USourt blocks sanctions on un palestine rights expert francesca albanese

A United States federal judge has issued a temporary injunction blocking sanctions imposed by Washington on United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, an independent expert on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The sanctions were introduced in July 2025 after Albanese publicly criticised US policy regarding the Gaza conflict. At the time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused her of bias and strongly condemned her statements, including her calls for international legal action related to alleged violations in the conflict.

Albanese, who was appointed in 2022, has frequently drawn criticism from Israel and some of its allies over her reports and public statements in which she has accused Israel of committing serious violations in Gaza. She has consistently defended her work as part of her UN mandate to monitor and report on human rights conditions in the occupied territories.

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In his ruling, US District Judge Richard Leon granted a preliminary injunction against the sanctions, stating in his opinion that “protecting the freedom of speech is always in the public interest.” The decision effectively pauses enforcement of the sanctions while legal proceedings continue.

Albanese welcomed the court’s decision, saying the measures taken against her were intended to weaken her work. She also expressed gratitude to her family and supporters, stating that she would continue her mission under the UN mandate.

UN Special Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Although they report on specific human rights situations globally, they do not officially speak on behalf of the United Nations.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between US policy positions and UN-appointed independent experts, particularly regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict, and raises broader questions about the balance between state sanctions and freedom of expression in international human rights work.