France has refused to grant a visa to the head of one of Palestine's most prominent human rights organisations, triggering criticism from rights monitors. Shawan Jabarin, the general director of Al-Haq, had been invited to France to participate in briefings to the French parliament, foreign ministry and Council of Europe, but was blocked from entering the country by the interior ministry. The decision also prevented him from attending meetings at the European parliament and the Belgian foreign ministry.

This was the second time Jabarin has been denied entry to France since October, when authorities told him one or more EU countries consider him a "threat to public order". Israel in 2021 designated Al-Haq a "terrorist organisation" but failed to provide evidence for the allegation. Al-Haq said the decision "entrenches [France's] position in undermining efforts towards accountability and advocacy for Palestinian rights".

"At a time when Palestinians across Gaza and the wider occupied Palestinian territory are subjected to Israel's settler-colonial apartheid and genocidal erasure, states that claim to uphold international law are deepening their complicity by targeting those who seek justice," it said in a statement. Al-Haq, the oldest Palestinian rights group, has faced decades of attacks by Israeli authorities. Al-Haq was among three Palestinian NGOs hit by US sanctions in September for working with the International Criminal Court's investigation into Israeli crimes in the occupied territories.

"It is both shameful and deeply troubling that a human rights defender who has dedicated his life to pursuing justice for international cries is denied entry into the Schengen area, while individual wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity are able to travel freely," Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International. The French interior ministry did not respond to The New Arab's request for comment.