Australian PM Anthony Albanese Faces Protests During Eid Prayer Gathering in Sydney

ISLAMABAD: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced protests and chants during his visit to a major Eid-ul-Fitr prayer gathering in Sydney.

According to international media reports, Albanese, along with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, attended Eid prayers at the Lakemba Mosque on Friday, where thousands of worshippers had gathered.

During the event, a group of protesters began chanting slogans against the leaders. Videos circulating on social media show demonstrators shouting phrases such as “Get out” and “Shame,” while accusing the government of supporting controversial policies.

The protest intensified as some individuals labeled the Prime Minister and his government as complicit in alleged injustices, prompting security personnel to intervene and remove at least one protester from the venue.

Mosque authorities urged the crowd to remain calm and reminded attendees that Eid is a day of celebration and unity. Despite this, intermittent protests continued throughout the gathering.

Responding to the incident, Prime Minister Albanese described the overall event as positive, noting that around 30,000 people attended and only a small number participated in the protest. He acknowledged that some individuals may be dissatisfied with government policies but emphasized that the gathering remained largely peaceful.

The protests come amid reported discontent within Australia’s Muslim community over the government’s stance on Middle East issues, particularly regarding the situation in Gaza. Additionally, recent moves by the Australian government to designate certain organizations as banned have also drawn criticism from some quarters.