Craig Murray
1070503
224121149
2008-07-07T12:10:21Z
82.34.122.121
/* Background */
{{Infobox Person
| name = Craig Murray
| image = Craig Murray.jpg
| image_size = 225px
| caption =
| birth_date = October [[1958]]
| birth_place = [[West Runton]], [[England]]
| nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
| education = [[Master of Arts (Scotland)|MA (Hons)]], [[University of Dundee]]
| occupation = [[Political activist]]</br>[[Rector of the University of Dundee|University rector]]</br>Former [[ambassador]]
| website = [http://www.craigmurray.co.uk www.craigmurray.co.uk]
}}
'''Craig Murray''' (born October, 1958)<ref name=BIO>[http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/craig_murray.html Craig Murray - Biography]Craig Murray</ref> is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[political activist]], former [[ambassador]] to [[Uzbekistan]] and current [[Rector of the University of Dundee]].
While at the embassy in [[Tashkent]], he accused the [[Government of Uzbekistan|Karimov administration]] of [[human rights]] abuses, a step which, he argued, was against the wishes of the [[British government]] and the reason for his removal. Murray complained to the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] in November 2002, January or early February 2003, and in June 2004 that intelligence linking the [[Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan]] to [[al-Qaeda]], suspected of being gained through [[torture]], was unreliable, immoral, and illegal.<ref name=RENDITION>[http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2005/07/extraordinary_r_1.html Extraordinary Rendition]</ref> He described this as "selling our souls for dross".<ref name=DROSS>[http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2005/12/13/144449/84 The Torture Biz: Selling Our Soul for Disinfo Rubbish] European Tribune</ref>
Murray was subsequently removed from his ambassadorial post on [[October 14]], [[2004]].
==Background==
Murray was educated at the [[Paston College|Paston School]] in [[North Walsham]], [[Norfolk]] <ref>[http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2007/05/peculiar_coinci.html Craig Murray - Peculiar Coincidence<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, an all-boys [[grammar school]] where he had an undistinguished record. He says he barely gained entrance to the [[University of Dundee]]. There he attended few lectures, instead reading voraciously to teach himself history. He was member of the Liberal Party. He graduated in 1982 with an MA (Hons) 1st Class in Modern History.
Having already been on the Students' Representative Council. Murray became President of [[Dundee University Students' Association]], elected to this [[Sabbatical officer|sabbatical office]] twice (1982-1983 and 1983-1984), an occurrence so unusual that [[Ancient_university_governance_in_Scotland#University_of_Dundee|the university court]] (the [[University Court|highest body]]) changed the rules to stop him running a third time. He was reserve member of the team that won [[University Challenge]] in 1983.<ref>[http://www.dundee.ac.uk/pressreleases/prmay02/unichallenge.htm Old boys rise to the Challenge], [[University of Dundee]], 27 May 2002</ref> He spent seven years in total at the university, compared to a normal four for a [[Master of Arts (Scotland)|Scottish first degree]].<ref>[http://education.independent.co.uk/careers_advice/article2024764.ece Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Craig Murray, former ambassador - Getting a Job, Career Planning - The Independent<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <!-- whole paragraph reference in this Independent article -->
He joined [[Diplomatic Service|HM Diplomatic Service]] through the 1984 [[Civil Service|Civil Service Open Competition]]. Until 2002, he had a number of overseas postings with the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] (FCO) to [[Africa]] and to [[Europe]]. In London, he was appointed to the FCO's Southern European Department, as [[Cyprus]] desk officer, and later became head of the Maritime Section. He also led the Foreign Office team in the Embargo Surveillance Centre between 1990-91, responsible for analysing intelligence on [[Iraqi]] attempts to evade sanctions.<ref name=Scotsman-20051231>[http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1300&id=2479642005 Memos 'prove evidence used from Uzbek secret police'], Raymond Hainey, [[The Scotsman]], 31 December 2005</ref> In 2002, he was appointed British ambassador to Uzbekistan. Craig Murray was dismissed from that post in October 2004.<ref name=BIO/>
In July 2004, he told ''[[The Guardian]]'' that "there is no point in having cocktail-party relationships with a [[fascist]] regime," and that "you don't have to be a pompous old fart to be an ambassador." He separated from his wife, Fiona, with whom he has two children<ref name=PARTY>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1261480,00.html The envoy who said too much] The Guardian</ref>, after starting a relationship with [[Nadira Alieva]], an Uzbek woman who he met while she was working as a belly dancer/stripper in a Tashkent night club. She followed him when he left Uzbekistan and they remain a couple. <ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=504117&in_page_id=1770 The squalid truth about Our Man in Uzbekistan and his belly dancer lover]The Daily Mail</ref> Murray makes it clear in his memoirs that he has always had an eye for the ladies.
