"The actions taken against a UN independent expert set a dangerous precedent," UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said at a press conference in New York, referring to Albanese, who was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Dujarric stressed that "the use of unilateral sanctions against special rapporteurs or any other UN official is unacceptable," adding that member states have the right to disagree with the experts' reports, but these disagreements must be addressed within the framework of the United Nations.
He pointed out that UN Secretary-General António Guterres has no authority over Albanese's work, as she is an independent expert.
Dujarric called for a distinction to be made between "legitimate political criticism of the Israeli government and anti-Semitism," stressing that the United Nations rejects the conflation of the two.
The US State Department announced sanctions on Albanese on Wednesday, accusing her of "bias and anti-Semitism," alleging that she had contacted the International Criminal Court to encourage the arrest or prosecution of American or Israeli citizens without notifying their governments.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that Albanese "has demonstrated open support for terrorism and made statements that are anti-Semitic and contemptuous of the United States, Israel, and the West," and deemed her "unfit to continue in her position."
