International, and condemn its tendencies and
policies into questioning; a development that could lead human rights
organisations around the world to boycott Amnesty International.
The undersigning organisations also emphasize their
condemnation of Amnesty International's position of appointing Levy as one of
the key policymakers at an international human rights organisation.
Amnesty International is required to provide immediate
explanations to many thousands of members around the world on the professional
standards applied to the election and recruitment of a person classified by
many a human rights platform as hostile to human rights.
Considering the attainment of funding as a mere
standard for appointment to leading positions in international organisations
could landmark the beginning of a moral collapse that defies the founding
principles of any human rights organisation.
Therefore, as partners in making the future of
humanity, we claim the right to call upon Amnesty International to immediately
rescind its decision, which we deem as lacking the prudence essential for an
organisation of such international prominence.
Principles of tolerance and forgiveness grant each
person the right for proactive participation in human rights tasks if he/she
adopts the underlying values; an attitude, which Mr. Levy has not proven
neither by word nor deed.
