Georgetown University Cuts Ties with UN Expert After US Sanctions

Georgetown University has ended its relationship with a United Nations special rapporteur, Francesca Albanese. The UN expert links the decision directly to U.S. sanctions placed on her last year. Those sanctions were imposed after she accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and criticized U.S. companies for their involvement. Albanese stated the university's move is "yet another fallout" from the U.S. government's actions against her. She is the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories. The prestigious Washington D.C. university invited Albanese to be a "distinguished fellow" in 2023. The fellowship has now been terminated. Georgetown has not publicly commented on the specific reasons for cutting ties. The U.S. government sanctioned Albanese in July, citing alleged antisemitism. She has repeatedly denied these accusations.