U.S court dismisses lawsuit against BDS movement
WASHINGTON – An American court has dismissed a lawsuit that targeted activists who supported the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions or BDS movement against Israel.
The BDS movement aims to combat Israeli occupation and human rights abuses against Palestinians through nonviolent means.
Last Thursday, the Superior Court for the District of Columbia also dropped all 10 charges against the defendants in the case.
The ruling is seen as a victory for advocates of justice and freedom in Palestine, as it sends a clear message against the suppression of dissenting voices.
Expressing relief Steven Salaita, a Palestinian-American academic, said he hoped the ruling will discourage pro-Israel groups from harassing and defaming individuals who support the Palestinian cause.
“I welcome the judge’s decision to dismiss this long-running lawsuit as a waste of time and money. I am happy to finally be freed of this burden and hope that the ruling will deter pro-Israel outfits with no means of winning a debate beyond harassment and defamation from trying to impoverish those of us committed to the wellbeing of the Palestinian people,” he said in a statement.
His attorney, Astha Sharma Pokharel, denounced attempts to suppress this type of advocacy through abuse of the legal system.
“This ruling should send a clear message to those trying to silence advocates speaking out against Israel’s human rights abuses: boycotts are legally protected, and attempts to stifle such advocacy through the misuse of courts will not be tolerated,” she said in a statement.
The lawsuit stems from a 2013 resolution sponsored by the American Studies Association.
It advocated the boycott of Israeli academic institutions as part of the BDS movement.
After the first lawsuit was dismissed in 2019, the petitioners filed another lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court.
The nation’s highest court concluded that the 2013 resolution fell within the realm of public interest and advocated for the right to free speech.
It also recognized the importance of the resolution for the safety and freedom of foreign scholars working on relevant issues without fear of persecution.
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