US removes UN expert Francesca Albanese from sanctions list
The United States has lifted sanctions against Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on human rights in the Palestinian territories. This decision follows a federal judge's ruling that the previous sanctions likely violated her free-speech rights. Albanese had faced sanctions for her criticisms of Israel's actions in Gaza and her calls for war-crimes investigations.
- ▪Francesca Albanese is the UN special rapporteur on the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
- ▪The U.S. imposed sanctions on her in July 2025 due to her criticisms of Israel and calls for war-crimes prosecutions.
- ▪A federal judge ruled that the sanctions likely violated her First Amendment rights.
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US removes UN expert Francesca Albanese from sanctions listSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxFILE PHOTO: Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, attends a news conference during the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, March 24, 2026. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File PhotoPublished May 21, 2026, 05:59 AMUpdated May 21, 2026, 05:59 AMWASHINGTON, May 20 - The United States has removed Francesca Albanese, a U.N. expert on the Palestinian territories, from its list of sanctioned individuals, according to the U.S.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.