Rowling criticises Amnesty label as UK charity regulator assesses concerns

Britain's charities regulator is assessing concerns about an Amnesty International UK report that described Beira's Place, a women's centre for sexual violence victims founded by J.K. Rowling, as "anti-rights".

Rowling said on X on Friday that she was angry about the label. She wrote that she was sometimes amused by reports saying she was furious about things, but said Amnesty's description of Beira's Place had left her with growing anger.

British media reported that the Amnesty briefing, titled "A Growing Threat: The Anti-Rights Movement in the UK", has since been taken down. Beira's Place provides free support and advocacy services for women who have experienced abuse. Rowling set up the centre in 2022 and has previously said she is a survivor of domestic violence.

The Charity Commission said on Thursday that concerns had been raised with it about the document. A spokesperson said the regulator was assessing the matters raised to decide what, if any, role it might have as charity law regulator. The commission said it had not opened a formal investigation.

Amnesty International UK said earlier in the week that it regretted the briefing had been uploaded to its website without going through its established internal review processes for consistency, accuracy and alignment with its positions. It said the language used did not reflect Amnesty International UK's position and that the briefing was promptly removed.

Beira's Place chief executive Lesley Johnston said it was inexplicable that the centre had been included on the list. She said the description was deeply offensive to staff who support survivors and to women who use the service.

Rowling is outspoken about gender-critical views and has faced accusations of transphobia. She has denied being transphobic, saying her concern is the impact she says trans activism has on women's rights and single-sex spaces for women.