Amnesty International UK retracts ‘anti-rights’ labeling of Christian organizations
The apology from the organization followed criticism over how faith-based organizations advocating for traditional Christian beliefs were characterized in its publication.
A U.K.-based organization that describes itself as a human rights advocacy group issued an apology July 31 after facing widespread criticism over an article published earlier that month that labeled dozens of Christian organizations "anti-rights."
The organization, Amnesty International UK, had published a July 8 article titled A Growing Threat: The Anti-Rights Movement in the UK, which claimed that Christian organizations holding traditional views on marriage and biological sex were "anti-rights," including pro-life groups and Catholic organizations, according to Premier Christian News.
Christian organizations named in the report included the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, Evangelical Alliance UK, Christian Medical Fellowship, and CARE.
Christian Medical Fellowship described Amnesty's labeling of the organization as "anti-rights" as "egregious," saying its work seeks to defend the vulnerable through advocacy for preborn children, refugees, asylum seekers, and freedom of belief and expression in healthcare.
In its July 31 statement, Amnesty International UK stated that the document "should have never been published."
"Whilst we do not share the views of all these organisations," the statement read, "we recognise the concerns raised by those labelled as 'anti-rights' in the document. To be clear: this labelling does not represent our institutional position, and we apologise for its inclusion."
Prior to Amnesty’s apology, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International sent a July 28 letter on behalf of 11 of the organizations named in the report, saying they intended to set the record straight on the publication's "sweeping generalizations, allegations, and inaccuracies."
According to ADF International, Amnesty's publication identified 117 Christian organizations as "anti-rights."
Kevin Bennett, CEO of Premier, the parent of Premier Christian News, said the report contradicted Amnesty's stated purpose.
"Amnesty was founded with a mission to protect freedom of conscience and belief," Bennett said, according to Premier Christian News. "It is sadly ironic that in reports like this it actually achieves the complete opposite, by making accusations against organisations and individuals seeking to thoughtfully contribute to the national debate on what are complex and contentious issues."
Amnesty said in its July 31 statement that the organization is conducting an internal investigation as to how the article came to be published.
