![Hundreds of protesters attend a pro-Palestinian demonstration organised as a counter-protest to the pro-Israel rally at the Dam Square on the day marking the one year anniversary of intense Israeli attacks on Gaza, in Amsterdam, Netherlands on October 07, 2024 [Fadel Dawod - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AA-20241007-35851092-35851086-PROPALESTINIAN_PROTEST_IN_AMSTERDAM_ON_FIRST_ANNIVERSARY_OF_OCTOBER_7_ATTACKS.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Following extensive consultation with civil society organisations including the London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan, will release her latest report this week on the global impact of the conflict in Gaza on freedom of expression.
The UN report will highlight attacks on journalists and media restrictions which endanger access to information about the conflict globally; the suppression of protests and dissent; and restrictions on legitimate advocacy for the rights of the Palestinian people.
Since the genocidal attack by Israel on Gaza since 7 October 2023, the governments of the United Kingdom, France and Germany in particular have engaged in an alarming campaign of repression against protests and dissent in support of Palestinians, the IHRC pointed out.
“Solidarity activists, artists and protestors, as well as political and civil society organisations have been targeted,” added the Commission. “Bound by a common design, all of these countries have adopted an identical approach in quelling pro-Palestine protest: exceptional Islamophobic and racist counter-terrorism powers; illegal bans; brutal harassment; arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders; censorship; harassment; and electronic surveillance.”
The IHRC has been in constant dialogue with the Special Rapporteur over the past year. “We submit information to her office on a continuing basis. To date we have drafted two detailed reports highlighting the most important cases and trends.”
The IHRC reports are available to download: Part One is here; and Part Two is here.