Are More than 200,000 Dead in Sierra Leone Less Important to Amnesty International than Israeli Anti-Terrorism Measures?
On June 4, 2007, a landmark event took place in the international human rights community. The trial of former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, commenced at the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone at the Hague. Taylor was indicted by the court on eleven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity including murder and mutilation, sexual slavery, and kidnapping children for forced labor and to serve as rebel soldiers. An estimated 200,000-300,000 Sierra Leoneians were killed by Taylor-backed militias. This case marks the first time an African head of state has been brought to trial for such crimes.
Rather than featuring this landmark event on its website and homepage, Amnesty International, instead, chose to highlight its 52-page report and press release on Israeli anti-terrorism measures, accusing Israel of “violations of international law” and “widespread human rights abuses”. The report also utilizes Holocaust terminology to refer to Israel’s security barrier. Apparently, checkpoints and roadblocks are more serious human rights abuses than mass murder and sexual slavery. For more information on how Amnesty places disproportionate emphasis on Israel, click here.
