Police Actions and Allegations of Misconduct at Sydney Anti-Herzog Protest

A protest against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Sydney on Monday, February 24, 2024, led to police intervention, including the disruption of prayers and multiple arrests. These events have prompted official apologies from police and calls for independent investigations from various community and political organizations.

Protest Overview and Incident Escalation

Approximately 6,000 individuals attended the protest near Sydney's Town Hall, organized by the Palestine Action Group (PAG). The demonstration, which included a 16-year-old participant named Nedal and his mother, Kefah Maradweh, initially began peacefully.

However, the situation reportedly escalated when some participants attempted to march towards the NSW parliament. This action was deemed unlawful under a Public Assembly Restriction Declaration (PARD) that was in effect.

Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna reported that officers encountered situations involving threats, jostling, and assaults, describing "melees, rolling fights," and "violent behaviour." PAG spokeswoman Amal Naser stated that there was "effectively no safe way to leave" for protesters.

In total, 27 demonstrators were arrested during the protest, with nine subsequently charged. Five of these charges were for alleged assault on police officers.

Allegations of Police Conduct

Accounts from participants and circulated footage describe several incidents of police action.

A group of Muslim men who had received prior police authorization to pray at Town Hall square were disrupted mid-prayer by officers. A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed a senior officer had authorized the prayers. However, they explained that this message was not fully relayed to other officers implementing a move-on directive in a "noisy, dynamic and fast-moving situation," leading to some worshippers being moved.

Nedal, 16, alleged that police pushed people from Town Hall. He claims that while standing near a group of Muslim men praying, police forcefully grabbed him by his keffiyeh, dragged him, kicked him, and applied knee pressure to his head and neck before handcuffing him.

He was briefly detained and released without charge, sustaining scratches and bruises. His mother described the incident as a "deliberate attack" and an "assault on a minor." Videos reportedly show parts of Nedal's apprehension.

Footage from the event reportedly shows police charging in lines and using pepper spray. Another video depicted a man being punched multiple times while his hands were restrained.

Official Responses and Police Apologies

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon issued an apology for "any offence that may have been taken for interfering with that religious process." He emphasized that the move-on directive was not targeting any particular religion. Commissioner Lanyon had previously contacted senior Muslim community members to express regret for "any offence that may have been taken."

He affirmed support for the operational decision to disperse the crowd, citing that it had become aggressive and violent toward police. Commissioner Lanyon denied that the timing of the police action was related to an event attended by President Herzog at a nearby convention center. He confirmed that body-worn camera footage of the incident is available for internal review.

NSW Premier Chris Minns defended police actions, stating that officers made tactical decisions in a "difficult situation" to maintain public safety.

Premier Minns stated he would not issue an apology to the Muslim community, asserting that police would not disrupt a prayer service "unless it was in the middle of a riot." He also rejected calls for Commissioner Lanyon's resignation.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley attributed the volatile situation to a "minority who are full of volatile anger" and suggested PAG should apologize for defying police and government directives. Premier Minns added that "constant protests form a risk to community cohesion."

Community and Political Reactions

The events prompted significant reactions from various groups.

Muslim groups, including the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) and the Australian Federal Imams Council (Afic), called for public apologies from both Premier Minns and Commissioner Lanyon. They stated that the Commissioner's private apology to Muslim leaders was inadequate.

The Australian National Imam’s Council (Anic) confirmed contact with Commissioner Lanyon, though LMA and Afic reported not being contacted. Bilal Rauf, a senior advisor to Anic, described Lanyon's apology as "very qualified."

Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib expressed concern over the footage, particularly regarding the disruption of men praying. He communicated these concerns with the Premier, Police Minister, and Police Commissioner. Premier Minns acknowledged Dib's statements, noting some disagreements, but praised Dib's efforts to repair relationships.

Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence suggested that "major events" powers and public assembly restriction declarations contributed to a "pressure cooker" environment for police and protesters.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that verified videos showed police "violently dispersing people kneeling in prayer." HRW called for an investigation into alleged excessive force by police, recommending discipline or prosecution for those responsible.

The Greens party, including MLC Sue Higginson, referred the police's conduct to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) for investigation. Independent federal MP Allegra Spender also requested an independent inquiry into the police response to restore public trust. Premier Minns, however, rejected calls for an independent inquiry into the police response.