Marking the 10th December UN Human Rights Day, which this year raises the slogan, “Stand up for someone’s rights today,” about 200 legal scholars and practicing lawyers from 15 European states have issued a statement that stands for Palestinian rights and considers the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality as “a lawful exercise of freedom of expression.”
The full text of the letter can be read below.
The list of statement signatories includes world-renowned legal figures of the prominence of South African jurist John Dugard, who served at the International Court of Justice; Sir Geoffrey Bindman, honorary Queen’s Counsel in Britain; José Antonio Martín Pallín, for Supreme Court judge in Spain; Alain Pellet, Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur in France; Guy Goodwin-Gill, former Legal Adviser for the Office of the United Nations high Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); Eric David, former legal counsel for the Council of Europe and the Belgian government; Robert Kolb, former legal expert with the ICRC and the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Marco Sassóli, former deputy head of the ICRC’s legal division; Michael Mansfield, UK Queen’s Councel; Lauri Hannikainen, Member of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)’ and Géraud de la Pradelle, who led the civic inquiry into the involvement of France in the 2004 Rwanda genocide.
While not taking a position for or against BDS, the European legal scholars’ statement defended the right to pursue Palestinian rights under international law through BDS measures against Israel. It said:
“States that outlaw BDS are undermining this basic human right and threatening the credibility of human rights by exempting a particular state from the advocacy of peaceful measures designed to achieve its compliance with international law.”
Robert Kolb, who served as a legal expert with the Swiss Foreign Ministry, commented:
“The right of citizens to advocate for BDS is part and parcel of the fundamental freedoms protected by the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.”
John Dugard, who served at the International Court of Justice, stated:
“No government ever attempted to outlaw or criminalize the Anti-Apartheid Movement for advocating boycott, disinvestment or sanctions to compel South Africa to abandon its racist policies. BDS should be seen as a similar movement and treated accordingly.”
Eric David, former legal counsel of the Council of Europe and the Belgian government, explained why civil society has increasingly supported BDS against Israel saying:
“It is in response to [the] irresponsible passivity of States that civil society created the BDS movement. Repression of BDS, therefore, comes as support of Israel’s violations of international law, and of the failure of States to perform their commitment made in 2005 to ‘strictly respect the aims and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.’”
Welcoming the groundbreaking legal scholars’ statement on behalf of the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society that leads the global BDS movement, Ingrid Jaradat said:
“This is a defining moment in the struggle against Israel’s patently repressive legal war on the BDS movement for Palestinian rights. Leading European jurists have now confirmed that advocating and campaigning for Palestinian rights under international law is a legally-guaranteed right for Europeans and indeed all citizens of the world. Israel’s desperate attempts to outlaw the BDS movement and to legally bully its supporters into silence threatens democratic space, the jurists said in their critical statement.”
“By joining Israel’s anti-democratic war of repression on BDS, the governments of France and the UK have become more isolated than ever. In addition to this definitive endorsement by European legal scholars for the right to BDS, the European Union, as well as the governments of Sweden, Netherlands and Ireland, along with hundreds of European political parties, trade unions and civil society organizations, have unequivocally stated their support for the right of citizens to engage in boycotts against the Israeli state.”
BNC’s Europe Campaigns Coordinator Riya Hassan added:
“The BDS movement has grown tremendously across Europe in recent years, mainly spurred by popular outrage at Israel’s impunity in entrenching its decades-long regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid against the indigenous Palestinian people.”
“This momentous statement by European jurists not only vindicates BDS human rights defenders who have insisted that BDS is protected free speech. It will undoubtedly add a crucial layer of legal protection for European BDS networks and citizens in their efforts to end European complicity in Israel’s regime of oppression, especially in military trade and research, banking, and corporate involvement in Israel’s violations of international law.”
STATEMENT BY LEGAL SCHOLARS AGAINST MEASURES ADOPTED BY CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS TO OUTLAW THE BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS (BDS) MOVEMENT FOR PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) is a global, peaceful movement led by Palestinian civil society that seeks to put pressure on Israel to honour its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law as demanded by numerous UN resolutions, in particular to end the occupation of Palestinian and Syrian territories, stop systemic discrimination against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel itself, and permit the return of Palestinian refugees.
Modeled on the Anti-Apartheid Movement that mobilized civil society against apartheid in South Africa, the BDS movement has become a powerful and effective global movement in the advocacy of measures aimed at pressurizing Israel to comply with international law, and at persuading other states and business enterprises to withhold all support for Israel’s violations of international law.
The mobilization of civil society in the interest of human rights, such as the campaign against apartheid in South Africa and the Civil Rights movement in the United States, has not been obstructed by foreign governments. The effectiveness of BDS, however, has prompted not only Israel but also some other states to adopt measures to suppress this movement.