==Uzbekistan==
In October 2002, Murray made a speech at a [[human rights]] conference hosted by [[Freedom House]] in [[Tashkent]], in which he asserted that "Uzbekistan is not a functioning democracy" and that the boiling to death of two members of [[Hizb ut-Tahrir]] "is not an isolated incident."<ref name=INCIDENT>[http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/civilsociety/articles/eav011403.shtml British Envoy's Speech Reverberates in Uzbekistan] EurasiaNet</ref> Later, [[United Nations]] secretary-general, [[Kofi Annan]], confronted [[Uzbek President]] [[Islom Karimov]] with Murray's claims.<ref name="PARTY"/>
Murray was summoned to the FCO in [[London]] and, on [[March 8]], [[2003]], was reprimanded for writing, in a letter to his employers, in response to a speech by [[George W. Bush]], "when it comes to the Karimov regime, systematic torture and rape appear to be treated as peccadilloes, not to affect the relationship and to be downplayed in the international fora ... I hope that once the present crisis is over we will make plain to the [[United States|U.S.]], at senior level, our serious concern over their policy in Uzbekistan."<ref name=COMPLICIT>[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00297.htm The UK Was Complicit In Torture In Uzbekistan] Scoop Independent News</ref>
==Discipline charges==
In July 2003, some of the embassy staff were sacked while Murray was away on holiday. They were reinstated after he expressed his outrage to the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office|FCO]]. Later, during another holiday, he was recalled to London for disciplinary reasons. On [[August 21]], [[2003]], he was confronted with 18 charges including "hiring dolly birds [pretty young women] for above the usual rate" for the [[visa (document)|visa]] department, though he claims that the department had an all-male staff, and granting UK visas in exchange for sex. He was told that discussing the charges would be a violation of the 1989 [[Official Secrets Act]]. The FCO encouraged him to resign.<ref name="PARTY"/>
He collapsed during a medical check in Tashkent on [[September 2]], [[2003]] and was [[medevac|airlifted]] to [[St Thomas' Hospital]] in London. After an FCO internal inquiry conducted by [[Tony Crombie]], Head of the FCO's [[British overseas territory|Overseas Territories]] Department, all but two of the charges (being drunk at work and misusing the embassy's [[Land Rover Range Rover|Range Rover]]) were dropped. The charges were leaked to the press in October 2003.<ref name=LEAKED>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,11538,1065839,00.html Ambassador accused after criticising US] ''The Guardian''</ref> Immediately upon his return to work in November 2003, he suffered a near-fatal [[pulmonary embolism]] and was again flown back to London for medical treatment. In January 2004, the FCO after a four-month investigation exonerated him of all 18 charges, but reprimanded him for speaking about the charges.
===Removal from post===
Murray was removed from his post in October 2004, shortly after a leaked report in the ''[[Financial Times]]'' quoted him as claiming that [[MI6]] used intelligence provided by Uzbek authorities through torture.<ref name=M16>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3732488.stm 'Torture intelligence' criticised] BBC News</ref> The FCO denied there was any direct connection and stated that Murray had been removed for "operational" reasons. It claimed that he had lost the confidence of senior officials and colleagues. The following day, in an interview on the ''[[Today programme]]'', the [[BBC]]'s flagship political radio show, Murray countered that he was a "victim of conscience," and in this and other interviews was critical of the FCO.<ref name=VICTIM>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/reports/politics/craigmurray_20041015.shtml Ambassador speaks out] BBC News</ref> A few days later he was charged with "gross misconduct" by the FCO.<ref name=CHARGE>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1332894,00.html Ex-envoy to face discipline charges, says FO] ''The Guardian''</ref> Having negotiated a settlement whereby he was paid six years' salary payment in compensation, Murray agreed to resign from the FCO in February 2005.
