Federal judge blocks US sanctions against UN rapporteur Albanese
May 16, 2026
Washington [US], May 16: A federal judge has temporarily blocked United States sanctions against Francesca Albanese (pictured), a United Nations expert on the occupied Palestinian territory.
UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Albanese was sanctioned in July 2025 after she publicly criticised Washington's policy on Israel's genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza. Albanese's husband and daughter filed a lawsuit in February against the Trump administration over the sanctions. It argued that the sanctions were an effort to punish Albanese for bringing attention to Israel's rights abuses against Palestinians.
In his court order, US District Judge Richard Leon granted a preliminary injunction against the sanctions. He found that the Trump administration sought to regulate her speech because of the "idea or message expressed".
"Albanese has done nothing more than speak," judge Leon wrote. "It is undisputed that her recommendations have no binding effect on the ICC's actions - they are nothing more than her opinion." Since 2022, Albanese has served as the special rapporteur for the West Bank and Gaza, where she monitors human rights abuses against Palestinians.
Source: Qatar Tribune
