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| Shami Chakrabarti to quit role at rights group Liberty | Shami Chakrabarti to quit role at rights group Liberty |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Civil liberties campaigner Shami Chakrabarti is to quit her role at campaign group Liberty. | Civil liberties campaigner Shami Chakrabarti is to quit her role at campaign group Liberty. |
| Ms Chakrabarti described her 12 years as Liberty's director as an "enormous privilege", and said she was leaving the group "stronger than ever". | Ms Chakrabarti described her 12 years as Liberty's director as an "enormous privilege", and said she was leaving the group "stronger than ever". |
| Under her leadership, Liberty, which was founded in 1934, has campaigned on issues such as stop-and-search powers and compulsory ID cards. | Under her leadership, Liberty, which was founded in 1934, has campaigned on issues such as stop-and-search powers and compulsory ID cards. |
| The 46-year-old will remain in her role until a successor is appointed. | The 46-year-old will remain in her role until a successor is appointed. |
| Liberty said recruitment for her replacement would begin in the coming weeks. | Liberty said recruitment for her replacement would begin in the coming weeks. |
| Shami Chakrabarti profile | Shami Chakrabarti profile |
| Ms Chakrabarti said: "With members, colleagues, lawyers, journalists and politicians from across the spectrum, we have held three prime ministers and six home secretaries to account. | Ms Chakrabarti said: "With members, colleagues, lawyers, journalists and politicians from across the spectrum, we have held three prime ministers and six home secretaries to account. |
| "Liberty's first president, EM Forster, rightly called defending civil liberties 'the fight that is never done'. | "Liberty's first president, EM Forster, rightly called defending civil liberties 'the fight that is never done'. |
| "I leave Liberty secure in the knowledge that we're stronger and more ready for that fight than ever." | "I leave Liberty secure in the knowledge that we're stronger and more ready for that fight than ever." |
| Liberty would now be looking for a director who was "ready to defend [human rights] well into the future", she added. | Liberty would now be looking for a director who was "ready to defend [human rights] well into the future", she added. |
| Ms Chakrabarti has also written a column in the Guardian in which she says she has "always sympathised with those charged with security rather than liberty". | |
| "But this trade-off simply no longer works," she added. "What is 'national security' in the 21st century if not the personal and (increasingly) cyber-security of millions of people?" | |
| The group's chairman, Frances Butler, said Liberty had "greatly extended its expertise, influence and membership" under Ms Chakrabarti's leadership. | The group's chairman, Frances Butler, said Liberty had "greatly extended its expertise, influence and membership" under Ms Chakrabarti's leadership. |
| She joined Liberty as in-house Counsel the day before the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and became director in September 2003. | She joined Liberty as in-house Counsel the day before the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and became director in September 2003. |
| During her time at its helm Ms Chakrabarti has been a constant defender of the Human Rights Act. | During her time at its helm Ms Chakrabarti has been a constant defender of the Human Rights Act. |
| Ms Chakrabarti once wrote that she became a lawyer after reading the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, saying the novel had had a "profound effect on me". | |
| Novel inspiration | Novel inspiration |
| Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter that she was "sad to see" Ms Chakrabarti stand down, describing her as having "been a superb champion of human rights". | Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter that she was "sad to see" Ms Chakrabarti stand down, describing her as having "been a superb champion of human rights". |
| Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras, Keir Starmer, who is the former director of public prosecutions, congratulated Ms Chakrabarti and said she had transformed Liberty. | Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras, Keir Starmer, who is the former director of public prosecutions, congratulated Ms Chakrabarti and said she had transformed Liberty. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said she would be "much missed" by Liberty and described her as "a strong, strident and liberal voice in many public debates". | Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said she would be "much missed" by Liberty and described her as "a strong, strident and liberal voice in many public debates". |
| Conservative MP and civil liberties campaigner David Davis told the Guardian Ms Chakrabarti had been a "remarkable director of Liberty". | Conservative MP and civil liberties campaigner David Davis told the Guardian Ms Chakrabarti had been a "remarkable director of Liberty". |
| "She has been a doughty fighter in defence of that freedom and very successful. | "She has been a doughty fighter in defence of that freedom and very successful. |
| "She was very much instrumental in the rejection of ID cards and the control order regimes - perhaps one of the most illiberal policies of any government. She has a formidable track record and will be greatly missed." | "She was very much instrumental in the rejection of ID cards and the control order regimes - perhaps one of the most illiberal policies of any government. She has a formidable track record and will be greatly missed." |