UN rights chief urges U.S. authorities to respect free expression, condemns anti‑Semitic and anti‑Palestinian conduct equally

Volker Türk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said Tuesday that he was troubled by what he described as the apparently disproportionate use of force to disperse protests at U.S. universities linked to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.

"The legitimate exercise of people's freedom of expression must not be confused with incitement to violence and hatred," Türk said, urging universities and law enforcement to let their actions be guided by human rights law so that vibrant debate can take place. He also emphasized that anti‑Semitic conduct and speech are "totally unacceptable and deeply disturbing," and said anti‑Arab and anti‑Palestinian rhetoric and conduct are "equally reprehensible."

The rights office noted that hundreds of student protesters have been arrested in recent weeks; while many were released, some still face charges or academic sanctions. Türk called for restraint and adherence to human rights principles in responses to campus demonstrations.