Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke attended Eid al-Fitr prayers at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, one of the country’s largest mosques. The visit drew attention as the congregation gathered to mark the end of Ramadan.
About 15 minutes after the prayers began, a section of attendees raised slogans against the Prime Minister and his cabinet colleagues, calling them “shame” and asking them to leave. One person was heard questioning why the Prime Minister was present and demanded that he be removed.
Following the protest, Albanese left the mosque. Police moved the individuals who were shouting away from the area, according to the report.
The Lebanese Muslim Association, which manages Lakemba Mosque, defended the decision to invite the Prime Minister, saying it was an opportunity to convey issues faced by Muslims directly and that avoiding dialogue would not help.
The report said parts of the Muslim community believe the Australian government has supported Israel in the Gaza war and has not applied pressure to stop the conflict. It also noted that after a December shooting at Bondi Beach in which 15 people were killed, some Muslim organisations were banned, and anti-Muslim sentiment has increased in Australia—fueling anger among a section of the community.
