Express columnist Esther Krakue has accused Amnesty International of losing its way over women's rights, praising JK Rowling for taking on the human rights charity. Earlier this month, Amnesty published a report naming 117 British organisations it claimed were "setting back" the rights of women and gay people. Among them is Beira's Place, a rape crisis centre in Edinburgh funded by JK Rowling.
Rowling threatens legal action
The Harry Potter creator has threatened to sue Amnesty for defamation, and the Charity Commission has opened an investigation into the report. Krakue wrote that Rowling "might just be the most amazing woman in Britain right now" for standing firm on her views on gender issues while others have hedged.
Krakue noted that the report did not include hardline clerics who condemn homosexuality, questioning Amnesty's priorities. She referenced a recent attack at Berlin's Pride celebration by a 21-year-old Islamist as evidence of real threats ignored by Amnesty.
Amnesty's report under fire
Amnesty's report, titled "A Growing Threat: The Anti-Rights Movement in the UK", also listed a rape crisis centre that offers counselling to women who have been raped. Krakue pointed out that Beira's Place was created after Edinburgh's existing rape crisis centre had a transgender chief executive who suggested survivors should "reframe" their trauma if they did not want to be counselled by a male.
Rowling's verdict, according to Krakue, is that Amnesty has become "what it was created to fight". The charity has claimed the report was published without usual internal checks and does not reflect its position, but an earlier May report making similar claims remains on its website.
Other controversies
Krakue also highlighted a Scottish charity that received more than £740,000 in public funding to run weekly "Queer Milk" sessions, helping transgender women induce lactation. She argued that money is available for such projects while NHS dentistry and special needs provision are underfunded. The Express columnist concluded that Amnesty picked the wrong target in Rowling, who can afford to fight, while other listed organisations may suffer in silence.
