European Governments Criticized for Silencing Pro-Palestinian Protests: Amnesty International Warns of Chilling Effect on Freedom of Expression

European governments are facing criticism for curbing speech and protests in support of Palestinian rights, with Amnesty International warning that it is a denial of collective grief and a stifling of dissent that could have a chilling effect on freedom of expression. Julia Hall, Amnesty's expert on counterterrorism and human rights in Europe, argues that peaceful protests against injustice in Israel and the Occupied Territories are not a threat to security. She highlights that several European countries have banned solidarity protests and have harassed and arrested individuals expressing support for Palestinian rights.

Hall calls on European countries to justify measures that breach human rights obligations and directs their efforts towards combating genuine hate speech and hate crimes, rather than restricting protests or other forms of solidarity with Palestinians' human rights. In France, a Palestinian activist, Mariam Abu Daqqa, was expelled to Egypt after a protracted court battle over her presence.

Abu Daqqa is a leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is considered a terrorist organization by the European Union. Despite having a visa to visit France for conferences on the Middle East conflict, the interior ministry deemed her presence as a risk following the Hamas attacks against Israel. Abu Daqqa was detained by police and took part in banned conferences before being expelled. She criticized her expulsion as an attack against the right of Palestine to have a state and an existence. Her lawyers plan to launch further appeals and may take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Meanwhile, over 1,000 officials in the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed an open letter urging the Biden administration to call for an immediate cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas. The letter reflects the unease within the US government over President Biden's unwavering support for Israel. Despite calls from Arab and Palestinian leaders to halt the Israeli assault on Gaza, the US has not called for a cease-fire. The letter states that further loss of human life can only be avoided if the US government takes immediate action.

It has garnered over 1,000 signatures from USAID staff around the world. The letter is part of a larger movement calling for a cease-fire, including protests in the US and a letter from over 500 people who worked on Biden's 2020 election campaign. Some officials are expressing deep frustration with the US administration's support for Israel and there have been calls for dissent channels to be used to raise concerns about policy anonymously with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.