Australian PM Heckled at Sydney Mosque During Eid Prayers Amid Gaza Tensions

Australian PM Heckled at Sydney Mosque During Eid Prayers Amid Gaza Tensions
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke were heckled during Eid al-Fitr prayers at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney on Friday, as some attendees accused them of supporting “genocide” amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.

According to BBC, the leaders had been invited by community organizers to attend the event, which drew over 30,000 worshippers. Some protestors shouted at Albanese and were later removed by police without charges. Despite the disturbances, the Lebanese Muslim Association, which runs the mosque, confirmed that the prime minister was welcome and emphasized that engagement with political leaders does not betray community concerns.

Albanese later described the overall reception as “overwhelmingly positive,” suggesting the unrest reflected frustration over his government’s recent actions against extremist groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir. The visit marked the first time the prime minister had attended Eid prayers at the mosque since the start of the Gaza conflict.

The incident reflects growing tensions within Australia’s Muslim community over government policies, rising Islamophobia, and ongoing regional conflicts, amid a backdrop of heightened community sensitivities since the 2023 Israel-Hamas war and domestic violent events.