Craig Murray, British diplomat
Craig John Murray (born 17 October 1958) is a Scottish author, human rights campaigner, journalist, and former diplomat for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Between 2002 and 2004, he was the British ambassador to Uzbekistan during which time he exposed the violations of human rights in Uzbekistan by the Karimov administration. This led to conflict with his superiors in the Foreign Office until finally he was removed from the post. Specifically, Murray complained to the Foreign Office repeatedly that intelligence received by the Secret Intelligence Service (and the Central Intelligence Agency) from the Uzbek government was unreliable because it had been obtained through torture, as was later confirmed by European investigators.Subsequently he became a political activist, campaigning for human rights and for transparency in global politics as well as for the independence of Scotland. Between 2007 and 2010 he was the elected Rector of the University of Dundee.
His books include Sikunder Burnes: Master of the Great Game (2016), The Catholic Orangemen of Togo (2009), and a memoir Murder in Samarkand (2006).
1958Oct, 17
Craig Murray
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Events on 1958
- 13May
Richard Nixon
During a visit to Caracas, Venezuela, Vice President Richard Nixon's car is attacked by anti-American demonstrators. - 30May
Arlington National Cemetery
Memorial Day: The remains of two unidentified American servicemen, killed in action during World War II and the Korean War respectively, are buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. - 16Jun
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
Imre Nagy, Pál Maléter and other leaders of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising are executed. - 18Aug
Lolita
Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel Lolita is published in the United States. - 28Nov
French colonial empire
Chad, the Republic of the Congo, and Gabon become autonomous republics within the French Community.