Challis Chair of International Law, The University of Sydney | United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter Terrorism
Sydney/Geneva/New York
Joined February 2014
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With the UN facing a financial crisis, my mandate as Special Rapporteur welcomes donations & philanthropic partnerships to support our independent expert work in defence of human rights worldwide
Prof Ben Saul - UN SR Human Rights & Counterterror retweeted
Public threats of sanctions against the International Court of Justice and its judges, as reported in the media, raise serious concerns about judicial independence and the ability of international courts to discharge their mandates free from political pressure, intimidation, or reprisals. International judicial institutions must be able to carry out their work without threats or interference.
ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa has already seen what happened to the ICC when it crossed the line from law to politics. Does he want to do the same, and put his court in similar peril?
on.wsj.com/47Nr7H6
Prof Ben Saul - UN SR Human Rights & Counterterror retweeted
UN Security Council 7th straw poll preliminary results:
Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica: 11 encourage, 4 discourage, 0 no opinion
Rafael Grossi of Argentina: 9 encourage, 4 discourage, 2 no opinion
Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett of Guyana: 8 encourage, 6 discourage, 1 no opinion
Lana Nusseibeh of UAE: 7 encourage, 6 discourage, 2 no opinion
I join UN experts in calling for justice for victims of human rights violations after Tanzania’s election one year ago, including misuse of terrorism charges
#Tanzania: UN experts concerned that 1-year after post-election violence, victims still await publication of findings from Commission of Inquiry. “We condemn patterns of repression against civil society organisations, journalists & #humanrights defenders.”
ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…
The US response to my UN report fails to refute any of my legal findings that the US has murdered 244 civilians at sea. Instead it resorts to childish name-calling. I’m obviously not a terrorist sympathizer - but the US is committing extrajudicial killings ohchr.org/sites/default/file…
Prof Ben Saul - UN SR Human Rights & Counterterror retweeted
With Assad now gone for almost 2 years, where is justice in #Syria? We take a close look at what has been achieved — and what there is still to do.
TLDR: it's not what human rights activists had imagined...
Proud to partner with @STJ_SYRIA_ENG
Short 🧵
ceasefire.org/comprehensive-…
Prof Ben Saul - UN SR Human Rights & Counterterror retweeted
#BREAKING
UN General Assembly ADOPTS resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba
Result of the vote:
In favor: 130
Against: 17
Abstain: 25
Prof Ben Saul - UN SR Human Rights & Counterterror retweeted
An #Iraqi court sentences 7 #French citizens to lengthy prison terms over Islamic State membership #ISIS #ISIL @qabdulzahra reports
apnews.com/article/iraq-fren…
A small minority of States has lately mounted aggressive personal attacks on multiple UN experts presenting reports in New York. I urge States to engage on the substance of reports and refrain from unprofessional smears, bullying and harassment, which only discredits governments
I condemn the latest US murders of five civilians at sea, taking the total to 244 deaths in 72 military strikes since Sept 2025. These extrajudicial killings appear to be crimes against humanity. The perpetrators must be investigated and prosecuted ohchr.org/sites/default/file…
On October 27, under the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal, kinetic strike on a go-fast vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific. Confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel's active involvement in narco-trafficking. The operation killed five narco-terrorists. @DeptofWar @SecWar
I urge the next Israeli government to commit to respecting international law, including humanitarian law, human rights law, self-determination, the end of occupation, justice for international crimes, reform of military culture, and an end to hate speech and discrimination
Pleased to visit the US capital to discuss the importance of respecting human rights while countering terrorism at home and abroad
I note India’s comment on my report, which accurately reflects a Security Council sanctions listing in 2003 addressing the then “Indian underworld” that “continue[s] to engage in criminal activity in India”, led by an Indian national. The report makes no allegation against India
#IndiaAtUN
Raghoo Puri, First Secretary, took part in the interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism in the Third Committee of the General Assembly. He highlighted:
➡️ Factual inaccuracies in reports of SRs are unacceptable.
➡️ Report mentions listing of the leader of the "D-Company" for association with Al-Qaida. Read in isolation, it paints a very different picture from what is actual reality.
➡️ Dawood Ibrahim, has been wanted in India for terror attacks since 1993. And this is clearly written in the narrative summary of the reasons of listing under the 1267 sanctions mechanism. He resides in the same country where Osama bin Laden was found and neutralized.
➡️ HR Frameworks cannot be the refuge of the perpetrators of terror and those who propagate radicalization and extremism. Terrorism can never be justified.
➡️ Pakistan’s statement is pure propaganda for narrow political gains of its actual rulers, its military.
@PMOIndia @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @PIB_India @airnewsalerts @DDNewslive @UN
Congratulations @EUSRHumanRights - I look forward to your outstanding human rights advocacy moving from the UN to the EU!
Congratulations on re-election President @LulaOficial of Brazil, who has committed to international law, rejected foreign interference in Latin America, and opposed an abusive regional “war on narco-terrorism”
Minha gratidão eterna ao povo brasileiro, à juventude que tomou as ruas em defesa da democracia e a cada pessoa que fez um esforço imenso para votar e defender o futuro do nosso país.
Vocês me emocionam e renovam minha esperança. Essa vitória é de um povo que acredita, que luta e que não desiste de construir um Brasil mais justo, soberano e democrático.
Muito obrigado, Brasil!
Essa vitória é nossa. A vitória é do povo brasileiro!
📸 @ricardostuckert
Prof Ben Saul - UN SR Human Rights & Counterterror retweeted
« Guerre au narcoterrorisme » : un expert de l’ONU dénonce des exécutions illégales
@profbensaul I @UN_SPExperts
news.un.org/fr/story/2026/10…
Prof Ben Saul - UN SR Human Rights & Counterterror retweeted
Les États doivent rejeter la « guerre contre le narcoterrorisme », aux conséquences dévastatrices pour les droits humains, selon un nouveau rapport de l'expert indépendant de l'ONU @profbensaul.
buff.ly/Qf82nCg
I join UN experts in urging EU States not to return Afghans to face serious human rights risks in Afghanistan and to respect the international obligation of non-refoulement
#EU states must not send Afghans back to danger, warn UN experts, recalling the bloc’s obligations to comply with international human rights law & the principle of non-refoulement. “The human rights situation in Afghanistan remains dire.”
ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…
I join UN experts urging Saudi Arabia to stop the imminent executions of two people convicted for acts committed when they were children, and to quash their death sentences
#SaudiArabia: UN experts appalled by execution of Hassan Zaki al-Faraj, convicted for childhood offences. Warn Yusuf Muhammad Mahdi al-Manasif and Mohammad Labbad at imminent risk of execution. "Must immediately halt and quash their death sentences."
ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…
Prof Ben Saul - UN SR Human Rights & Counterterror retweeted
« Guerre au narcoterrorisme » : un expert de l’ONU dénonce des exécutions illégales
@profbensaul I @UN_SPExperts
news.un.org/fr/story/2026/10…
