Egypt Daily News – The United Nations on Thursday strongly condemned U.S. sanctions imposed on one of its independent human rights experts, calling the move “unacceptable” and warning that it sets a dangerous precedent. The sanctions were levied by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump against Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, told reporters in New York that while member states are entitled to disagree with the findings of independent UN experts, such disputes must be addressed within the established UN framework.
“Unilateral sanctions against Special Rapporteurs or any other UN expert or official are unacceptable,” Dujarric said during a regular press briefing. “The actions taken against Francesca Albanese represent a dangerous precedent.”
Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer, was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Dujarric emphasized that the Secretary-General has no authority over her work, as she operates independently under the Council’s mandate.
The U.S. government accused Albanese of antisemitism, citing her past criticisms of Israeli policies and actions in the occupied Palestinian territories. However, the UN rejected the sanctions as an improper response to political disagreement.
Dujarric further urged clarity in distinguishing between legitimate political criticism of Israeli government policies and antisemitism. “It is critical to differentiate between the two,” he said, underscoring the need to preserve the independence and integrity of UN human rights mechanisms.
The Trump administration announced the sanctions against Albanese on Wednesday, adding her to a list of individuals facing punitive measures under U.S. law. The move has sparked concern among human rights organizations and legal experts, who view it as an attempt to suppress scrutiny of Israeli conduct in the occupied territories.
UN officials and observers warn that sanctioning independent UN experts for fulfilling their mandates undermines the credibility of international institutions and risks politicizing human rights work.
