STATEMENT BY LEGAL SCHOLARS AGAINST MEASURES ADOPTED BY CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS TO OUTLAW THE BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS (BDS) MOVEMENT FOR PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) is a global, peaceful movement led by Palestinian civil society that seeks to put pressure on Israel to honour its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law as demanded by numerous UN resolutions, in particular to end the occupation of Palestinian and Syrian territories, stop systemic discrimination against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel itself, and permit the return of Palestinian refugees.

Modeled on the Anti-Apartheid Movement that mobilized civil society against apartheid in South Africa, the BDS movement has become a powerful and effective global movement in the advocacy of measures aimed at pressurizing Israel to comply with international law, and at persuading other states and business enterprises to withhold all support for Israel’s violations of international law.

The mobilization of civil society in the interest of human rights, such as the campaign against apartheid in South Africa and the Civil Rights movement in the United States, has not been obstructed by foreign governments. The effectiveness of BDS, however, has prompted not only Israel but also some other states to adopt measures to suppress this movement.

France, the United Kingdom, Canada and certain state legislatures in the United States, have adopted laws and taken executive action to suppress, outlaw and in some instances, criminalize the advocacy of BDS. Such measures aim to punish individuals, companies and private and public institutions that adopt ethically and legally responsible business, investment and procurement decisions.

Other States, notably Sweden, the Netherlands and Ireland, have taken the position that, while they do not endorse a boycott of Israel, the advocacy of BDS is a lawful exercise of freedom of expression, a deeply cherished freedom enshrined in national law and international human rights conventions. Reputable human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Human Rights Watch, have likewise taken the position that individuals, associations, public and private institutions, local governments and businesses are entitled to advocate and implement BDS in the exercise of the fundamental right of freedom of expression.

States and organizations that view BDS as a lawful exercise of freedom of expression are correct. Whether one approves of the aims or methods of BDS is not the issue. The issue is whether in order to protect Israel an exception is to be made to the freedom of expression that occupies a central and pivotal place among fundamental human rights. States that outlaw BDS are undermining this basic human right and threatening the credibility of human rights by exempting a particular state from the advocacy of peaceful measures designed to achieve its compliance with international law.

Signatories

UK

Prof. Guy Goodwin-Gill, Emeritus Fellow, All Souls College, University of Oxford

Prof. Sir Geoffrey Bindman QC, barrister; University College London and London South Bank University

Prof. Conor Gearty, London School of Economics

Prof. Iain Scobbie, University of Manchester

Prof. William Schabas, Middlesex University, London

Prof. Bill Bowring, Birkbeck University of London

Prof. Rachel Murray, University of Bristol

Prof. Robert Wintemute, King’s College London

Prof. Kevin Jon Heller, SOAS University of London

Prof. Penny Green, Queen Mary University of London

Prof. Sol Picciotto, Lancaster University

Prof. Oren Ben-Dor, University of Southampton

Prof. Wade Mansell, University of Kent

Michael Mansfield QC, barrister, London

Kirsty Brimelow QC, barrister, London

Paul Ridge, barrister, London

David Renton, barrister, London

Daniel Machover, lawyer, London

Dr. Ntina Tzouvala, University of Durham

Dr. Gleider I. Hernández, University of Durham

Dr. Ralph Wilde, University College London

Dr Vanja Hamzić, SOAS University of London

Dr. Christine Schwoebel-Patel, University of Liverpool

Dr. Mazen Masri, City, University London

Dr. Michael Kearney, University of Sussex

Dr. Brenna Bhandar, SOAS University of London

Dr. Isra Black, University of York

Dr. Nadine El-Enany, Birkbeck University of London

Dr. Gina Heathcote, SOAS University of London

Dr. Edel Hughes, University of East London

Dr. Ioannis Kalpouzos, City, University of London

Dr. Sarah Keenan, Birkbeck University of London

Dr. Vidya Kumar, University of Leicester

Dr. Thomas MacManus, Queen Mary University of London

Dr. Paul O’Connell, SOAS University of London

Dr. Graham Smith, University of Manchester

Dr. Nimer Sultany, SOAS University of London

Dr. Michelle Burgis-Kasthala, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Dr. Charlotte Peevers, University of Glasgow

Dr. Mohsen Al-Attar, Queen’s University Belfast

IRELAND

Dr. John Reynolds, National University of Ireland, Maynooth

NETHERLANDS

Prof. John Dugard, University of Leiden

Prof. Paul de Waart, Emeritus VU University Amsterdam

Prof. Liesbeth Zegveld, University of Amsterdam; lawyer

Prof. Karin Arts, ISS of Erasmus University Rotterdam

Dr. Jeff Handmaker, ISS of Erasmus University Rotterdam

Dr. Joseph Powderly, Assistant-Professor, University of Leiden

Dr. Marloes van Noorloos, Tilburg University

Dr. Michiel Bot, Tilburg University

BELGIUM

Prof. Eric David, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Prof. Jean Salmon, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Prof. Olivier Corten, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Prof. Francois Dubuisson, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Prof. Pierre Klein, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Prof. Jaques Englebert, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Prof. Anne Lagerwall, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Prof. François Ost, Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles

