UN Special Rapporteur in the Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese speaks at a press conference in Geneva on September 15, 2025.
Georgetown removes Albanese from scholars list after antisemitism accusations
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- Georgetown University removes UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese from its affiliated scholars list after external pressure.
- UN Watch cites alleged antisemitic rhetoric and claims of justifying violence, allegations Albanese has previously rejected.
Georgetown University has removed United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese from its list of affiliated scholars following allegations of antisemitism and extremist rhetoric.
Archived web pages show Albanese was previously listed as an affiliated researcher at the university’s Institute for the Study of International Migration. Her name and biography page have since been deleted.
Pressure campaign cited
The move follows sustained pressure from UN Watch, a Geneva-based watchdog group, which released a 60-page report accusing Albanese of antisemitic rhetoric and of justifying violence, including the October 7 events.
“Academic institutions have a responsibility to uphold basic standards of integrity and human dignity,” UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer said, welcoming Georgetown’s decision.
Georgetown University did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the removal or the criteria used to reassess affiliations.
Sanctions claim attributed
UN Watch also said the decision comes months after the US government imposed sanctions on Albanese that restricted financial activity linked to the United States. The claim was attributed by UN Watch to reports it cited. US authorities have not publicly confirmed such sanctions, and Albanese has previously denied allegations of antisemitism.
The United Nations has not announced any disciplinary action related to Albanese’s mandate. Advocacy groups on opposing sides continue to press universities and international bodies to clarify standards governing affiliations and speech by UN-appointed experts.
