Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit accuses parent company Unilever of censorship over Gaza

Two patrons enter the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop in Burlington, Vermont (Charles Krupa/AP)

Ben & Jerry’s has sued its parent company Unilever, accusing it of silencing the ice cream maker from making statements in support of Palestinians in the Gaza war.

The complaint, filed in federal court in New York, says the multinational conglomerate has failed to adhere to its contractual obligations with Ben & Jerry’s by threatening to dismantle the company’s independent board, sue board members, intimidate personnel and censor the company “from publicly voicing support for peace and refugee rights”, the lawsuit states.