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topicnews · September 30, 2024

Hezbollah flags and Nasrallah photos are not enough for an arrest in Melbourne

Hezbollah flags and Nasrallah photos are not enough for an arrest in Melbourne

Displaying terrorist symbols is not enough to bring about arrests, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said after demonstrators overtook a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne where demonstrators waved Hezbollah flags and held up photos of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah , the Australian newspaper reported The Age reported on Monday.

Accordingly The AgeSunday’s rally was part of a “national day of action for Gaza” in which thousands of protesters around the world called for a ceasefire and an end to the Israel-Hamas war.

The group joined the 600-strong march outside the State Library in Melbourne’s CBD as the speeches ended and people began to march.

Victoria Police said publicly displaying terrorist symbols was a Commonwealth offense and there had been no arrests as a result of the protest.

“In relation to prohibited symbols, appropriate referrals will be made to the Australian Federal Police as the lead agency,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

A sign at a pro-Palestinian march in London, December 9, 2023. (Source: @_Jacker_)

Still, an AFP spokesman said on Monday: “The mere public display of a banned symbol alone does not meet the threshold of a Commonwealth offense.”

The spokesman then clarified that the act can only be considered a criminal offense if the terror symbol is appropriate in the circumstances where the behavior is the spread of ideas based on racial supremacy or hatred, the incitement of others to intimidate or insults any person or is intended to advocate or incite others to offend.

“The AFP is aware that protest activities and physical demonstrations can be used to amplify the message of extremist groups,” the spokesman said.

“The Criminal Code sets out very specific elements that must be met in order to charge a person with a terrorist offense.”

Although police did not have the authority to remove symbols themselves, they could order owners to remove them. The spokesperson explained that failure to obey an officer’s order is a criminal offense.

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According to The Age, pro-Palestine rallies have been held in Gaza for much of the past year on a weekly basis. However, organizers clarified to the Australian Associated Press that the group was not affiliated with Hezbollah supporters.

Political leaders react

Various local Australian politicians responded to the incident and to police statements.

“Victorians will be deeply disturbed by the demonstrations of support for a listed terrorist organization, Hezbollah, in Melbourne and Sydney,” Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto said in a statement on Sunday evening, calling for action against the protesters. His coalition will continue to stand against anti-Semitism.

“Publicly displaying the symbols of a listed terrorist organization is a crime, as is inciting violence based on religious beliefs.” Both should never be tolerated in Victoria, said Pesutto.

Home Secretary Tony Burke threatened to consider canceling visas for people supporting such groups in a statement issued on Sunday.

“Any suggestion of support for a terrorist organization is strongly condemned. It attracts the immediate attention of our security agencies,” he said. “I have made it clear from day one that I will consider denying and canceling visas to anyone seeking to cause discord in Australia.”



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