France, the United Kingdom, Canada and certain state legislatures in the United States, have adopted laws and taken executive action to suppress, outlaw and in some instances, criminalize the advocacy of BDS. Such measures aim to punish individuals, companies and private and public institutions that adopt ethically and legally responsible business, investment and procurement decisions.
Other States, notably Sweden, the Netherlands and Ireland, have taken the position that, while they do not endorse a boycott of Israel, the advocacy of BDS is a lawful exercise of freedom of expression, a deeply cherished freedom enshrined in national law and international human rights conventions. Reputable human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Human Rights Watch, have likewise taken the position that individuals, associations, public and private institutions, local governments and businesses are entitled to advocate and implement BDS in the exercise of the fundamental right of freedom of expression.
States and organizations that view BDS as a lawful exercise of freedom of expression are correct. Whether one approves of the aims or methods of BDS is not the issue. The issue is whether in order to protect Israel an exception is to be made to the freedom of expression that occupies a central and pivotal place among fundamental human rights. States that outlaw BDS are undermining this basic human right and threatening the credibility of human rights by exempting a particular state from the advocacy of peaceful measures designed to achieve its compliance with international law.
Signatories
UK
Prof. Guy Goodwin-Gill, Emeritus Fellow, All Souls College, University of Oxford
Prof. Sir Geoffrey Bindman QC, barrister; University College London and London South Bank University
Prof. Conor Gearty, London School of Economics
Prof. Iain Scobbie, University of Manchester
Prof. William Schabas, Middlesex University, London
Prof. Bill Bowring, Birkbeck University of London
Prof. Rachel Murray, University of Bristol
Prof. Robert Wintemute, King’s College London
Prof. Kevin Jon Heller, SOAS University of London
Prof. Penny Green, Queen Mary University of London
Prof. Sol Picciotto, Lancaster University
Prof. Oren Ben-Dor, University of Southampton
Prof. Wade Mansell, University of Kent
Michael Mansfield QC, barrister, London
Kirsty Brimelow QC, barrister, London
Paul Ridge, barrister, London
David Renton, barrister, London
Daniel Machover, lawyer, London
Dr. Ntina Tzouvala, University of Durham
Dr. Gleider I. Hernández, University of Durham
Dr. Ralph Wilde, University College London
Dr Vanja Hamzić, SOAS University of London
Dr. Christine Schwoebel-Patel, University of Liverpool
Dr. Mazen Masri, City, University London
Dr. Michael Kearney, University of Sussex
Dr. Brenna Bhandar, SOAS University of London
Dr. Isra Black, University of York
Dr. Nadine El-Enany, Birkbeck University of London
Dr. Gina Heathcote, SOAS University of London
Dr. Edel Hughes, University of East London
Dr. Ioannis Kalpouzos, City, University of London
Dr. Sarah Keenan, Birkbeck University of London
Dr. Vidya Kumar, University of Leicester
Dr. Thomas MacManus, Queen Mary University of London
Dr. Paul O’Connell, SOAS University of London
Dr. Graham Smith, University of Manchester
Dr. Nimer Sultany, SOAS University of London
Dr. Michelle Burgis-Kasthala, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Dr. Charlotte Peevers, University of Glasgow
IRELAND
Dr. Mohsen Al-Attar, Queen’s University Belfast
Dr. John Reynolds, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
NETHERLANDS
Prof. John Dugard, University of Leiden
Prof. Paul de Waart, Emeritus VU University Amsterdam
Prof. Liesbeth Zegveld, University of Amsterdam; lawyer
Prof. Karin Arts, ISS of Erasmus University Rotterdam
Dr. Jeff Handmaker, ISS of Erasmus University Rotterdam
Dr. Joseph Powderly, Assistant-Professor, University of Leiden
Dr. Marloes van Noorloos, Tilburg University
Dr. Michiel Bot, Tilburg University
BELGIUM
Prof. Eric David, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Prof. Jean Salmon, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Prof. Olivier Corten, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Prof. Francois Dubuisson, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Prof. Pierre Klein, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Prof. Jaques Englebert, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Prof. Anne Lagerwall, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Prof. François Ost, Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles
Prof. dr. emeritus Dirk Voorhoof, Ghent University; European Centre for Press and Media Freedom
Prof. Dr. Eva Brems, Human Rights Center, Ghent University
Alexis Deswaef, avocat au barreau de Bruxelles; président de la Ligue des Droits de l’Homme (Belgique)
Véronique van der Plancke, advocate au barreau de Bruxelles; Université de Louvain
LUXEMBOURG
Dr. Parvathi Menon, Max Planck Institute Luxembourg for Procedural Law
FRANCE
Prof. Jean Matringe, Université de Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne
Prof. Xavier Dupré de Boulois, Université de Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne
Prof. Catherine Kessedjian, Université de Paris II Panthéon Assas
Prof. Thomas Perroud, Université de Paris II Panthéon Assas
Prof. Gilles Guglielmi, Université de Paris II Panthéon Assas
Prof. Stéphanie Dijoux, Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense
Prof. Franck Latty, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense
Prof. émérite Géraud de la Pradelle, Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense
Prof. émérite Alain Pellet, Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense
Prof. émérite Monique Chemillier-Gendreau, Université Paris Diderot
Prof. émérite Robert Charvin, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis
Prof. émérite, Paul Allies, Université de Montpellier I
Prof. émérite, Gérard Blanc, Université d’Aix-Marseille
Prof. Delphine Costa, Université d’Aix-Marseille
Prof. Marie-Pierre Lanfranchi, Université d’Aix-Marseille
Prof. Elise Carpentier, Université d’Aix-Marseille
Prof. Josiane Auvret-Finck, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis
Prof. Philippe Lagrange, Université de Poitiers
Prof. Arnaud de Nanteuil, Université du Maine
Prof. Alina Miron, Université d’Angers
Prof. Diane Roman, Université François Rabelais Tours
Prof. Marie-Laure Basilien-Gainche, Université Jean Moulin Lyon III
Prof. émérite Armel Kerrest, Université de Bretagne Occidentale
Prof. Xavier Souvignet, Université de Grenoble Alpes
Prof. Thierry Garcia, Université Grenoble Alpes
Prof. Romain Tinière, Université Grenoble Alpes
Prof. Aurélien Antoine, Université Jean Monnet – Saint-Etienne
Prof. Jacques Larrieu, Université de Toulouse I Capitole
Prof. Sébastien Platon, Université de Bordeaux
Prof. François Quastana, Université de Lille II
Prof. Emmanuelle Tourme Jouannet, Institut d’études politiques de Paris
Prof. Vincent Dubois, Institut d’études politiques de Strasbourg
Prof. Laurent Sermet, Institut d’études politiques d’Aix-en-Provence
Prof. Pascal Jan, Institut d’études politiques de Bordeaux
Prof. Dominique Darbon, Institut d’études politiques de Bordeaux
Prof. Cécile Rapoport, Université de Rennes 1
Prof. Mouloud Boumghar, Université de Picardie Jules Verne
Prof. Carlos Miguel Herrera, Université de Cergy-Pontoise
Marine Eudes, Maître de conférences, Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense
Christophe Voilliot, Maître de conférences, Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense
Marc Touillier, Maître de conférences, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense
Ismael Omarjee, Maître de conferences, Université de Paris-Ouest Nanterre La Défense
Nicolas Gabayet, Maître de conférences, Université Paris Est Créteil
Lucie Sponchiado, Maître de conférences, Université Paris Est-Créteil
Véronique Mikalef-Toudic, Maître de conférences, Université de Caen Normandie
Magalie Flores-Lonjou, Maître de conférences, Université de La Rochelle
François-Xavier Morisset, Maître de conférences à l’Université de La Rochelle
Malik Boumediene, Maître de conférences, Université de Toulouse II Le Mirail
Lucien Maurin, Maître de conférences, Université d’Aix-Marseille
Bastien Brignon, Maître de conférences, Université d’Aix-Marseille
Pascal Richard, Maître de conférences, Université du Sud Toulon Var
Anouche Beaudouin, Maître de conférences, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis
Philippe Enclos, Maître de conférences, Université de Lille II
Alexandre Barège, Maître de conférences, Université de Lille II
Rhita Bousta, Maître de conférences, Université de Lille II
Patrice Le Maigat, Maître de conférences, Université de Rennes I
Romain Loir, Maître de conférences, Université de La Réunion
Aurélien Siri, Maître de conférences, Centre universitaire de Mayotte
