Sydney: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has faced a hostile reception during an Eid gathering at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, where sections of the crowd heckled him over the government’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Albanese, accompanied by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, attended the Eid prayers after being invited by community leaders. However, as speeches were underway, several attendees shouted ‘boo’ and ‘get out,’ with some accusing the leaders of supporting ‘genocide.’
The disruption occurred while a mosque representative urged stronger engagement between the government and Muslim Australians. Police intervened to remove one protester who had been shouting at the prime minister, though the individual was later released without charges. As Albanese exited the venue, some members of the crowd continued to voice their discontent, questioning his presence and calling it ‘a disgrace.’
The Lebanese Muslim Association, which operates the mosque, later issued a statement reaffirming that the prime minister had been formally welcomed. The group acknowledged the emotional weight of ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, noting that these issues deeply affect the local community. It also stressed that engaging with elected leaders is essential to ensuring those concerns are heard.
Despite the incident, Albanese maintained that the majority of the estimated 30,000 attendees were supportive. Albanese suggested that backlash from a minority could also be linked to recent government measures targeting extremist organisations such as Hizb ut-Tahrir, which has been banned in Australia over concerns related to extremism.
The visit marked the first time the prime minister had been invited to Eid prayers at the mosque since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war. Community tensions in Australia have escalated since the conflict began, with reported increases in both Islamophobic and antisemitic incidents nationwide.
The situation reflects a broader debate about the role of politics in religious gatherings. Similar incidents have occurred in recent years, including during a previous Eid event in Melbourne where a politician was escorted out after facing backlash.
The Albanese government has faced criticism from various sides over its handling of the Gaza conflict, even after joining international partners in recognising a Palestinian state. Friday’s confrontation highlights the ongoing strain between political leadership and sections of Australia’s Muslim community, with global and domestic tensions.
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