A/HRC/45/36 Rights of the Palestinian People on 15 February 2019, 48 Mr. Zeyad called on States to support the UN database and the work of OHCHR to compile and update it (A/HRC/RES/31/36).49 As a consequence of the travel ban, Mr. Zeyad was unable to travel to Geneva to attend the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council (ISR 1/2020). 63. On 15 June 2020, the Government stated 50 that the travel ban against Mr. Zeyad was issued for security reasons, as according to material evidence and classified intelligence, Mr. Zeyad, in addition to his work at Amnesty International, is involved with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The Government maintains that PFLP is an illegal terrorist group, and, as such, poses a security risk and a risk to public safety. The Government stated that the allegation that the travel ban is a reprisal for Mr. Zeyad and Amnesty’s cooperation with the UN is false and unfounded, and that between 2017 and 2019, Mr. Zeyad was issued three different permits to enter Israel as an international organization employee. The Government confirmed that a lawyer submitted a petition to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) on Mr. Zeyad’s behalf to appeal the travel ban decision, and this petition was denied. Subsequently, his case has been sent to the District Court, and is undergoing judicial review. 64. It was reported to OHCHR that child rights organization Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P) and its representative, Mr. Brad Parker, were publicly accused of association with terrorism after an invitation was extended to Mr. Parker to speak at a 24 February 2020 meeting of the Security Council on violations against children in the occupied Palestinian territory. 51 It was reported to OHCHR that Israeli officials allegedly tried to prevent the participation of DCI-P and Mr. Parker. Statements in the media said that Israeli officials called DCI-P “an arm of the PFLP in order to enact diplomatic terror against Israel” and, in reference to the UN, “a place that promotes peace and security in the world has no room for people like Parker.” The modalities of the meeting were subsequently changed to a closed-door format, which rendered the invitation to DCI-P no longer relevant. 18. Kazakhstan 65. In January 2020, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism noted that during her May 2019 official visit to Kazakhstan, where she could inspect cells and meet privately with inmates convicted for acts of terrorism at Taldykorgan prison, some inmates were distressed and fearful of reprisals for speaking with her (A/HRC/43/46/Add.1, paras. 29– 31). In this regard, she recalled the obligations of States, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 36/21, to take all appropriate measures to effectively protect those who cooperate with the UN from any act of intimidation or reprisal and to ensure accountability for such acts (A/HRC/43/46/Add.1, para. 42). 19. Kuwait 66. On 11 September 2019, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers expressed concerns, inter alia, at reported threats against and vilification of an international legal team composed of Omnia Strategy LLP, Crowell & Moring LLP, Doughty Street Chambers, and 4 New Square for their engagement with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes on their client’s behalf. The Special Rapporteur noted that, in a 17 August 2019 press release, the Kuwait Port Authority made a series of accusations and threats directed at the international law firms, referring to the complaints filed against Kuwait before the UN (KWT 4/2019). The case of Ms. Maria Lazareva, a Russian 48 49 50 51 32 https://www.un.org/unispal/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Briefing-by-Amnesty-InternationalNotes.pdf. See A/HRC/43/71. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35341. Security Council, the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, 8730 th meeting, 24 February 2020 (S/PV.8730).