==Subsequent career==
Murray has continued his opposition to the [[War on Terror]] since leaving HM Diplomatic Service. He sums up his current occupation: "Being a dissident is quite fun." <ref> {http://education.independent.co.uk/careers_advice/article2024764.ece] </ref>
He stood for [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|parliament]] in [[Blackburn (UK Parliament constituency)|Blackburn]], as an independent candidate, against his former boss [[Foreign Secretary]] [[Jack Straw (politician)|Jack Straw]], who has long been the MP for that constituency, in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|May 2005 general election]]. He polled 2,082 votes.<ref name="BIO"/>
In November 2005, he took part in the [[Axis for Peace]] Conference in Brussels.<ref name=PEACE>[http://www.axisforpeace.net/article212.html Axis for Peace - panelist Craig Murray]</ref>
In December 2005, he published a number of confidential memos on his website, which outlined his condemnation of intelligence procured under torture, and the UK government's ambivalence to this. The British government subsequently claimed copyright over the documents and demanded they be removed. <ref name=MEMOS>[http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2005/12/damning_documen.html Damning documentary evidence unveiled]</ref>
He has written a book entitled ''Murder in Samarkand - A British Ambassador's Controversial Defiance of Tyranny in the War on Terror''.<ref name=BOOK>[http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/documents/docs.html Murder in Samarkand]</ref> This book is to be filmed by [[Michael Winterbottom]] with a script by [[David Hare (dramatist)|David Hare]].
A character based on him appears in the 2006 UK-U.S. television co-production ''[[The State Within]]'', in which the former British ambassador to the fictional country of Tyrgyzstan, a hard-drinking womanizer, is embroiled in a plot to stop human rights abuses amid escalating threats of war.
On [[February 16]], [[2007]] he was elected to the position of [[rector#Scotland|rector]] at the [[University of Dundee]], his ''[[alma mater]]''. The other nominee was former [[British Lions|British Lion]] and [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland rugby]] captain [[Andy Nicol]].<ref name=RECTOR>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/6293883.stm No second term for Rector Kelly]</ref> Murray opposes cuts to University departments and services which were proposed in a document drafted by a working group chaired by the outgoing Dean of the School of Engineering, Professor Michael Davies. The election saw an increase in turnout of 50% from the previous election, with Murray winning by 632 votes to 582. Coincidentally, Murray was in the same class at his secondary school as actor [[Stephen Fry]], who also held the title of Dundee's rector<ref>[http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2007/05/peculiar_coinci.html Craig Murray - Peculiar Coincidence<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
In July 2007, he was elected an Honorary Research Fellow at the [[University of Lancaster]] School of Law.
His life features in a show by his girlfriend, ''The Ambassador's Bellydancer'', in London's [[West End]]. She invited him to perform in it, but he declined, citing lack of acting ability.
