United Nations: Campus crackdowns and freedom of expression crisis

All over the world, large demonstrations are taking place to call for the way of peace and demand an end to the war that began on 7 October 2023 with Hamas' attack on Israel. A crackdown on these protests is also taking place, especially on university campuses, both in the US and around the world.

According to UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression Irene Khan, "the crisis in Gaza is becoming a global crisis of freedom of expression", with strong repercussions not only in the present, but also in the years to come.

In an exclusive interview with UN News, Irene Khan said that in the United States, the repression of academic freedom is taking place in a broader violation of the right to protest war and occupation, increasingly polarising the political climate.

She recalled the importance of protecting the right to free speech and condemned the repression on US campuses. The right to freedom of expression is "an important fundamental right for democracy, development, conflict resolution and peace building".

There is also a worrying increase in hate speech on both sides of the protests. At the same time, however, there is confusion between what is presented as hate speech and incitement to violence and discordant or critical views of the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. 

According to the Special Rapporteur, criticising Israel as a political entity and state, for its behaviour, is perfectly legitimate under international law, but this must not leave room for anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

In conclusion, Irene Khan states that politicising the issue, silencing criticism and undermining the right to protest and freedom of expression will make it increasingly difficult to negotiate.