UN Report Exposes Widespread Use of Torture Weapons Against Protesters in Europe

Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, has issued a shocking report detailing the widespread use of torture weapons by security forces to suppress street protests in European and neighboring countries. The report highlights specific examples, such as the deployment of explosive grenades in France, and emphasizes that 20 types of torture instruments are banned by the UN. However, regrettably, 76 companies from 23 European nations and other global powers continue to manufacture and export these items…

Brutal Suppression of Protests Amid Democratic Fluctuations

Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, released a report on October 2, 2025, titled “The Use of Torture Weapons to Suppress Street Protests in European Countries.” She stated that alongside the fluctuations in democracy and demands for social change in Europe, peaceful protests are increasingly being controlled with greater intensity.

The report indicates that security forces across EU member states and neighboring nations are employing often brutal tactics and utilizing weapons designed solely to inflict excessive pain in an attempt to restrain demonstrations.

It presents alarming examples of police conduct in Serbia, Georgia, Belarus, and Turkey, underscoring that even EU member countries are not exempt. For instance, in France, the use of explosive grenades by police has resulted in injuries and deaths.

UN Blacklist and Lucrative Trade

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture revealed that efforts have led to the establishment of a list of 20 torture instruments approved by the UN, banning their use.

Edwards emphasized that production of these items must come to an end. Nonetheless, reports indicate that banned items are being showcased at major arms and security exhibitions in France and the UK, highlighting the need for oversight on the sale and use of these items to purchasing countries.

Production of Banned Tools by 76 European Companies

Despite these items being included on the latest list of banned items by the EU, unfortunately, they continue to be produced and sold by 76 companies from 23 European countries.

Other major producers and exporters of such items include China, Israel, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

Current statistics project that revenues from the sale of these tools are expected to grow at an annual rate of 8%, reaching $27 billion by 2028, demonstrating the extensive scale of this inhumane trade.