Sydney Woman Arrested for Raising Hezbollah Flag

Hundreds of demonstrators hold flags and pictures of Hassan Nasrallah, late leader of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, at a protest rally in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, on Sept. 29, 2024. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images

A 19-year-old woman was arrested on Oct. 2 for displaying a Hezbollah flag at a protest rally in Sydney.

New South Wales (NSW) Police said the woman was later granted strict conditional bail and is scheduled to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on Oct. 23.

Police say the teenager was arrested under Operation Shelter, established in October 2023 to ensure community safety in response to protest activity.

“At about 10 a.m. today (Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024), the 19-year-old woman presented herself to Kogarah Police Station following a public appeal. She was arrested and charged with causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation’s symbol,” the police statement read.

Albanese Urges Caution

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged against protests on Oct. 7, citing the date’s significance as the anniversary of the largest killing of Jewish people since the Holocaust.

He expressed concern that any demonstrations on that day, even if peaceful, could be perceived as provocative and cause unnecessary distress.

“Oct. 7, I think that people should recognise the sensitivity which is there and have a bit of common sense and see whether their cause will be advanced or whether it will be set back,” he told ABC Melbourne.

Albanese acknowledged the right to peaceful expression in a democracy but emphasised the importance of social cohesion, particularly in Australia’s multicultural society.

When asked about protests in Sydney and Melbourne, where police have expressed concerns over planned vigils and rallies, the prime minister expressed his support for law enforcement.

“I support the police in whatever action they take,” he said, adding that police make independent decisions to ensure public safety.

Albanese also condemned the display of terrorist symbols.

“There is no place for terrorist symbols—not this weekend, not last weekend, or any weekend. It’s wrong,” he said.

“And the fact that the symbol, the flag that is being raised and waved around has a gun at its centre should be a bit of an indication that it’s a violent symbol.”

NSW Police Move to Prohibit Palestine Rallies

NSW Police have filed an application to prohibit upcoming actions commemorating 12 months of the war, which has caused a huge loss of life.

In response, the Palestine Action Group issued a statement reaffirming its plan to organise peaceful rallies for 51 consecutive weeks.

“This application comes in the context of the genocide Israel has conducted in Gaza for an entire year,” the group said in a statement. “The move to ban demonstrations mourning one year of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and now the invasion of Lebanon is an attack on fundamental democratic rights.”

The statement follows recent Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, which prompted Iran to launch around 200 missiles into Israel.

The Palestine Action Group also criticised attempts to prevent the Palestinian and Lebanese communities from gathering to mourn the victims.

“We have the right to demonstrate, and we refuse to concede to political attacks. We are determined to continue standing for justice,” the statement concluded.