October 17, 2024
The Australian government has cancelled the visa of a pro-Palestine activist who deemed the anniversary of Hamas' October 7 attacks a day of “considerable celebration”.
A government source said Arizona State university associate professor Khaled Beydoun flew home after being told his visa would be cancelled, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has since officially revoked Beydoun’s visitor visa following review.
Beydoun made the controversial remarks at a rally on the steps of western Sydney’s Lakemba Mosque last week to mark the anniversary of Hamas’ horrific slaughter in Israel which saw about 1,200 people killed and 251 taken hostage.
He said the past year had been “transformative” due to the level of global awareness being raised about the situation in Palestine.
“Today is not fully a day of mourning, today is also a day that marks considerable celebration, considerable progress and considerable privilege,” he said last Monday.
“I want to talk about some good things because it’s a good day, and we’ve got to mark some of the good news that comes about that we often times neglect.
“One thing that has taken place over the course of this past year that’s been unprecedented, that’s been transformative in many respects, is that the level of global literacy around what is taking place in Palestine has exponentially risen.”
Demonstrators at the rally organised by Stand 4 Palestine Australia also chanted, "from the river to the sea, Israel kills refugees".
The remarks came after major protests in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday saw thousands take to the streets to call for an end to Israel's operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
Mr Burke announced the federal government was looking into Mr Beydoun’s visa status, saying he asked his department to conduct a check as soon as he heard the comments.
“At 8.30pm they confirmed this man is traveling on a visa. I immediately asked them to prepare a brief so I can consider his visa status,” he said.
Shadow immigration minister Dan Tehan last Tuesday night questioned why it was “taking so long" for Beydoun to be booted from the country.
“There’s two questions that need to be answered here by Tony Burke, first of all, why was he issued a visa in the first place?” Mr Tehan told Sky News Australia host Peta Credlin.
“Who didn’t do their due diligence about what this individual was already on the record saying about Hamas, a listed terrorist organisation.
“And then why is it taking so long now that he said what he said for him to be removed from the country? Two excellent questions that Tony Burke needs to answer and needs to answer tonight.”
Beydoun’s comments were widely condemned, with shadow home affairs minister James Paterson saying the professor’s comments exposed the rationale of holding pro-Palestine demonstrations on the anniversary of Hamas’ attack.
“Khaled Beydoun said the quiet part out loud,” Mr Paterson said.
“The only reason to hold a protest on October 7 is to celebrate the slaughter of Jews.
“Others may pretend otherwise but this shows exactly what we all knew animated these appalling events.”
