Court Clears Path to Serve UN Rapporteur Albanese

Christians for Israel USA wins right to deliver defamation lawsuit via email and X

Colorado (USA), May 15, 2025 — Christians for Israel USA has been authorized by the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado to serve UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese with a defamation lawsuit via email and on X (formerly Twitter), after she refused to accept court papers in person. Service was completed on May 18, giving Albanese 21 days to respond before a default judgment may be entered against her.

Christians for Israel USA initiated legal proceedings against Albanese after she maliciously slandered the organization, by falsely accusing it of engaging in and supporting “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” — claims Christians for Israel USA maintains are entirely without factual foundation. When the organization attempted to serve Albanese with the lawsuit during her visit to South Africa, she refused to accept the court papers, prompting the court to authorize alternative means of service.

Francesca Albanese
Francesca Albanese is an Italian-born legal scholar and UN official who has served as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories since May 2022. Prior to her appointment, she worked for nearly two decades with UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, and has been a vocal and controversial critic of Israel.

Albanese has repeatedly drawn condemnation from governments, Jewish organizations, and human rights watchdogs for statements widely regarded as one-sided, inflammatory, and in several instances antisemitic. In 2023, she faced widespread censure after suggesting that the Hamas-led October 7 massacre of Israeli civilians could be contextualized as an act of “resistance.” Multiple Western governments, including the United States and Germany, have publicly distanced themselves from her reports and conclusions.

Her appointment and continued tenure have been challenged by several UN member states and civil society groups, who argue that she consistently exceeds her mandate and abuses her platform to advance a political agenda rather than to conduct impartial human rights reporting.

Christians for Israel USA stands by its mission of Christian support for Israel and the Jewish people, and welcomes the court’s ruling as an important step toward accountability.