The United Nations' expert on Palestinian rights on Thursday denounced the U.S. sanctions brought against her for criticizing Washington's policy on the Gaza war as "mafia-style techniques" to "dirty" her reputation.
Francesca Albanese said she would present her latest report to the U.N. from South Africa as sanctions from Washington prevented her from travelling to New York.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in July announced sanctions against the U.N. special rapporteur on rights in the Palestinian territories, claiming her criticism of the United States and Israel was "biased and malicious."
"I cannot go to the U.S.," Albanese told an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP) in South Africa, where she was set to deliver the annual Nelson Mandela Lecture on Oct. 25.
"My assets have been frozen. I have a U.S. daughter, my husband works for a U.S.-based organization, and the entire family is paying because of it."
