June 17, 2024
Pro-Palestine activists in Melbourne have been displaying and wearing Hezbollah and Hamas emblems unimpeded, despite criminal legislation outlawing the usage of the two terror groups' symbols.
Photographs obtained by The Australian from recent Melbourne pro-Palestine rallies stretching back weeks show a cohort of activists wearing Hamas' distinctive emblem on their clothing - one activist donning the insignia is pictured less than a metre from Victoria Police officers.
In another from early June, two activists hold up a cardboard poster of the Hezbollah flags.
One of those pictured, and a prominent leader of the rallies, is Mohammad Sharab, shown wearing a Hamas badge while leading one of the protests.
Sharab was charged in February after an alleged abduction, alongside another prominent activist, Laura Allam, after an incident in Melbourne's western suburbs.
The entirety of both Hamas and Hezbollah are recognised by the federal government as terrorist organisations, and in certain circumstances the public display of the groups' insignias is a breach of section 80.2 of the commonwealth criminal code.
The outlawing of the groups' emblems was introduced into the criminal code in January, alongside the display of Nazi symbols.
For someone to be charged with the offence, one further element is that the display of the symbols would also have to incite others to offend, insult or intimidate people of a certain race or religion, or advocate "hatred" of that group.
It is punishable with up to a year imprisonment.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said the prevalence of the terror groups' symbols was concerning.
"It is alarming so many Australians are openly and proudly displaying the symbols of listed terrorist organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah," the Liberal Senator said. He urged authorities to "prosecute every single person" found to be breaching the law, saying failure would "embolden the extremists on our streets".
Hamas's emblem depicts two crossed swords in front of the AlAqsa mosque in Jerusalem while Hezbollah's flag is a distinctive green rifle on a yellow backdrop.
In other instances during proPalestine Melbourne rallies, Hamas bandannas can be seen worn by activists, T-shirts with the group's logo and of its spokesman, Abu Oubaida, as well as one protester wearing a shirt with the words "Khaybar, Khaybar, ya yahud, Jaish Muhammad soufa ya oud" in Arabic, which translate to an anti-Israel call that: "Oh, Jews, the army of Mohammed will return." Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory the group as been active in finding and highlighting on social media the symbols' usage - said it was "concerning" to see insignias of terror groups flying in major Australian cities. "There's little point in having anti-terror laws if they are not enforced," he said, adding that anti-Israel rhetoric and the display of the symbols had been "steadily escalating".
"Many people are questioning why the authorities are so timid in the face of Islamist extremism.
"Extremists will likely interpret the failure to act as a green light for further escalation." A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the force respected the right for peaceful protest but unlawful behaviour would "not be tolerated". "Victoria Police provide a visible presence at rallies in Melbourne to keep the peace and ensure the safety of those attending and the broader community," she said. She also said Victoria Police would investigate any specific alleged incidents brought to the attention of the force.
