Arabic version: رئيس الوزراء ألبانيزي يتعرض للهتافات خلال صلاة العيد في مسجد سيدني

According to BBC News,

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced heckling during an Eid event at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, marking the end of Ramadan. Attendees expressed their frustrations by accusing Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke of being “genocide supporters” and shouting phrases like “get out of here” as a mosque leader called for better government engagement with Muslim Australians.

The incident reflects deep discontent within the Muslim community regarding the government’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict and rising Islamophobia in Australia. A man who was shouting at Albanese was removed from the mosque by police but later released without charge and told to move on. Despite the disruption, Albanese noted that the majority of the 30,000-plus attendees welcomed him positively.

Following the event, the Lebanese Muslim Association, which operates the mosque, reaffirmed that Albanese was welcome at the prayers. They emphasized the importance of engaging with elected leaders to voice community concerns, particularly given the ongoing suffering in Gaza and Lebanon.

Albanese’s visit was significant as it was the first time he had been invited to attend prayers since the start of the Israel-Gaza conflict. Community leader Gamel Kheir highlighted the need for genuine engagement rather than token gestures from politicians. This incident is not isolated, as previous Eid events have seen mixed receptions for politicians, raising questions about the intersection of politics and religious celebrations in Australia.