A/HRC/42/30
Israeli political leadership had denounced B’Tselem, calling the organization unpatriotic,
traitors and political outcasts. The mandate holders stated that “the labelling of Mr. El-Ad
as “traitor” and “collaborator” may serve to stigmatize his work as harmful to national
security, including by disparaging them in the eyes of the public, and creating an
atmosphere of harassment that could lead to physical violence.”
64.
The March 2019 report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
(A/HRC/40/43, para. 30) also noted that a number of senior Israeli officials publicly
condemned Mr. El-Ad. The High Commissioner’s report noted that the Permanent
Representative of Israel to the United Nations had accused Mr. El-Ad of defaming his
Government, called him a “lousy collaborator” and said that if he had been Palestinian or
Bolivian he would “likely end up dead.”140
65.
The case of Mr. Omar Shakir, Director of Human Rights Watch, was included in the
2018 report of the Secretary-General (see A/HRC/39/41, para. 53 and Annex I, para. 68). In
April 2019, three special procedures mandate holders expressed grave concern at the
revocation of the work visa for Mr. Shakir, urging “Israel to reverse the order, to allow Mr.
Shakir and Human Rights Watch to continue unimpeded with human rights advocacy, and
to fully respect its human rights obligations in its relationships with Palestinian, Israeli and
international human rights organizations.”141 It was reported to OHCHR that in June 2019
the Israeli Supreme Court issued an interim injunction (administration petition 367759-0518) suspending the deportation order for the duration of legal proceedings, and a hearing
would be held 25 July 2019.
17.
Kyrgyzstan
66.
The situation of civil society organizations Anti-Discrimination Centre Memorial
and Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan was included in the 2018 report of the Secretary-General
(A/HRC/39/41, para. 54 and Annex I, paras. 69–70) regarding the designation as extremist
material of an alternative report they submitted to the Committee on the Protection of the
Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW) in April 2015. The
report addressed the obligations of the Government to protect the rights of Kyrgyz migrant
workers. The CMW Chair and Focal Point for Reprisals addressed the Government for
further clarification on 25 June 2018, 14 August 2018 and 10 September 2018. 142 It was
reported that Kyrgyz authorities had failed to notify either organization of the decision,
leaving Anti-Discrimination Centre Memorial and Bir-Duino without the right to defend
themselves in court or appeal the decision.
67.
On 22 October 2018, the Supreme Court reportedly lifted the ‘extremist materials’
designation, at least temporarily, reinstating the right of ADC Memorial to carry out its
activities in Kyrgyzstan. The matter was remanded to the Oktyabrski Court which, on 16
January 2019, considered the case again but did not make a decision. As of May 2019,
ADC Memorial is reportedly able to act legally in the country.
18.
Mali
68.
Allegations of cases and trends of reprisals were included in the 2018 report of the
Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, para. 56 and Annex, paras. 73–76) regarding retaliation
by State actors and non-State armed groups against individuals who collaborated with the
Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Individuals and
organizations affected by intimidation and reprisals in the reporting period did not give
consent to be named due to the fear of further reprisals. In January 2019, the Independent
140
141
142
58
UN Security Council, 8375th meeting, the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,
18 October 2018, http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/watch/part-1-the-situation-in-the-middle-eastincluding-the-palestinian-question-security-council-8375th-meeting/5850529585001/?term=.
OHCHR, “UN experts call on Israel not to overturn deportation Human Rights Watch director” (25
April 2019).
Letters available publicly at UN Treaty Body Database, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/
treatybodyexternal/TBSearch.aspx?Lang=en&CountryID=93&TreatyID=7&DocTypeID=130.
GE.19-15332