==Awards==
In recognition of his campaigning work on torture and human rights he was awarded the Sam Adams Award for Integrity in Intelligence in the spring of 2006.<ref name=ADAMS>[http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3617&Itemid=69 Sam Adams Award for Integrity in Intelligence]</ref>
In November 2006, he was awarded the Premio Alta Qualità delle Città of [[Bologna]].<ref name=PREMIO>[http://www.premioaltaqualita.org/index.php?idarea=1&lang=en Premio Alta Qualità delle Città of Bologna]</ref>
==Legal pressure==
During an interview with [[Alex Jones (radio)|Alex Jones]] on [[August 21]], [[2006]], regarding torture and the [[2006 transatlantic aircraft plot]], Murray claimed that false [[Intelligence (information gathering)|intelligence]] on [[al-Qaeda]] plots was obtained through [[torture]] done by [[CIA]] [[wikt:proxy|proxies]], and that the intelligence gained is used as a propaganda tool.<ref>[http://www.prisonplanet.tv/audio/210806murray.mp3 Intelligence gained through torture used as a propaganda tool]</ref> <!-- The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 were in part intended to make it easy for those applying for information to be released under the Freedom of Information Act, obtain permission to reproduce the documents and within the same timeframe as the FOI request itself. This is commented out because it needs a source -- it's completely impossible to understand. Clean this up before re-adding it. --> <!-- Murray has stated on his website [http://www.craigmurray.org.uk] that he is unable to afford to fight a legal battle. Citation needed --> <!-- The Treasury Solicitor's letter stated that if the documents were not removed by Monday [[July 10]], [[2006]], which they were not, then a claim would be issued in the High Court for an injunction requiring the documents to be removed. Citation needed-->
The threat of legal action against Murray by the [[Treasury Solicitor]] for the unauthorised publication of official documents on his website<ref>[http://www.craigmurray.org.uk Craig Murray's website]</ref> resulted in a large number of people [[Mirror (computing)|mirroring]] the documents on their own websites and releasing them via [[peer to peer]] networks.<ref>[http://d-notice.blogspot.com/2006/07/craig-murray-vs-foreign-office_08.html Craig Murray vs the Foreign Office]</ref> A list of current mirrors can be found in the posts and comments at the blog called "Craig Murray friends".<ref>[http://craigmurrayfriends.blogspot.com/2006/07/fco-moves-to-obtain-court-injunction.html The Craig Murray Friends Blog]</ref>
In September 2007, Murray expressed views on the character of [[Alisher Usmanov#Accusations of criminal activity|Alisher Usmanov]], Russia's 18th richest man<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/10/07billionaires_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank_6.html | title=The World's Billionaires | works=''Forbes'' | date=[[2007-08-03]] }}</ref>, following Usmanov's investment in [[Arsenal Football Club]]<ref>[http://www.alisherusmanov.blogspot.com/ Murray's views on Alisher Usmanov]</ref> but the [[post]]<ref>[http://alisherusmanov.blogspot.com/2007/09/alisher-usmanov-potential-arsenal.html A copy of the original post by Craig Murray]</ref> had to be removed from his web site following an intervention from Usmanov's lawyers, Schillings, who threatened his [[webhost]]. Despite Murray's repeated assertions that he was happy to defend his statements in court, Schillings declined to sue Murray but concentrated on stamping out the story by threatening hosting companies who had no interest in defending the case. Under further pressure from Usmanov's lawyers, the hosting company, Fasthosts<ref>[http://www.fasthosts.co.uk/ Fasthosts web site]</ref>, decided to permanently close the server for the web site on [[20 September]] [[2007]], an action that also had the effect of deleting several other related and non-related political [[blogs]]. A campaign by bloggers against Usmanov's legal pressure ensued. Murray's website has since returned.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
===Murray===
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.craigmurray.org.uk Craig Murray's website]
**[http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2005/04/timeline_of_cra.html Timeline of Craig Murray's ambassadorship in Uzbekistan]
*[http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/pdf/meeting_transcripts/081104murray.pdf Speech at Chatham House] ([[Portable Document Format|PDF]]) - Monday [[8 November]] [[2004]]
*[http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1068720964825 British Embassy, Tashkent Press And Public Affairs] - links to some speeches and interviews
*[http://ukwatch.net/article/251 The Uses of Torture] - Speech transcript, February 2005
*Video : [http://www.axisforpeace.net/article765.html Testimony at Axis for Peace Conference, November 2005]
*Amy Goodman. [http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/01/19/1452237 Craig Murray on why he posted classified memos], [[Democracy Now]], [[19 January]] [[2006]].
*[http://ourworldinbalance.blogspot.com/2004/07/story-of-craig-murray.html Copy of July 2004 telegram].
*[http://www.bushcommission.org Bush Commission], International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration.