Prof. dr. emeritus Dirk Voorhoof, Ghent University; European Centre for Press and Media Freedom

Prof. Dr. Eva Brems, Human Rights Center, Ghent University

Alexis Deswaef, avocat au barreau de Bruxelles; président de la Ligue des Droits de l'Homme (Belgique)

Véronique van der Plancke, advocate au barreau de Bruxelles; Université de Louvain

LUXEMBOURG

Dr. Parvathi Menon, Max Planck Institute Luxembourg for Procedural Law

FRANCE

Prof. Jean Matringe, Université de Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne

Prof. Xavier Dupré de Boulois, Université de Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne

Prof. Catherine Kessedjian, Université de Paris II Panthéon Assas

Prof. Thomas Perroud, Université de Paris II Panthéon Assas

Prof. Gilles Guglielmi, Université de Paris II Panthéon Assas

Prof. Stéphanie Dijoux, Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense

Prof. Franck Latty, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense

Prof. émérite Géraud de la Pradelle, Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense

Prof. émérite Alain Pellet, Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense

Prof. émérite Monique Chemillier-Gendreau, Université Paris Diderot

Prof. émérite Robert Charvin, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis

Prof. émérite, Paul Allies, Université de Montpellier I

Prof. émérite, Gérard Blanc, Université d'Aix-Marseille

Prof. Delphine Costa, Université d’Aix-Marseille

Prof. Marie-Pierre Lanfranchi, Université d’Aix-Marseille

Prof. Elise Carpentier, Université d’Aix-Marseille

Prof. Josiane Auvret-Finck, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis

Prof. Philippe Lagrange, Université de Poitiers

Prof. Arnaud de Nanteuil, Université du Maine

Prof. Alina Miron, Université d'Angers

Prof. Diane Roman, Université François Rabelais Tours

Prof. Marie-Laure Basilien-Gainche, Université Jean Moulin Lyon III

Prof. émérite Armel Kerrest, Université de Bretagne Occidentale

Prof. Xavier Souvignet, Université de Grenoble Alpes

Prof. Thierry Garcia, Université Grenoble Alpes

Prof. Romain Tinière, Université Grenoble Alpes

Prof. Aurélien Antoine, Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Etienne

Prof. Jacques Larrieu, Université de Toulouse I Capitole

Prof. Sébastien Platon, Université de Bordeaux

Prof. François Quastana, Université de Lille II

Prof. Emmanuelle Tourme Jouannet, Institut d’études politiques de Paris

Prof. Vincent Dubois, Institut d’études politiques de Strasbourg

Prof. Laurent Sermet, Institut d'études politiques d'Aix-en-Provence

Prof. Pascal Jan, Institut d'études politiques de Bordeaux

Prof. Dominique Darbon, Institut d'études politiques de Bordeaux

Prof. Cécile Rapoport, Université de Rennes 1

Prof. Mouloud Boumghar, Université de Picardie Jules Verne

Prof. Carlos Miguel Herrera, Université de Cergy-Pontoise

Marine Eudes, Maître de conférences, Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense

Christophe Voilliot, Maître de conférences, Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense

Marc Touillier, Maître de conférences, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense

Ismael Omarjee, Maître de conferences, Université de Paris-Ouest Nanterre La Défense

Nicolas Gabayet, Maître de conférences, Université Paris Est Créteil

Lucie Sponchiado, Maître de conférences, Université Paris Est-Créteil

Véronique Mikalef-Toudic, Maître de conférences, Université de Caen Normandie

Magalie Flores-Lonjou, Maître de conférences, Université de La Rochelle

François-Xavier Morisset, Maître de conférences à l'Université de La Rochelle

Malik Boumediene, Maître de conférences, Université de Toulouse II Le Mirail

Lucien Maurin, Maître de conférences, Université d’Aix-Marseille

Bastien Brignon, Maître de conférences, Université d’Aix-Marseille

Pascal Richard, Maître de conférences, Université du Sud Toulon Var

Anouche Beaudouin, Maître de conférences, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis

Philippe Enclos, Maître de conférences, Université de Lille II

Alexandre Barège, Maître de conférences, Université de Lille II

Rhita Bousta, Maître de conférences, Université de Lille II

Patrice Le Maigat, Maître de conférences, Université de Rennes I

Romain Loir, Maître de conférences, Université de La Réunion

Aurélien Siri, Maître de conférences, Centre universitaire de Mayotte

Jean-Christophe Lapouble, Maître de conférences, Institut d’études politiques de Bordeaux

