Remarks attributed to UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese have ignited controversy, with claims she called Israel "the common enemy of humanity." France's foreign minister demanded her resignation, citing "outrageous and reprehensible remarks." Albanese has vehemently denied the accusations, stating she was referring to Israel's alleged crimes, apartheid, and genocide.
The controversy originated from a group of French MPs who alleged antisemitic remarks during an Al Jazeera forum. They cited video clips, one of which was later proven to be manipulated by artificial intelligence. The altered video, shared by UN Watch, appeared to modify Albanese's voice. UN Watch did not respond to requests for comment.
The original footage shows Albanese criticizing countries for arming Israel. She refers to a "common enemy" in the context of financial capital, algorithms, and weapons that enable violence, not naming Israel. She later clarified on X that the "common enemy of humanity" was "the system."
Albanese also faced criticism for participating in the Al Jazeera forum alongside figures like Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal. However, she spoke during a separate roundtable focused on international law.
French officials reiterated their position, linking her remarks to a history of "scandalous positions," including social media posts following the October 7th attacks. Albanese has denied accusations of antisemitism, asserting that those killed were "not murdered because of their Judaism, but in reaction to Israel's oppression."
The UN stated it did not agree with much of Albanese's language but that concerns about special rapporteurs are a matter for UN member states.
Support for Albanese has come from over 100 cultural figures, including Annie Lennox and Mark Ruffalo, who described her as a defender of human rights. Amnesty International condemned the "outrageous attacks" against her, with its secretary-general accusing ministers of relying on a deliberately truncated video.