Amnesty International’s Columbia Chapter is Part of Mahmoud Khalil's Anti-Israel Coalition
Reports of Amnesty’s ties to Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) raise concerns, given CUAD’s alleged support for Hamas and its calls for the "eradication of Western civilization"
UPDATE March 19:
A spokesperson for Amnesty International USA told Jewish Onliner that its Columbia University chapter is “not a current member of CUAD.”
When asked about CU Amnesty International’s alignment with the organization’s official stance, its affiliation with CUAD, and measures to prevent extremist rhetoric, Amnesty International USA responded broadly, emphasizing its commitment to universal human rights and the need for all parties to uphold international law—without directly addressing the specific questions posed.
On March 16, Ryan Mauro, an investigative researcher with the Capital Research Center, highlighted how Amnesty International’s Columbia chapter is listed as a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), an anti-Israel student coalition led by Mahmoud Khalil, who was recently arrested by Federal Immigration Authorities for inciting what have been characterized as pro-Hamas campus protests.
CUAD is on record expressing support for Hamas, praising its October 7th assault on Israel, and has called for the "eradication of Western civilization."
CUAD’s webpage is currently offline, but an archived version dated August 18, 2024, lists Amnesty as a member of the coalition.
Amnesty International has been involved in several similar in the past over its support for individuals and events linked to terrorism.
Amnesty International’s Presence at the “People’s Conference for Palestine”
One recent controversy related to Amnesty International was its participation at the Detroit People’s Conference for Palestine, which took place from May 24-26, 2024. The conference featured speakers affiliated with designated terrorist organizations, openly praised militant activities, and promoted “armed resistance“—a euphemism for terrorism—against Israel. One of the speakers was Wisam Rafeedie, a member of the U.S.-designated terrorist organization the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Another key speaker was Sana’ Daqqah, wife of deceased PFLP terrorist Walid Daqqah, who was convicted of orchestrating the abduction, torture, and murder of Israeli soldier Moshe Tamam. Following the death of Walid Daqqah in Israeli custody, Amnesty described his passing as “heart-wrenching,” choosing to highlight his role as a Palestinian writer rather than his history of violent terrorism.
The People’s Conference repeatedly praised figures involved in violent activities, including convicted murderer Assata Shakur and former PFLP spokesperson Ghassan Kanafani. Moreover, multiple speakers expressed anti-American sentiments, including talk of dismantling the United States from within.
Amnesty’s Refusal to Label Hamas as a Terrorist Organization
Following Hamas’s massacre against Israel on October 7, 2023, the President of Amnesty France refused to use the term “terrorist” to refer to Hamas, stating that “the term ‘terrorist’ is not recognized by international law. However, Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States, and various other democratic governments. Amnesty has previously used the term “terrorist” to describe groups such as Boko Haram, which uses similar tactics to Hamas such as abductions and torture.
Amnesty Called for the Release of Convicted Hamas Financier
In May, 2023, Amnesty issued a communique calling for the “immediate and unconditional release” of Mohammed al-Halabi, despite acknowledging that he was convicted of diverting millions of dollars to Hamas.
Amnesty’s defense of Salah Hammouri, Arrested for Attempted Assassination
In September 2017, Amnesty International labeled Addameer fieldworker Salah Hammouri a “human rights defender” following his arrest on August 23, 2017. Hammouri was previously arrested in 2005 on charges of plotting to assassinate former Israeli Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and for his association with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
In 2022, Israel deported Hammouri to France for posing security threats. This was condemned by Amnesty International which claimed that Hammouri was "paying a high price for his work as a lawyer for Palestinians."
Amnesty’s Reputation Under Scrutiny
Amnesty has reportedly received over 12 million euros from the European Commission since 2007, further intensifying concerns about its influence and decision-making.
Amnesty’s involvement in events with individuals linked to U.S.-designated terror groups, along with statements perceived as supportive of such groups, has raised questions about its neutrality. While it remains unclear whether these controversies will result in formal action against the NGO, they present a significant challenge to its global reputation.
Amnesty did not respond to request for comment.