Alexandre Zabalza, Maître de conferences, Université de Bordeaux

Philippe Icard, Maître de conférences, Université de Bourgogne

Christine Bertrand, Maître de conferences, Université d'Auvergne

Caroline Lantero, Maître de conferences, Université d'Auvergne

Anne-Sophie Denolle, Maître de conferences, Université de Nimes

Rodolphe Bigot, maître de conférences, Université de Picardie Jules Verne

François Henot, Maître de conferences, Université de Picardie Jules Verne

AUSTRIA

Prof. Franz Leidenmühler, University of Linz

GERMANY

Prof. Norman Paech, Emeritus, University of Hamburg

SWITZERLAND

Prof. Robert Kolb, Université de Genève

Prof. Marco Sassòli, Université de Genève

Prof. Stefan Trechsel, Emeritus, University of Zurich; Bern

Prof. Regula Kägi-Diener, University of St. Gallen; lawyer

Prof. em. Dr. Wolf Linder, political scientist and jurist, Bern

Dr. h .c. Marco Mona, lawyer, Zurich

Dr. Tom Moerenhout, Graduate Institute of International Development Studies, Genève

Markus Bischoff, lawyer, member of Council-Kanton of Zurich

Jürg Meyer, jurist; member of Council-Kanton Basel City

Robert Cramer, avocat, Conseiller aux Etats, Genève

Nils de Dardel, avocat, ancien conseiller national, Genève

Marcel Bosonnet, lawyer, Zurich

Romolo Molo, avocat, Genève

Jean-Michel Dolivo, avocat, Lausanne

Hüsnü Yilmaz, avocat; co-president des Juristes Progressistes Vaudois

Beat Leuthardt, jurist, Basel

Olivier Peter, avocat, Genève

Leila Batou, avocat, Genève

Miriam Gantner, jurist, Basel

ITALY

Livio Pepino, già magistrato, consigliere della Corte di Cassazione e membro del Consiglio Superiore della Magistratura, Torino

Prof. Gustavo Gozzi, Università di Bologna

Fabio Marcelli, Istituto Studi Giuridici Internazionali - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

Prof. Marco Balboni, Università di Bologna

Prof. Silvia Buzzelli, Università di Milano-Bicocca

Prof. Chantal Meloni, Università degli Studi di Milano

Prof. Luca Masera, Università degli Studi di Brescia

Prof. Marco Pertile, Università di Trento

Prof. Carlo Sotis, Università della Tuscia

Dr. Francesca De Vittor, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano

Gilberto Pagani, avvocato, Milano

Fausto Gianelli, avvocato, Modena

Dario Rossi, avvocato, Genova

PORTUGAL

Dr. Tor Krever, London School of Economics; Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra

SPAIN

Prof. David Bondia García, University of Barcelona; president, Human Rights Institute of Catalonia

Justice José Antonio Martín Pallín, former judge, Supreme Court

Justice Juan Pedro Illanez Suárez, Palma de Mallorca

Prof. Nicolás Navarro Batista, Gran Canaria

Prof. Itziar Ruiz-Gimenez Arrieta, Madrid

Prof. Rosario Gonzalez Arias, lawyer, Oviedo; Autonomous University of Querétaro, Mexico

Antonio Segura Hernández, lawyer, Madrid

Carmelo Faleh-Pérez, Spanish Association for International Law and Human Rights (AEDIDH)

Jacinto José Gil Ugena, lawyer, Madrid

Francisco García Cediel, lawyer, Madrid

César Pinto Cañón, lawyer, Madrid

Enrique Santiago Romero, lawyer, Madrid

Nadia Chliha ben Mohito, lawyer, Madrid

Diego Catriel Herchhoren, lawyer, Madrid

Tarek Khalaf Alonso, lawyer, Madrid

Redouan Zidi Tassakourt, lawyer, Madrid

Hana Cheikh Ali, lawyer, Madrid

Amira Cheikh Ali, lawyer, Madrid

María Soledad García Bau, lawyer, Madrid

José Ricardo Gayol García, lawyer, Madrid

Andrés García, lawyer

Montserrat Vinyest i Pagès, lawyer, Girona

Benet Salellas i Vilar, lawyer, Girona

Ana Maria Fernandez Llamazares, lawyer, Barcelona

Ana Osa Farré, lawyer, Barcelona

Concepción Trabado Álvarez, lawyer, Fabero (León)

Juan M. Prieto Santos, lawyer, Gijón-Xixón

María Xulia Fernández Suárez, lawyer, Gijón-Xixón

Joan Tamayo, lawyer, Terrassa

Pilar Mateo Lisa, lawyer, Terrassa

NORWAY

Prof. Peter Ørebech, Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø

Justice Ketil Lund, Supreme Court (1990 – 2009); chair, International Commission of Jurists- Norway

Harald Stabell, barrister, Oslo

Kjell Brygfjeld, lawyer, Stavanger

Geir Høin, lawyer, Oslo

Bent Endresen, lawyer, Stavanger

Pål Hadler, lawyer, Stavanger

SWEDEN

Prof. Pål Wrange, Stockholm University; Stockholm Center for International Law and Justice

Dr. Markus Gunneflo, Lund University

FINLAND

Prof. Emeritus Lauri Hannikainen, University of Helsinki

Prof. Jarna Petman, University of Helsinki; Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights