Amnesty International waxaa lagu aasaasay London bishii July 1961 qareen Ingiriis ah oo Peter Benenson ah oo ay weheliyaan Professor of Law iyo saaxiibkiis Philip James. Sida ku xusan Benenson, wuxuu ku safrayay London Underground bishii Nofeembar 19, 1960 markii uu aqriyay in laba arday oo reer Portugal ah oo ka yimid Coimbra lagu xukumay toddobo sano oo xabsi ah Portugal oo lagu eedeeyay inay "khamri ku cabbeen xorriyadda". Cilmi-baadhayaashu waligood ma raadsan maqaalka wargeyska ee su'aasha laga qabo.
Sanadkii 1961