Prime Minister Albanese and Minister Burke heckled at Lakemba Mosque Eid event
Consensus Summary
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke faced violent protests at Lakemba Mosque during Eid celebrations on April 10, 2024, amid escalating tensions over Australiaās stance on the Israel-Hamas war and strikes in Lebanon. Protesters, including a Stand4Palestine activist named Mukhlis Mah, shouted accusations of 'genocide support' and demanded the politicians leave, leading to physical altercations and police intervention. A 33-year-old man, later identified as Ibrahim Seklaoui, was removed from the mosque after resisting. While some attendees heckled, others welcomed the politicians, reflecting deep divisions within the Muslim community over whether to engage with government officials. The Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA), which runs the mosque, defended inviting Albanese and Burke, arguing that disengagement had failed to influence policy or reduce Islamophobia. The incident occurred as Israelās military campaign in Gaza and Lebanon continued, with over 900 deaths reported in Lebanon alone, heightening emotions. Albanese later downplayed the confrontation, claiming most reception was positive, though protesters accused him of hypocrisy for supporting Israel while attending a sacred Muslim event.
ā Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke attended Eid prayers at Lakemba Mosque in Western Sydney on 10 April 2024 to mark the end of Ramadan
- Protesters at the event shouted 'genocide supporters' and 'boo Tony Burke, boo Albanese' during the gathering
- A man identified as Mukhlis Mah (Stand4Palestine activist) was physically restrained and later removed from the mosque by police after a scuffle
- NSW Police issued a move-on direction to a 33-year-old man (later identified as Ibrahim Seklaoui) who was involved in the disturbance
- Lakemba Mosque (Lebanese Muslim Association) hosted Albanese and Burke despite community divisions over political engagement
- Gamel Kheir, secretary of the Lebanese Muslim Association, urged calm and defended the mosqueās decision to invite politicians
- Albanese and Burke remained seated until the end of the speech before being escorted out of the mosque
- The event occurred amid ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon, with protesters linking Australian government policy to Israeli actions
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Former Coalition MP Jason Wood was escorted out of a Ramadan event in Melbourne last year after heckling and physical altercations
- Tony Burke abandoned a scheduled Ramadan event in Lakemba last year after protest plans were circulated
- A protester shouted 'You called him honourable, he's responsible for the deaths of 1 billion people'
- Albanese and Burke were contacted for comment but did not provide one
- Stand4Palestine activist Mukhlis Mah was described as 'thrown out' by LMA staff and police, with a video showing him being pushed down stairs
- Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah posted that Albanese and Burkeās invitation was a 'reward for supporting the genocide'
- LMA secretary Gamel Kheir noted a 'dramatic rise of the far-right anti-immigration agenda' and cited Pauline Hanson and Coalition elements
- NSW Police confirmed a 33-year-old man was removed and issued a move-on direction, matching ABCās later identification of Ibrahim Seklaoui
- Kheir stated the mosqueās 'non-engagement policy' after the 2022 election did not serve its purpose and questioned its effectiveness
- One protester was led out by police and released without charge after being given a move-on direction
- LMAās statement emphasized that 'engaging with government does not weaken' their position on Gaza and Lebanon
- The mosque defended Albaneseās attendance as a way to 'give them a voice' and 'have real conversations'
- Israelās strikes in Lebanon had killed at least 912 people (including 111 children) and displaced over a million by the event date
- Initial plans included Albanese giving a speech, but organisers demanded he only attend and listen
- A crowd formed a circle around Albanese and Burke, shouting 'Why is he here? Get him out of here!'
- Protesters pushed and shoved as Albanese and Burke were rushed into the mosqueās office before escaping via a back door
- Albanese was chased by the crowd and called 'Alba-tizi' (a play on his name with Arabic slang)
- Ibrahim Seklaoui (29) said Albaneseās attendance was a 'disgrace' after shaking hands with Israeli President Isaac Herzog
- Kheir acknowledged the community had 'the right to be angry' but criticized the method of protest
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC and SMH report protesters shouted 'Why is he here? Get him out of here!', but NEWSCOMAU and GUARDIAN do not explicitly quote this exact phrase
- NEWSCOMAU states Mukhlis Mah was 'thrown out' and 'pushed down stairs' by LMA staff and police, while ABC and SMH describe him as being restrained and later removed
- SMH claims Albanese was chased by protesters and escaped via a back door, while ABC and GUARDIAN do not mention this detail
- ABC reports a protester shouted 'You called him honourable, he's responsible for the deaths of 1 billion people', but NEWSCOMAU and SMH do not attribute this exact quote to a single individual
- GUARDIAN states one protester was 'led out by police and released without charge', while NEWSCOMAU and SMH specify a move-on direction was issued (not necessarily a charge)
Source Articles
Albo heckled, chaotic scenes at Sydney mosque
Anthony Albanese has been heckled and accused of being a āgenocide supporterā at one of Australiaās biggest mosques....
Albanese confronted by protesters at Lakemba mosque
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke were attending prayers at Lakemba Mosque to mark the end of Ramadan....
Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke heckled by protesters at Lakemba mosque
The prime minister makes a hasty exit, avoiding a large crowd waiting for him outside Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcas...
Breaking: Albanese, Burke shouted at as anger erupts at Eid prayers
Anger at the government has spilled over at an Eid prayer event attended by the prime minister and home affairs minister, with a couple of attendees calling for the politicians to be removed from the ...