‘Intifada’ chant and extremist symbols will probably be banned by Australian state beneath new legislation after Bondi capturing | EUROtoday

An Australian state is shifting to ban public shows of Islamic State group flags and extremist symbols after the Bondi Beach mass capturing pushed by antisemitism killed 15 folks.

Under draft legal guidelines to be debated by the of New South Wales Parliament, publicly displaying the IS flag or symbols from different extremist teams will probably be offenses punishable by as much as two years in jail and fines.

The state’s premier, Chris Minns, additionally stated chants of “globalize the intifada” will probably be banned and police can be given higher powers to demand protesters take away face coverings at demonstrations.

“Hate speech or incitement of hatred has no place in our society,” Minns stated Saturday.

The Arabic phrase intifada is mostly translated as “uprising.”

While pro-Palestinian demonstrators say the slogan describes the worldwide protests towards the struggle in Gaza, Jewish leaders say it inflames tensions and encourages assaults on Jews.

“Horrific, recent events have shown that the chant ‘globalize the intifada’ is hate speech and encourages violence in our community,” Minns instructed reporters. “You’re running a very risky racket if you’re thinking of using that phrase.”

New South Wales politicians are anticipated to debate the reforms on Monday after the premier recalled parliament.

Police stated Sunday’s assault, focusing on a Hanukkah celebration on Australia’s most well-known seaside, was “a terrorist assault impressed by (the) Islamic State ” group. Police stated they discovered two do-it-yourself IS flags within the automobile utilized by the 2 suspects.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to introduce measures to curb radicalization and hate, together with broadening the definition of hate speech offenses for preachers and leaders who promote violence, and toughening punishments for such crimes. The proposals would additionally designate some teams as hateful, and permit judges to contemplate hate as an aggravating consider instances of on-line threats and harassment.

Albanese has additionally introduced plans to tighten Australia’s already strict gun legal guidelines.

The assault has raised questions on whether or not Australian Jews are sufficiently shielded from rising antisemitism.

Australia has 28 million folks, together with about 117,000 who’re Jewish. Antisemitic incidents, together with assaults, vandalism, threats and intimidation, surged greater than threefold within the nation through the 12 months after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel launched a struggle on Hamas in Gaza in response, the federal government’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal reported in July.