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| She has also been head of ]'s gender unit.<ref></ref> | She has also been head of ]'s gender unit.<ref></ref> | ||
| == Film producer== | |||
| In 2002 she was the producer of "Tying the Knot". The film was commissioned by the U.K.'s ]'s Community Liaison Unit, which was set up to handle the problem of British victims of ] who have been, or may be, taken abroad to marry against their will. The educational video on marriage and freedom of choice was produced for use in schools, youth groups, and other organisations working with young people, examines marriage across various cultures, and was designed to promote discussion on the issues it raises.<ref></ref> | |||
| ==Comments on rape as a weapon of war== | ==Comments on rape as a weapon of war== | ||
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| ==Amnesty International controversy== | ==Amnesty International controversy== | ||
| She came to wide public attention in February 2010, when she was suspended by Amnesty International as head of the organisation's gender unit, after she criticized Amnesty for its links with ], a figurehead for a campaign group called ].<ref>]'', 9 February 2010, accessed 11 |
She came to wide public attention in February 2010, when she was suspended by Amnesty International as head of the organisation's gender unit, after she criticized Amnesty for its links with ], a figurehead for a campaign group called ].<ref>]'', 9 February 2010, accessed 11 February 2010]</ref> She called the links "a gross error of judgment", and said it was wrong to ally with "Britain's most famous supporter of the ]".<ref></ref> Cageprisoners has championed, among others, ] member ], linked to three of the ] bombers, the ], and the Christmas Day 2009 bomber. Sahgal argued that by associating itself with Begg and Cageprisoners, Amnesty is risking its reputation on ].<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref>]'', 11 February 2010, accessed 11 February 2010]</ref> | ||
| Amnesty responded on its website: " was not suspended ... for raising these issues internally... speaks about his own views ..., not Amnesty International’s... Sometimes the people whose rights we defend may not share each others views–but they all have human rights, and all human rights are worth defending."<ref></ref> | Amnesty responded on its website: " was not suspended ... for raising these issues internally... speaks about his own views ..., not Amnesty International’s... Sometimes the people whose rights we defend may not share each others views–but they all have human rights, and all human rights are worth defending."<ref></ref> | ||
Revision as of 01:30, 17 February 2010
| Gita Sahgal | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Human rights activist, writer, and broadcaster |
| Employer(s) | Amnesty International; Head of gender unit |
| Known for | Suspended by Amnesty International as head of its gender unit, after criticizing AI for its links with Moazzam Begg |
| Parent | Nayantara Sahgal (mother) |
| Relatives | Vijayalakshmi Pandit (grandmother); Jawaharlal Nehru (grand uncle) |
Gita Sahgal is a writer and journalist on issues of feminism, fundamentalism, and racism, a director of prize-winning documentary films, and a human rights activist.
She is originally from India, and now lives in England. Sahgal is daughter of novelist Nayantara Sahgal, and granddaughter of former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s sister Vijayalakshmi Pandit.
Sahgal has battled suppression of women by fundamentalists. She has been an active member of Southall Black Sisters and Women against Fundamentalisms. In 1992, she co-edited Refusing holy orders : women and fundamentalism in Britain with Nira Yuval-Davis.
She has also been head of Amnesty International's gender unit.
Film producer
In 2002 she was the producer of "Tying the Knot". The film was commissioned by the U.K.'s Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Community Liaison Unit, which was set up to handle the problem of British victims of forced marriage who have been, or may be, taken abroad to marry against their will. The educational video on marriage and freedom of choice was produced for use in schools, youth groups, and other organisations working with young people, examines marriage across various cultures, and was designed to promote discussion on the issues it raises.
Comments on rape as a weapon of war
Commenting on the use of rape in wars, Sahgal has said that it is a mistake to think such assaults are primarily about "spoils of war" or sexual gratification. She said rape is often used in ethnic conflicts as a way for attackers to perpetuate social control and redraw ethnic boundaries. "Women are seen as the reproducers and carers of the community," she said.
Amnesty International controversy
She came to wide public attention in February 2010, when she was suspended by Amnesty International as head of the organisation's gender unit, after she criticized Amnesty for its links with Moazzam Begg, a figurehead for a campaign group called Cageprisoners. She called the links "a gross error of judgment", and said it was wrong to ally with "Britain's most famous supporter of the Taliban". Cageprisoners has championed, among others, al-Qaeda member Anwar al-Awlaki, linked to three of the 9/11 bombers, the Fort Hood shooter, and the Christmas Day 2009 bomber. Sahgal argued that by associating itself with Begg and Cageprisoners, Amnesty is risking its reputation on human rights.
Amnesty responded on its website: " was not suspended ... for raising these issues internally... speaks about his own views ..., not Amnesty International’s... Sometimes the people whose rights we defend may not share each others views–but they all have human rights, and all human rights are worth defending."
An organization called Human rights for All has formed in her defense.
On 15 February 2010, Amnesty’s Asia-Pacific director Sam Zarifi was reported as saying in an internal memo that AI had failed to distinguish between the rights of Guantanamo Bay prisoners, and the validity of Begg’s jihadi leanings.
Her mother, Nehru’s niece Nayantara Sahgal, said she is
“proud of Gita for her very correct and courageous stand. Gita had been taking up the matter for a couple of years now, but after not having received a response she decided to go public — which was a very brave thing to do. Without going into his credentials, Amnesty has been supporting Begg, legitimising him, making him a partner and sponsoring his tour of Europe. They should at least have checked his credentials. It simply gives them a bad reputation."
Notes
- "Baroness Amos launches Tying the Knot, an educational video on marriage and freedom of choice," M2 Presswire, 11 March 2002, accessed 16 February, 2010
- Gupta, Rahila, "Double standards on human rights; Where does Amnesty International stand on women's rights after suspending Gita Sahgal for criticising links with Moazzam Begg?," The Guardian, 9 February 2010, accessed 11 February 2010
- Aaronovitch, David, "How Amnesty chose the wrong poster-boy; Collaboration with Moazzam Begg, an extremist who has supported jihadi movements, looks like a serious mistake," The Times, 9 February 2010, accessed 10 February 2010
- "Amnesty chief suspended after attacking group's links to 'Britain's most famous Taliban supporter'", Daily Mail, 9 February 2010, accessed 10 February 2010
- Bright, Martin, "Gita Sahgal: A Statement", Spectator, February 7, 2010, accessed 10 February 2010
- "Joan Smith: Amnesty shouldn't support men like Moazzam Begg; A prisoner of conscience can turn into an apologist for extremism," The Independent, 11 February 2010, accessed 11 February 2010
- "Amnesty International on its work with Moazzam Begg and Cageprisoners," 11 February 2010, accessed 11 February 2010
- .
- Suroor, Hasan, "Another Amnesty official questions its links with jihadi group ," The Hindu, 15 February 2010, accessed 15 February 2010
- Roy, Esha, "Ties with Taliban supporter a damage to Amnesty reputation, says Nehru kin", Indian Express, 17 February 2010, accessed 15 February 2010
External links
- "Gita Sahgal: A Statement", 7 February 2010