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

"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."

"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. The research, which was conducted between October 2023 and September 2025, also raises questions over the censorship of public office holders, violations against journalists, civil society and academic freedom in the UK, France, Germany and the US."

"The right to protest has come under sustained attack from the British government across administrations and party lines, says the report, which highlights government policies such as the anti-protest legislation put forward by the Conservative government in 2024 later found as unlawful, and a Labour government it claims pushed to legitimise Israel's genocidal violence and continued to justify support for Israel. It also cites statements made by the former Tory home secretary Suella Braverman, including calling the pro-Palestine demonstrations hate marches. It says the narrative stigmatised support for Palestine and Palestinian resistance movements and worked to discriminate against Muslims and other racialised groups in the UK."

Governments in the UK, US, France and Germany have criminalised pro-Palestinian demonstrations and used counter-terrorism laws and antisemitism frameworks to limit support for Palestinian rights. Authorities have normalised exceptional measures to manage dissent and have promoted rhetoric that stigmatizes Palestinian solidarity and racialised communities. Research conducted between October 2023 and September 2025 used open-source material, first-hand testimonies and reports from international bodies. A US-mediated ceasefire and prisoner exchanges occurred during the research period. Documented concerns include censorship of public office holders, violations against journalists, and restrictions on civil society and academic freedom.

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