Austrian minister deletes post accusing UN rapporteur of hate speech

PARIS

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger deleted a social media post accusing UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese of spreading hate speech after the claim was based on disinformation that distorted her remarks.

Meinl-Reisinger had posted on the US-based platform X that Albanese “brands Israel wholesale as an ‘enemy of humanity.’” She added: “Criticism of Israel's actions is legitimate, and Austria has always demanded compliance with international law.”

The Austrian minister shared the post following claims by senior politicians in France that Albanese had described “Israel as the common enemy of humanity,” a statement widely criticized as disinformation.

In the same deleted post, Meinl-Reisinger wrote: “Albanese, however, is spreading hate speech. Such language undermines the impartiality and highest standards required of a UN representative. Unfortunately, Ms. Albanese has repeatedly failed to meet these standards.”

Shoura Hashemi, a director of Amnesty International Austria, said on social media that Meinl-Reisinger had deleted the post containing false information about Albanese. Tagging the minister, Hashemi asked, “Where is the apology?” and questioned whether she would take responsibility for what she called a serious mistake.

Czech Republic echoes disinformation

In a statement on social media, the Czech Foreign Ministry said: “Patience has its limits. UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese should resign from her position. Her latest statements, in which she described Israel as a ‘common enemy of humanity,’ are unacceptable and indefensible.”

Over 100 European lawmakers voice support for Albanese

French member of the European Parliament Manon Aubry said on X that “With more than 100 MEPs across Europe, we stand in support of Francesca Albanese, who is the target of a smear campaign by the French government over statements she never made. Rather than attacking the UN Special Rapporteur, France should take action to bring an end to the genocide in Gaza.”

Aubry shared a joint statement signed by more than 100 lawmakers from several countries, including France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Italy, Sweden and Spain.

The statement backed Albanese and condemned the French government’s call for her resignation, saying it was based on distorted remarks and manipulated content, and reaffirmed support for international law.

French lawmaker presses FM Barrot

Among the signatories, Mathilde Panot, deputy head of the French National Assembly, tagged French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on social media and questioned him over the claims.

Panot said Barrot had made what she described as a serious false statement in the National Assembly about remarks Albanese never made. “Your silence is deafening … When do you intend to offer your apologies?” she wrote.

Disinformation initiated by French lawmaker

The controversy began after French lawmaker Caroline Yadan addressed Barrot in parliament on Feb. 11, claiming that during a forum organized by Al Jazeera in Qatar on Feb. 7, Albanese had described Israel as “the common enemy of humanity.”

“Mr. Minister, will you confirm that France will make its voice heard for Albanese’s immediate removal from any UN post?” Yadan asked.

In response, Barrot told parliament that France “unequivocally condemns the outrageous and reprehensible remarks” of Albanese, which he said targeted “not the Israeli government … but Israel as a people and as a nation.”

Germany, Austria and Italy also reacted to the claims and criticized Albanese.

In France, two separate criminal complaints were filed against senior politicians for allegedly spreading disinformation by distorting Albanese’s statements.

*Writing by Fatma Zehra Solmaz in Istanbul