The recent wave of attacks on student protests and the subsequent banning of these demonstrations have raised serious concerns among human rights experts. In a news release, these experts emphasized that such actions are a clear violation of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression guaranteed by international human rights law. The experts called for an immediate halt to these attacks and urged the US Government to respect the rights of students to protest peacefully.
The student protests in question were organized in response to the Israeli military operation in Gaza, which was launched in retaliation to attacks by Palestinian armed groups. Students across the US came together to express solidarity with Palestinian civilians who were suffering as a result of the conflict. However, many of these protests were met with forceful dispersal by law enforcement at the universities’ requests, leading to instances of violence that required medical attention for some protesters.
The repercussions faced by students involved in the protests were severe, including arrests, potential deportation, expulsion, loss of housing, and excessive surveillance. The experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council called on academic institutions to refrain from taking punitive measures against students exercising their fundamental rights and to consider readmitting those who had been expelled.
In addition to addressing the crackdown on student protests, the experts also expressed strong rejection of accusations labeling the protests as antisemitic. They stressed that it was inaccurate and unjustified to categorize all peaceful demonstrations of solidarity with the Palestinian people as antisemitic. The experts emphasized that antisemitism is a serious form of racial hatred and intolerance that should be denounced, and called on authorities to investigate and take action against it in accordance with international human rights law.
The experts involved in this statement included special rapporteurs on the right to education, cultural rights, and freedom of opinion and expression, among others. Their collective voice highlighted the importance of upholding human rights and protecting the rights of individuals to express their views and participate in peaceful protests without fear of reprisal.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, a surge in attacks against Ahmadi Muslims has raised alarm among UN independent human rights experts. These experts expressed deep concern over reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, attacks on places of worship, and restrictions on free expression, peaceful assembly, and association targeting the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan.
The experts called on Pakistani authorities to take immediate action to address the situation and respond to the violent attacks and discrimination faced by the Ahmadiyya community. Urgent measures were deemed necessary to combat the broader atmosphere of hatred and discrimination that perpetuates these attacks.
Specific incidents cited by the experts included the extrajudicial killings of two Ahmadis on July 8 and a community leader on March 4. They also highlighted a significant number of attacks on Ahmadi places of worship and cemeteries in recent months, indicating a troubling trend of violence and discrimination against the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan.
The experts’ statements underscored the need for governments to uphold human rights standards, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure that individuals are able to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association without fear of reprisal or discrimination. The international community was called upon to monitor and address human rights violations wherever they occur and work towards creating a more just and inclusive society for all.
