Australia plans tougher laws against displaying extremist flags after Bondi shooting – National
The Australian state of New South Wales is proposing to ban the public display of Islamic State group flags or extremist symbols after a mass shooting by extremists killed 15 people at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Under draft laws to be discussed by the regional Parliament, publicly displaying the IS flag or symbols from other extremist groups will be offenses punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine.
The country’s prime minister, Chris Minns, also said chants of “worldwide intifada” would be banned and police would be given greater powers to force protesters to remove their face masks during protests.
“Hate speech or incitement to hate has no place in our society,” Minns said on Saturday.
The Arabic word intifada is translated as “rebellion.”
While pro-Palestinian protesters say the slogan describes global protests against the Gaza conflict, which has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, Jewish leaders say it inflames tensions and encourages attacks on Jews.
“Horrifyingly, recent events have shown that the song ‘globalize intifada’ is hate speech and encourages violence in our society,” Minss told reporters. “You’re running a very dangerous racket if you think of using that word.”
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New South Wales politicians are expected to discuss the changes on Monday after the Prime Minister reinstates parliament.
Police said Sunday’s attack, which targeted a Hanukkah celebration at Australia’s most popular beach, was a “terrorist attack inspired by (i) Islamic State”. Police said they found two homemade IS flags in the car used by the two suspects.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to introduce measures to curb discord and hatred, including expanding the definition of hate speech offenses for preachers and leaders who promote violence, and tougher penalties for such offences.
The proposals would also identify certain groups as hateful and allow judges to consider hate as an aggravating factor in cases of cyberbullying and harassment.
Albanese also announced plans to tighten Australia’s already strict gun laws.
The prime minister, who joined the Jewish community at Sydney’s Great Synagogue on Friday, said “the spirit of our Australian Jewish community is unwavering.”
“No matter how dark things were, and continue to be, the light will prevail,” he added.
Authorities said the country will hold a National Day of Remembrance on Sunday, the last day of Hanukkah, to honor the victims.
Flags will be flown at half-mast from all official buildings, and Albanians will join others in Bondi on Sunday for a minute’s silence at 6:47 pm, the time police received the first reports of gunfire.
Police and community leaders also pointed to the actions of Ahmed Al Ahmed, a native of Syria, who helped people flee the scene during the attack.
An Australian business has listed a GoFundMe fundraiser that has raised more than $2.5 million for Bondi hero Ahmed al Ahmed, who fought one of the criminals down.
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