The battle of the UN rapporteur for freedom of expression, American justice by her side

A federal judge in the United States has decided to suspend the tough sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The decision marks a significant turn in the diplomatic and legal standoff involving the Italian jurist, who has long been targeted by Washington for her critical reports on Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. Western.

Albanese announced the news herself through an emotional message on her profile on the X platform: “As the judge says, protecting freedom of expression is always in the public interest. I thank my daughter and husband who jumped into action to protect me, and everyone who has supported me so far. Insieme siamo uno (Together we are one)”.

The punitive measures, which were officially presented in July of last year, they had blocked her bank accounts and prohibited her from entering the American territory.

The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had justified these sanctions by accusing Albanese of a “political and economic war campaign” against the USA and Israel.

According to Rubio, her efforts to exert pressure on the International Criminal Court (ICC) were illegal and violated strategic interests. However, since Albanese was unable to act in person in the US legal system due to the restrictions, it was her husband and son who in February of this year filed suit in the District of Columbia Court.

The suit argued that the sanctions violated the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the US Constitution by confiscating her property without due process and by violated freedom of speech.

Judge Richard Leon of Washington accepted the defense’s arguments, finding that the Trump administration had exceeded its powers by curbing the freedom of expression of an international official.

This decision comes just days after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez asked the European Union to activate the “Blocking Statute” to protect Albania from the effects of foreign sanctions on European soil, making it this case in an important precedent for the immunity of UN officials. square

Source: prizrenpost