Brief: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced strong backlash during a visit to the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney on Friday. As Muslim attendees gathered to celebrate Eid, they expressed their anger towards Albanese’s support for Israel in the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
Albanese, alongside Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, was met with shouts from the crowd, including insults like “putrid dog” and accusations of being a “genocide supporter” regarding the situation in Gaza. Video clips showed the tense atmosphere as some shouted, “Why is he here? Get him out of here!”
Despite calls for calm from Gamel Kheir, the mosque’s secretary, the frustration among attendees was palpable. One individual was heard shouting, “He’s responsible for the deaths of 1 million people,” referencing the conflict’s toll on Palestinians.
As the situation escalated, Albanese was escorted into a secure area of the mosque by security personnel before leaving in a motorcade. Attendees shouted phrases like “shame on you” as he departed.
Albanese’s administration has faced scrutiny for its stance on the situation, seeking a balance between supporting Israel’s right to defend itself and pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza. In response to the protests, he later posted photos on social media showing him interacting positively with community members during the event.
Reflecting on the visit, the Prime Minister conveyed that most of the reception was positive, downplaying the heckling. “There were a couple of hecklers… but overwhelmingly they did not want that to occur,” he stated.
Albanese aims to continue engaging with the community, despite the challenges arising from such visits.
