LONDON

Austrian authorities' responses to people expressing solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza have had a chilling effect on the right to freedom of expression, according to a new report published by Amnesty International Wednesday.

In its report, titled, Austria: "Freedom of expression is highly selective" - Austria limits expressions of solidarity with Palestinians, Amnesty International said that authorities’ actions have also resulted in violations of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The report, which included 19 interviews with activists, journalists, NGO representatives and academics, also noted that many of these individuals and civil society organizations risked being branded "antisemitic" when they criticized Israel’s violations of international law.  

"A significant chilling effect has taken hold and has seriously impacted people’s ability and willingness to express solidarity with the Palestinian people or criticize the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza," said Shoura Hashemi, executive director of Amnesty International Austria. 

Hashemi noted that equating criticism of the Israeli state with antisemitism can result in violations of freedom of expression and shrinking space for critical civil society, and "also undermines efforts to combat genuine antisemitism."

"In Austria, as in other parts of Europe, there is a risk that antisemitism is being instrumentalized and politicized," she added.

The report also noted that despite recommendations by UN experts, Austria has not established a national action plan to combat racism, including anti-Muslim racism.

Citing several cases, the report said the authorities imposed unlawful restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly in connection with the widely used chant "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," and that police prohibited at least seven assemblies in Vienna on the grounds that the chant was likely to be used.

In addition, the study said the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism (IHRA WDA) "is not consistent with international human rights law and has been used to restrict legitimate criticism of Israeli government violations of Palestinians’ rights."

Reliance on the IHRA WDA conflates legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism, the report said, adding that this risks creating a chilling effect and suppressing freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.