At least 27 people were arrested and dozens reportedly beaten during a protest in Sydney on Monday against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, sparking widespread condemnation from Australia’s Muslim community and human rights advocates.

By The South Asia Times

CANBERRA - Sydney witnessed violent clashes on Monday evening when NSW Police intervened in a protest organized to oppose the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Video footage showed officers allegedly punching, dragging, and forcibly removing worshippers, including elderly participants, as they engaged in prayer.

The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) called the police actions “shocking, deeply disturbing, and entirely unacceptable,” noting that such treatment violates religious sanctity.

 

Australia’s special envoy for Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, demanded a formal investigation into the incident and called for a public apology from NSW Premier Chris Minns.

 

Malik described the police response as “unprovoked, unnecessary and disproportionate,” warning that failure to acknowledge wrongdoing could damage relations between Muslim communities and law enforcement.

 

"There was absolutely nothing on the face of the earth that could warrant police to break up people who are praying in a quiet, non-threatening, peaceful manner, and to punch and to grab and to throw individuals onto the concrete," Malik told SBS News.

"The police have to acknowledge that what happened was unprovoked, unnecessary and disproportionate, and if they do not come out with that recognition, it will irreparably damage relations between Muslims and the NSW Police."

 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the severity of the violence, describing the scenes as “devastating” and confronting for all Australians.

He noted that NSW Police would examine the footage and stressed that security measures were intended to separate President Herzog from demonstrators.

Albanese highlighted the challenges faced by officers but emphasized the importance of understanding why the peaceful prayers were disrupted.

 

The incident drew significant public attention across Australia, with widespread criticism from faith leaders and citizens. Many Australians drew parallels with US law enforcement abuses, likening the NSW Police tactics to those of ICE agents in the United States, who have been accused of using excessive force during crackdowns on immigrants and protesters.

 

The clashes have intensified debates over policing, religious freedom, and the handling of politically sensitive visits, raising questions about accountability and community trust in law enforcement.

 

Human rights advocates have called for an independent investigation into the use of force by police against the peaceful protesters to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.