Jean-Christophe Lapouble, Maître de conférences, Institut d’études politiques de Bordeaux
Alexandre Zabalza, Maître de conferences, Université de Bordeaux
Philippe Icard, Maître de conférences, Université de Bourgogne
Christine Bertrand, Maître de conferences, Université d’Auvergne
Caroline Lantero, Maître de conferences, Université d’Auvergne
Anne-Sophie Denolle, Maître de conferences, Université de Nimes
Rodolphe Bigot, maître de conférences, Université de Picardie Jules Verne
François Henot, Maître de conferences, Université de Picardie Jules Verne
AUSTRIA
Prof. Franz Leidenmühler, University of Linz
GERMANY
Prof. Norman Paech, Emeritus, University of Hamburg
SWITZERLAND
Prof. Robert Kolb, Université de Genève
Prof. Marco Sassòli, Université de Genève
Prof. Stefan Trechsel, Emeritus, University of Zurich; Bern
Prof. Regula Kägi-Diener, University of St. Gallen; lawyer
Prof. em. Dr. Wolf Linder, political scientist and jurist, Bern
Dr. h .c. Marco Mona, lawyer, Zurich
Dr. Tom Moerenhout, Graduate Institute of International Development Studies, Genève
Markus Bischoff, lawyer, member of Council-Kanton of Zurich
Jürg Meyer, jurist; member of Council-Kanton Basel City
Robert Cramer, avocat, Conseiller aux Etats, Genève
Nils de Dardel, avocat, ancien conseiller national, Genève
Marcel Bosonnet, lawyer, Zurich
Romolo Molo, avocat, Genève
Jean-Michel Dolivo, avocat, Lausanne
Hüsnü Yilmaz, avocat; co-president des Juristes Progressistes Vaudois
Beat Leuthardt, jurist, Basel
Olivier Peter, avocat, Genève
Leila Batou, avocat, Genève
Miriam Gantner, jurist, Basel
ITALY
Livio Pepino, già magistrato, consigliere della Corte di Cassazione e membro del Consiglio Superiore della Magistratura, Torino
Prof. Gustavo Gozzi, Università di Bologna
Fabio Marcelli, Istituto Studi Giuridici Internazionali – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Prof. Marco Balboni, Università di Bologna
Prof. Silvia Buzzelli, Università di Milano-Bicocca
Prof. Chantal Meloni, Università degli Studi di Milano
Prof. Luca Masera, Università degli Studi di Brescia
Prof. Marco Pertile, Università di Trento
Prof. Carlo Sotis, Università della Tuscia
Dr. Francesca De Vittor, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano
Gilberto Pagani, avvocato, Milano
Fausto Gianelli, avvocato, Modena
Dario Rossi, avvocato, Genova
PORTUGAL
Dr. Tor Krever, London School of Economics; Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra
SPAIN
Prof. David Bondia García, University of Barcelona; president, Human Rights Institute of Catalonia
Justice José Antonio Martín Pallín, former judge, Supreme Court
Justice Juan Pedro Illanez Suárez, Palma de Mallorca
Prof. Nicolás Navarro Batista, Gran Canaria
Prof. Itziar Ruiz-Gimenez Arrieta, Madrid
Prof. Rosario Gonzalez Arias, lawyer, Oviedo; Autonomous University of Querétaro, Mexico
Antonio Segura Hernández, lawyer, Madrid
Carmelo Faleh-Pérez, Spanish Association for International Law and Human Rights (AEDIDH)
Jacinto José Gil Ugena, lawyer, Madrid
Francisco García Cediel, lawyer, Madrid
César Pinto Cañón, lawyer, Madrid
Enrique Santiago Romero, lawyer, Madrid
Nadia Chliha ben Mohito, lawyer, Madrid
Diego Catriel Herchhoren, lawyer, Madrid
Tarek Khalaf Alonso, lawyer, Madrid
Redouan Zidi Tassakourt, lawyer, Madrid
Hana Cheikh Ali, lawyer, Madrid
Amira Cheikh Ali, lawyer, Madrid
María Soledad García Bau, lawyer, Madrid
José Ricardo Gayol García, lawyer, Madrid
Andrés García, lawyer
Montserrat Vinyest i Pagès, lawyer, Girona
Benet Salellas i Vilar, lawyer, Girona
Ana Maria Fernandez Llamazares, lawyer, Barcelona
Ana Osa Farré, lawyer, Barcelona
Concepción Trabado Álvarez, lawyer, Fabero (León)
Juan M. Prieto Santos, lawyer, Gijón-Xixón
María Xulia Fernández Suárez, lawyer, Gijón-Xixón
Joan Tamayo, lawyer, Terrassa
Pilar Mateo Lisa, lawyer, Terrassa
NORWAY
Prof. Peter Ørebech, Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø
Justice Ketil Lund, Supreme Court (1990 – 2009); chair, International Commission of Jurists- Norway
Harald Stabell, barrister, Oslo
Kjell Brygfjeld, lawyer, Stavanger
Geir Høin, lawyer, Oslo
Bent Endresen, lawyer, Stavanger
Pål Hadler, lawyer, Stavanger
SWEDEN
Prof. Pål Wrange, Stockholm University; Stockholm Center for International Law and Justice
Dr. Markus Gunneflo, Lund University
FINLAND
Prof. Emeritus Lauri Hannikainen, University of Helsinki
Prof. Jarna Petman, University of Helsinki; Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights
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