{"id":2476,"date":"2022-11-11T15:27:34","date_gmt":"2022-11-11T14:27:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.elsc.support\/?p=2476"},"modified":"2025-04-14T12:57:15","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T10:57:15","slug":"elsc-newsletteroctober","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elsc.support\/ar\/elsc-newsletteroctober\/","title":{"rendered":"ELSC Newsletter: October 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Throughout the past month, we’ve succeeded in empowering and defending freedom of expression and the right to advocate against repression and injustice in Palestine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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HELP US KEEP UP OUR WORK<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Before all else, the ELSC wishes to draw attention to the urgent situation engulfing Palestine in recent weeks. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people facing mass repression. As Europe carries on with its concerted efforts to silence Palestine, the movement perseveres and we nonetheless have victories to report!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SUBSCRIBE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

AUSTRIA: FOUR UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT ANTI-BDS LEGISLATION AND SUED BDS ACTIVIST SECURES FIRST VICTORY IN STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, SR on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, SR on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and SR on the situation of human rights defenders have sent a communication to Austrian authorities. They demand clarification on the City of Vienna’s anti-BDS resolution and the lawsuit filed<\/a> by the City against a BDS Austria activist<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The SRs expressed “concern that the City of Vienna’s filing of a lawsuit against a member of BDS Austria may hinder the peaceful activities of human rights defenders committed to monitor and denounce human rights violations in occupied Palestine, shrinking the civic space available to them to express legitimate grievances<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcdd Amplify BDS Austria’s statement<\/a><\/strong> \ud83d\udcdd<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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read more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The BDS activist in question has secured a victory on October 22 as the administrative authority at the City of Vienna drops its proceedings!<\/strong> We’re hopeful that this decision pushes the civil court to dismiss the SLAPP still pending<\/a> against the activist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Back in April, a judge upheld the SLAPP lodged by the City of Vienna against the activist over the same post. The City’s argument? The sarcastic “Visit apartheid” statement associated with the City’s logo constitutes defamation and BDS “incites to hatred against Israeli people”.<\/strong>
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But this latest victory may mark a turning point in the judicial saga. The activist’s lawyer, Elisabetta Folliero, is hopeful that the civil court will now follow suit:

“It is very positive that the administration of the City of Vienna has reaffirmed the importance of the exercise of freedom of opinion. [\u2026] We hope that the civil proceedings still pending will also have the same outcome. It is vital to reiterate that freedom of opinion, and freedom of boycott as its component, are essential in order to safeguard democracy.<\/strong>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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read our press release<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udce3 Share the good news on<\/strong> Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> \ud83d\udce3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUPPORT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS \u2013 TAKE ACTION  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n