Global Imams Council Condemns ‘Violent Rhetoric’ at Pro-Hamas Rallies Around the World

Palestine supporters rally outside the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 9, 2023. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

The Global Imams Council (GIC) has condemned the “extremist and violent” rhetoric at rallies in Europe, Canada, the United States, and Australia.

GIC, headquartered in Iraq, is made up of more than 1,470 Muslim faith leaders and scholars from all Islamic denominations.

Following pro-Palestine protests in Australia and around the world, the GIC raised alarm at some of the flags being waved around and verbal chants.

“GIC condemns the extremist and violent rhetoric displayed at rallies taking place in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia, and elsewhere, where flags of designated terrorist organisations are being raised and accompanied by genocidal chants against the Jewish people,” the GIC said.

“The Global Imams Council will begin a series of delegations to Jewish communities, offering our unwavering support in the face of Hamas and its allies.”

The group of Muslim faith leaders also denounced the Hamas attacks against Jewish, Christian, and Muslim civilians in Israel.

Hamas is an Islamic extremist organisation that has been designated as a terrorist group by many countries, including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union.

The Israeli death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has now risen to 1,200, according to the Israeli military. Israel declared war on the weekend following the terrorist group’s shock attack.

Rockets fired by Palestinian terrorists from Gaza City are intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome defence missile system in the early hours of Oct. 8, 2023. Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images

Melbourne Pro-Palestine rally

Meanwhile, an attendee at a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne on Tuesday night has been seen carrying a portrait of a terrorist organisation.

The Melbourne rally was attended by more than 1,000 people and involved a march through city streets.

The Victorian Liberal party labelled the rally “completely inappropriate” in the lead up to the event.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson shed light on the footage on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

The protestor was seen carrying a framed photo of Hassan Nasrallah, who the secretary-general of Hezbollah.

“Disturbing to see a portrait of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the listed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, at the Melbourne Pro-Palestine rally last night,” Mr. Paterson said.

“Supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation is unlawful under the Commonwealth Criminal Code and must be investigated.”

Global Attention for Sydney Rally

A broadly condemned pro-Palestine rally at the Sydney Opera House on Monday night has received global attention.

Hundreds of people supporting Hamas were seen on camera chanting, burning, and stomping on the Israel flag at the Opera House.

The group were filmed chanting “Gas the Jews“ repeatedly at the protest, which horrified political leaders from the centre-right Liberal and centre-left Labor parties.

“I was, I think, horrified by the protest, and I think it was the wrong thing to do given the indiscriminate slaughter of people in Israel over the last 48 hours,” New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns said.

People with Israeli flags watch the Opera House while it is illuminated in blue to show solidarity with Israel in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 9, 2023. David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

The pro-Palestine group are planning another protest in Sydney on Sunday, despite warnings from NSW Police not to attend.

“At this stage, I would encourage people not to attend that assembly on Sunday that is currently proposed, because they do have no protections that come from the appropriate issue of a form one for breaking the law,” NSW Police acting commissioner David Hudson said on Wednesday.