UN Condemns US Sanctions on Human Rights Rapporteur
The United Nations has condemned the US sanctions imposed on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, as “unacceptable.” It has called for their immediate reversal.
The sanctions, announced by the Trump administration on Wednesday, accuse Albanese of bias, antisemitism, and unauthorized contact with the International Criminal Court. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed she promoted “blatant antisemitism” and “support for terrorism.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, warned that this move sets “a dangerous precedent.” He stressed that disagreements with UN experts should be resolved within the UN framework, not through unilateral actions, reports 24brussels.
Belgium has strongly criticized the US decision. Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stated on social media: “Regardless of whether we agree with a UN Special Rapporteur’s views, Belgium will always defend their independence and oppose any attempt at intimidation.” He further expressed that Belgium “deeply regrets” the sanctions.
Francesca Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer appointed in 2022, had recently accused Israel of implementing a “colonial” displacement strategy that amounts to apartheid and genocide. Her remarks have elicited significant criticism and accusations of antisemitism.
