Right to protest is under sustained attack in the west, report finds

Counter-terror laws being ‘weaponised’ against pro-Palestine groups in UK, US, France and Germany, says FIDH

The right to protest has come under sustained attack in the west, according to a report highlighting the growing criminalisation of pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

The study by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) pays particular attention to the UK, the US, France and Germany, where it says governments have “weaponised” counter-terrorism legislation as well as the fight against antisemitism to suppress dissent and support for Palestinian rights in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

“This trend reflects a worrying shift towards the normalisation of exceptional measures in dealing with dissenting voices,” said Yosra Frawes, the head of the Maghreb and Middle East desk at FIDH.

The report, which draws on open-source research, first-hand testimonies and reports from international bodies, comes a day after a US-sponsored plan led to a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all living Israeli hostages and thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.