The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has sparked controversy by refusing to apologize to the Muslim community after police disrupted a peaceful prayer gathering during a protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit. The incident, which occurred outside Sydney's town hall, has ignited calls for an apology from Muslim groups, including the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) and the Australian Federal Imams Council (Afic).
The sheikh leading the prayer described the police behavior as 'unhinged and aggressive', and the Australian National Imam's Council (Anic) confirmed that Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon had contacted them to apologize. However, LMA and Afic claim they were not contacted, and Lanyon's apology was deemed 'qualified' by Bilal Rauf, a senior advisor to Anic. Rauf emphasized that the protest was a peaceful expression of concern about the unfolding genocide in Gaza, and the police response was disproportionate.
Premier Minns, however, stands firm, stating that he won't apologize, citing the need to maintain public order and prevent potential riots. He also mentioned having conversations with members of the Islamic community, including Minister for Social Services Jihad Dib, who expressed distress over the incident. Despite calls for an independent inquiry, including from within his government, Minns has rejected the idea, citing the need for police accountability and leadership in challenging situations.
The controversy extends to the political and legislative context, with Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence suggesting that the protest organizers' unsuccessful challenge of 'major events' powers and the Public Assembly Restriction Declaration (PARD) created a tense situation. Lawrence argues that the police commissioner's declaration effectively controlled the protest's ability to march to parliament, leading to the incident. The use of body-worn cameras by police officers is also under scrutiny, with Lanyon acknowledging their availability but not committing to their public release.
The incident has raised questions about the balance between public safety and the rights of protesters, with Human Rights Watch (HRW) calling for an investigation into the police's excessive force and the adoption of unnecessary restrictions on legitimate protests.
