Overview
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke left Lakemba Mosque in western Sydney after a small group of worshippers heckled them during Eid al‑Fitr prayers, shouting “genocide supporters” and “get them out.”
- Video from the event showed security tackling one heckler and removing him, with police later issuing a move‑on direction or releasing him without charge according to multiple reports.
- Albanese downplayed the incident, calling the reception “incredibly positive” and noting a reported 30,000‑plus turnout in which most attendees welcomed him.
- The Lebanese Muslim Association, which runs the mosque, defended inviting the prime minister and said its doors would continue to open, as community leader Gamel Kheir urged calm and engagement during his address.
- Coverage linked the flashpoint to anger over Australia’s stance on Israel’s war in Gaza and Israeli strikes in Lebanon, as well as recent government action banning Hizb ut‑Tahrir under strengthened anti‑extremism laws.