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Human Rights Commissioner Kofler on the Israeli Supreme Court ruling against Human Rights Watch Israel director
Following the Israeli Supreme Court’s ruling of 5 November on the expulsion of Human Rights Watch Israel and Palestine director Omar Shakir, the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance at the Federal Foreign Office, Bärbel Kofler, today (7 November) issued the following statement:
The ruling was made on the basis of the 2017 amendment to the Entry into Israel Law. I am greatly concerned by laws which can play a part in restricting freedom of expression and civil-society activity. Unfortunately I see a worrying global trend here.
I call upon the Israeli Government not to enforce the expulsion of Mr Shakir ordered in May 2018 and thus to issue a clear signal of the importance of the work of independent, critical human rights organisations.
Background Information:
On 5 November 2019, the Israeli Supreme Court upheld the expulsion of Human Rights Watch Israel and Palestine director Omar Shakir which had been ordered by the Israeli Ministry of Interior in May 2018.