WEB DESK: United Nations human rights experts have expressed deep concern over a “massive crackdown” on pro-Palestinian student protests at various universities in the United States, urging authorities to uphold the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly.
“The banning and attacks on student protests are a grave violation of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression guaranteed by international human rights law, and must stop immediately,” the experts said in a a joint statement on Thursday.
They added that their concerns were conveyed to the US Government in a previous communication.
Students across the US have organized anti-war encampments and peaceful protests to express solidarity with Palestinian civilians in Gaza suffering amidst the deadly Israeli military attacks since Oct 7.
The statement noted that many demonstrations were dispersed by law enforcement at the universities’ requests, often resulting in violence that required medical attention for some protesters.
Reports indicate that students faced severe consequences, including arrests, potential deportation, expulsion, loss of housing, and excessive surveillance.
The UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts called on academic institutions to avoid punitive actions against students exercising their fundamental rights and to consider readmitting those expelled.
The experts also addressed accusations from some US politicians and university officials that labelled the protests as antisemitic.
“It is inaccurate and unjustified to bluntly label all peaceful demonstrations of solidarity with the Palestinian people or calls for a ceasefire in Gaza or criticism of Israel’s policies as antisemitic,” they said.
“We strongly denounce antisemitism as a serious form of racial hatred and intolerance and urge authorities to properly investigate and take effective measures against it in line with international human rights law,” they stressed.
The experts included, among others, the special rapporteurs on the right to education, for cultural rights, and on freedom of opinion and expression.
