The ABC has been slammed after failing to call out pro-Palestine demonstrators who were mourning the death of a leader of a listed terrorist organisation.
Thousands took to the streets in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday to walk in support of Palestine and Lebanon, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Small groups of young men, many masked, were seen at the rallies in each city waving the red and green flags of Hezbollah, a militant and political group hailing from Lebanon, which has been listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia.
Others, including both adults and children, held framed photos of Hezbollahs leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by an Israeli air strike in Beirut on Friday.
The ABC covered the pro-Palestine rally in Sydney and released a two-minute report that included demonstrators mourning the death of Nasrallah.
The segment failed to mention how Hezbollah was listed as a terrorist organisation by the Australian government.
He was the mother, he was the father of Lebanon, one woman, who was wearing a hijab, said.
He brought comfort, he brought security, when we really wanted answers we turned to him.’
The ABC has been slammed after failing to call out pro-Palestine demonstrators who were mourning the death of a leader of a listed terrorist organisation
Drew Pavlou, a political activist and prominent critic of China, accused the ABC on X of being embarrassingly biased claiming the segment was filled with uncritical interviews.
One social media user added: A new low.
We’ve been saying defund the ABC for ages, a second chimed in.
This is disgraceful! a third wrote.
Daily Mail Australia contacted the ABC for comment.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke blasted those showing any indication of support for a terrorist organisation, and threatened to cancel their visas.
It draws the immediate attention of our security agencies, Mr Burke said.
There is a higher level of scrutiny if anyone is on a visa. I have made clear from day one, that I will consider refusing and cancelling visas for anyone who seeks to incite discord in Australia, he said.
Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia they were aware prohibited flags were seen at a demonstration in the Melbourne CBD on Sunday.
Appropriate referrals will be made to Australian Federal Police as the lead agency concerning prohibited symbols, a spokesperson said.
The group supporting Hezbollah were also heard chanting labayka ya Nasrallah in Arabic, which translates roughly to at your service, Nasrallah.
Some protesters held framed photos of Hezbollahs leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by an Israeli air strike in Beirut on Friday (pictured: a protester in Melbourne)
Drew Pavlou, a political activist and prominent critic of China, described the reporting as embarrassingly biased
Rally organisers in Melbourne told AAP the group carrying Hezbollah flags was not affiliated with those running the demonstration.
Islamic community leaders also said this group was not representative of the Muslim community in Australia or the protest, which was calling for Israel to stop military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, where they are fighting Hezbollah.
They are definitely a minority. An absolute, tiny minority, Islamic Council of Victorias president Adel Salman told The Australian.
For my own experience, my knowledge of the community, there is no support of Hezbollah, no love of Hezbollah, right now, this is all about support for the Lebanese people.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed political party and paramilitary group in Lebanon, was listed as a terrorist organisation by the Australian government in 2021.
It acknowledges that there are no known specific threats to Australia or Australian interests posed by Hezbollah.
However, it is possible that Australian interests could be harmed by future attacks, the Australian government website states.
On Saturday, Israeli forces said Nasrallah had been killed during a massive air strike on Beirut, reportedly using 5,000-pound bunker-busting bombs.
Rally organisers in Melbourne said the group carrying Hezbollah flags was not affiliated with those running the demonstration
Israel is currently fighting on two fronts, with the Hamas fighters in Gaza and the Iranian backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Sunday reiterated her call for Australians to flee Lebanon as soon as they can and said she was concerned about escalating violence.
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich told Daily Mail Australia the protest was a deeply troubling display of hate.
Hezbollah, responsible for countless civilian deaths has no place in "peaceful" protest, he said.
The display of their flag at this demonstration is a glorification of violence and terror that undermines the values of our diverse and democratic society.
This is not who we are as a nation and lets not confuse freedom with the promotion of terror.
We call on all community leaders and elected officials to unequivocally denounce this act.
He also urged law enforcement to investigate the incident and take appropriate action.
