Why the ABC has come under fire after chilling details emerged at pro-Palestinian rally in Australia

September 29, 2024

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Why the ABC has come under fire after chilling details emerged at pro-Palestinian rally in Australia

By Max Aitchison and David Southwell for Daily Mail Australia and Australian Associated Press

Published: 10:06 PM EDT, September 29, 2024 | Updated: 10:09 PM EDT, September 29, 2024

The ABC has come under fire after failing to summon pro-Palestinian protesters mourning the death of a leader of a designated terrorist organisation.

Thousands took to the streets in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday to show support for Palestine and Lebanon amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Small groups of young men, many masked, were seen at the rallies in each city walking with the red and green flags of Hezbollah, a militant and political group originating from Lebanon, listed as a terrorist organization in Australia.

Others, including both adults and children, held framed photos of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by a Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday.

The ABC covered the pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney and released a two-minute report in which protesters mourned Nasrallah’s death.

The segment did not mention how Hezbollah was listed as a terrorist organization by the Australian government.

“He was the mother, he was the father of Lebanon,” said one woman, wearing a hijab.

“He brought comfort, he brought safety, when we really wanted answers we turned to him.”

The ABC has come under fire after failing to summon pro-Palestinian protesters mourning the death of a leader of a designated terrorist organisation.

Drew Pavlou, a political activist and prominent critic of China, accused the ABC on X of being “embarrassingly biased” and claimed the segment was filled with “uncritical interviews.”

One social media user added: “A new low.”

“We have been saying for some time that we should abolish the ABC,” said another.

‘This is a shame!’ a third wrote.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the ABC for comment.

Home Secretary Tony Burke slammed those who gave “any show of support” to a terrorist organization and threatened to have their visas revoked.

“It draws the immediate attention of our security forces,” Burke said.

‘There are stricter checks on whether someone has a visa. “I have made it clear from day one that I will consider refusing and revoking visas for anyone who seeks to stir up discord in Australia,” he said.

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia they were “aware that banned flags were seen at a demonstration in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday.”

“Appropriate references will be made to the Australian Federal Police as the lead agency in relation to prohibited symbols,” a spokesperson said.

The group supporting Hezbollah was also heard chanting “labayka ya Nasrallah” in Arabic, which roughly translates to “at your service, Nasrallah.”

Some protesters held framed photos of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday (photo: a protester in Melbourne)

Drew Pavlou, a political activist and prominent critic of China, described the reporting as “embarrassingly biased”

Organizers of the Melbourne rally told AAP the group carrying Hezbollah flags was not affiliated with those leading the demonstration.

Muslim community leaders also said the group was not representative of Australia’s Muslim community or the protest, which called on Israel to halt military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, where they are fighting Hezbollah.

“They are definitely a minority. An absolute, tiny minority,” Islamic Council of Victoria President Adel Salman said The Australian.

“For my own experience, my knowledge of the community: there is no support for Hezbollah, no love for Hezbollah. Right now it’s all about support for the Lebanese people.

Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed political party and paramilitary group in Lebanon, was listed as a terrorist organization by the Australian government in 2021.

It acknowledges there are “no known specific threats to Australia or Australian interests” from Hezbollah.

“However, it is possible that Australian interests could be harmed by future attacks,” the Australian government website said.

On Saturday, Israeli forces said Nasrallah had been killed in a massive airstrike on Beirut that reportedly used 5,000-pound bunker bombs.

Organizers of the Melbourne rally said the group carrying Hezbollah flags was not affiliated with those leading the demonstration

Israel is currently fighting on two fronts: the Hamas fighters in Gaza and the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Sunday reiterated her call for Australians to flee Lebanon as quickly as possible, saying she was concerned about escalating violence.

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich told Daily Mail Australia the protest was a “deeply disturbing expression of hatred”.

“Hezbollah, responsible for countless civilian deaths, has no place in ‘peaceful’ protest,” he said.

“The display of their flag during this demonstration is a glorification of violence and terror that undermines the values of our diverse and democratic society.

“This is not who we are as a nation and let us not confuse freedom with the promotion of terror.”

“We call on all community leaders and elected officials to unequivocally denounce this act.”

He also urged police to investigate the incident and “take appropriate action.”