The American human rights activist Joe Stork has died, leaving behind him a legacy of human rights campaigning,pro-Palestinian solidarity and an unmatched level of expertise in Middle Eastern politics. The activist, whose resume boasts the likes of Human Rights Watch (HRW), Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP) and Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCFHR), reportedly died aged 81 on Wednesday. Tributes have since poured in for Stork on social media, ranging from colleagues, mentees and peers. A graduate of Columbia University in Middle Eastern studies, Stork went on to co-found MERI…