Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

New report shows pro-Palestine protests suppressed in Democracies

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Time Magazine
  • 4 Dec 2024 23:35
  • 7 Shares
4 Min Read

A report by CIVICUS Monitor highlights global crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protests, with authorities using excessive force and suppression tactics.

Listen
  • x
  • New report shows pro-Palestine protests suppressed in Democracies
    Authorities detain a protester on the campus of Emory University during a pro-Palestinian demonstration on  April 25, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP)

A new report by TIME magazine discussed a trend in civic liberties throughout the world: crackdowns on Palestinian solidarity marches in every kind of society, from the most open to the most closed.

Tara Petrović, author of a study by CIVICUS Monitor, a worldwide coalition of civil society groups headquartered in Johannesburg, highlights the war on Gaza's effect on civic space as a key lesson for the year. "We've seen expressions of solidarity and we've seen repression of these expressions of solidarity at pretty much every corner of the globe."

Western countries downgraded from 'open'

The annual CIVICUS study, People Power Under Attack, assesses civic space in 198 nations, ranging from "open" to "repressed," and discovered that approximately one-tenth of the protests blocked by authorities referenced "Israel's" war on Gaza, or solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Global protests have erupted following the ongoing onslaught on the strip, which has killed over 44,532 people and injured over 105,538. 

However, the organization notes that excessive force was used against Pro-Palestine demonstrators, including those where civic freedoms are listed as "narrowed," like the Netherlands (whose standing was downgraded from "open" this year), Australia, and Italy. Some countries, such as France, have outright outlawed protests because they believe they constitute a security danger.

Related News

'Israel' closes 88% of war crimes cases without charges: Watchdog

Palestinians are being massacred by US-German weapons: Iran's Baghaei

Germany has been particularly noted according to Petrovic, as it has criticized pro-Palestinian activism, including canceling events, raiding activists' homes, and enforcing travel bans on pro-Palestinian figures.

Recently, it introduced a rule requiring naturalization applicants to affirm "Israel's" right to exist. In 2023, Germany's ranking on the CIVICUS Monitor dropped from "open" to "narrowed" due to its crackdown on both climate activists and Palestinian solidarity campaigners.

In the United States, whose CIVICUS rating has been "narrowed" since 2022, college campuses have been the focal point of controversy over pro-Palestine demonstrations, with over 3,100 individuals arrested or jailed at rallies that frequently featured encampments, the great majority of which were nonviolent.

The disputes lost numerous Ivy League university officials their jobs, and several colleges changed their policies about legal campus action and implemented additional disciplinary processes in an apparent attempt to prevent such demonstrations from occurring in the future. 

Suppressing dissent

Last month, the House of Representatives proposed a bill that would empower the Secretary of the Treasury to designate section 501(c) charities as "terrorist supporting organizations" at his or her discretion without having to provide any evidence or explanations to the accused NGOs. 501(c) charities include any tax-exempt organizations like news outlets, colleges and universities, and civil society groups and deprive them of tax-exempt status. 

Zaha Hassan, a human rights lawyer writes in "Suppressing Dissent: Shrinking Civic Space, Transnational Repression and Palestine-Israel", which is due to be published on December 5 that “Engaging in activism or public debate concerning Israel and the situation of Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation has become an incredibly fraught endeavor."

Petrovic notes it is no coincidence that American classrooms and college campuses, which are frequently portrayed as safe settings for debating ideas, have become highly disputed territory. The most significant achievement of all has been raising awareness globally and protests, along with suppression efforts are expected to continue.

According to Petrovic, the demonstrations have made enough noise to influence policy with some countries withholding weapons sales to "Israel" and restoring funding to UNRWA.

  • war on Gaza
  • pro-Palestine protest
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Democracy
  • Israeli lobby
  • Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS