A new report by IHRC documents the alarming level of repression by authorities in the UK, France and Germany of the freedom of their inhabitants to support Palestinian rights.

Since the Israeli genocide against Gaza began in October last year, the treatment of Palestine advocates in all three jurisdictions has been characterised by the deliberate targeting of activists, artists, protestors, political and civil organizations through the use of bans, intimidation, harassment and arrests.

Using the UN special joint communication procedure, IHRC has submitted the report as a complaint, reporting information on legislation and policy deemed to violate the right to freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and of association, and protection of human rights defenders.

The report has been addressed to the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

The complaint highlights five main areas in which the states have abused established rights:

1. Criminalization of Pro-Palestine supporters and organizations
2. Censorship
3. New criminal offences
4. Surveillance
5. Management of migratory influx and restricted citizenship

Most of the above abuses have been carried out under the pretext that any form of criticism of Israeli policy and actions in the Occupied Territory is essentially racist and anti-Semitic.

The report argues that anti-terrorism and anti-extremism policies and legislation under consideration will strengthen draconian policies already in force, especially in the areas of citizenship, migratory flows management, monitoring of CSO’s and the restriction of individuals’ political rights. Many Muslim organizations are routinely subjected to targeted vilification campaigns by sections of the media and politicians in a bid to discredit them and frustrate their work. But paradoxically, such policies also end up targeting and accusing of antisemitism many Jews and Jewish groups who often work with Muslim CSOs in their pro-Palestinian activism and solidarity work.

Although the report is confidential the executive summary is available to read here https://www.ihrc.org.uk/executive-summary-of-communication-to-un-over-curtailment-of-pro-palestine-support-by-uk-france-and-germany/ [ENDS]

For more information or comment please contact the Press Office Press Office on (+44) 208 904 0222  or (+44) 7958 522196 or email media@ihrc.org