*Craig Murray's Campaign in Blackburn
**[http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2005/04/hit_the_road_ja.html Craig Murray's campaign song "Hit The Road Jack Straw"]
**[http://www.postmanpatel.blogspot.com Postman Patel and his dog Jack]
**[http://www.hizb.org.uk British branch of Uzbek opposition political party Hizb ut-Tahrir]
**[http://craigmurrayfriends.blogspot.com/ LFCM]
*[http://www.murder-in-samarkand.com Murder in Samarkand] by Craig Murray
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/01/AR2006090101418_pf.html ''Her Majesty's Man in Tashkent'' by Craig Murray, [[3 September]] [[2006]], Washington Post]
*[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=502501&in_page_id=1879 "My life as a lap-dancer, by the girlfriend of controversial former British Ambassador Craig Murray"] by Nadira Aleiva [[15 December]] [[2007]], Daily Mail]
*[http://progressivepodcast.info/archives/6 ''Audio from the Stop The War Conference Scotland 2007: Craig Murray'' [[15 February]] [[2007]], Progressive Podcast]
{{refend}}
===Press===
====News====
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1261480,00.html The envoy who said too much] from ''[[The Guardian]]'', [[18 October]] [[2003]]
*The [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]], [[29 March]] [[2005]] - [http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2005/s1330326.htm Uzbekistan - Torture Trail]
*The [[BBC]]
**[[2 October]] [[2003]] - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3157196.stm British envoy leaves Uzbekistan]
**[[8 November]] [[2003]] - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3252679.stm 'Smeared' UK envoy's return urged]
**[[12 November]] [[2003]] - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3262581.stm Envoy to resume Uzbekistan post]
**[[15 November]] [[2003]] - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3272523.stm UK envoy back at work in Tashkent]
**[[20 November]] [[2003]] - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3286323.stm Uzbekistan ambassador back in UK]
**[[11 October]] [[2004]] - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3732488.stm 'Torture intelligence' criticised]
**[[6 May]] [[2005]] - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/65.stm Murray's election result]
*[http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/ Muslim Uzbekistan]
**[[6 October]] [[2003]] - [http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/eng/ennews/2003/10/ennews06102003a.html Has The Hand Of Uzbek Dictator Reached London?]
**[[19 October]] [[2003]] - [http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/eng/ennews/2003/10/ennews19102003_1.html Repression In Uzbekistan Is 'Terrible' Says Short Backing Envoy Who Criticised U.S.]
**[[25 October]] [[2003]] - [http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/eng/ennews/2003/10/ennews25102003a.html Uzbekistan: British Diplomat Quits At Strife-Ridden Embassy]
**[[7 November]] [[2003]] - [http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/eng/ennews/2003/11/ennews07112003.html UK-Uzbekistan: FO Backs Down Over Envoy's Sacking]
**[[24 January]] [[2004]] - [http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/eng/ennews/2004/01/ennews24012004.html UK's Embattled Envoy To Tashkent Cleared Of Charges]
**[[1 March]] [[2004]] - [http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/eng/ennews/2004/03/ennews01032004.html The Undiplomatic Ambassador]
**[[5 May]] [[2004]] - [http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/eng/ennews/2004/05/ennews05052004_1.html British Envoy Blasts Uzbek Government]
*[http://www.registan.net The Registan's controversial view of the Murray debacle] See also: [http://www.thinking-east.net/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=119 A young Uzbek woman's reflection on the Murray controversy at Thinking-East.Net]
*[http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/uzb-summary-eng Uzbekistan's human rights record, from Amnesty International]
*[http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/185/ Press freedom conditions in Uzbekistan] - [[International Freedom of Expression Exchange|IFEX]]
*[http://www.counterpunch.org/murray08182006.html Hitting a Nerve], [[17 August]] [[2006]], [[CounterPunch]]
{{refend}}
====Profiles====
{{refbegin}}
*[[30 November]] [[2006]]. [http://education.independent.co.uk/careers_advice/article2024764.ece Overview of his education from primary school to university, in the education supplement of ''[[The Independent]]''.]
{{refend}}
===Leaked documents===
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.voltairenet.org/article141849.html International of Torture: The Documents the Crown Would Like to Censor]
{{refend}}
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{{succession box|title=[[Rector of the University of Dundee]]|years=2007–present|before=[[Lorraine Kelly]]|after=Incumbent}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Craig}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Heads of Missions of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Dundee]]
[[Category:Ambassadors to Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Rectors of the University of Dundee]]
[[Category:Whistleblowers]]
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