Prime Minister Albanese and Home Affairs 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, after years of tensions over Australia’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza and Lebanon. Protesters shouted ‘genocide supporters’ and ‘get them out of here,’ leading to a physical altercation where a 33-year-old man was removed by police. The Lebanese Muslim Association, which runs the mosque, defended inviting Albanese, arguing engagement with government strengthens advocacy rather than undermines it. While most sources agree on the core event, details vary: Stand4Palestine claims police used force against one protester, a claim police deny; Albanese’s exit was described differently across reports; and casualty figures from Lebanon’s conflict were only provided by one outlet. The incident reflects deep divisions within the Muslim community over whether to engage with politicians amid ongoing Middle East violence.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke attended an Eid prayer event at Lakemba Mosque in Western Sydney on 10 April 2024 to mark the end of Ramadan
- Protesters at the Lakemba Mosque event shouted 'genocide supporters' and 'get them out of here' at Albanese and Burke
- A 33-year-old man was removed from the mosque premises by police after a disturbance and given a move-on direction
- Gamel Kheir, secretary of the Lebanese Muslim Association, delivered a speech criticizing Australia’s involvement in the Middle East war during the event
- Lakemba Mosque is one of Australia’s largest mosques, located in Sydney’s west
- The Lebanese Muslim Association defended inviting Albanese, stating engagement with government is not a betrayal of Gaza/Lebanon positions
- Protests at Eid events involving politicians have occurred in previous years, including a 2023 incident with Jason Wood
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Hecklers shouted 'boo Tony Burke, boo Albanese' and 'You called him honourable, he's responsible for the deaths of 1 billion people'
- Albanese and Burke remained seated until the end of the speech before being led out of the mosque
- Former Coalition MP Jason Wood was escorted out of a 2023 Eid event in Melbourne after physical altercations
- Tony Burke abandoned a scheduled Ramadan event in Lakemba in 2023 after protest plans were circulated
- One man who booed Albanese was led out by police and released without charge after a move-on direction
- The Lebanese Muslim Association statement emphasized that 'engaging with government does not weaken' their Gaza/Lebanon advocacy
- The federal government announced sending surveillance aircraft and air-to-air missiles to the UAE to protect Australians in the Gulf
- The Guardian noted Israel’s strikes in Lebanon had killed at least 912 people (including 111 children) and displaced over 1 million
- Stand4Palestine activist Mukhlis Mah was identified as the man who was thrown out and claimed police threw him down the stairs
- Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah posted that Albanese and Burke’s invitation was a 'reward for supporting genocide'
- NSW Police confirmed a 33-year-old man was removed and given a move-on direction, matching ABC’s report but omitting Stand4Palestine claims
- Gamel Kheir stated the mosque’s 'non-engagement policy' with government after the 2023 election had 'not served an initial purpose'
- Kheir mentioned a 'dramatic rise of the far-right anti-immigration agenda' represented by Pauline Hanson and parts of the Coalition
- Protesters shouted 'shame', 'disgrace', and 'putrid dog' at Albanese during the event
- Albanese was chased by the crowd after escaping via a back door, with some yelling 'Alba-tizi' (a play on his name)
- A source of anger was Albanese’s support for Israel, with protesters referencing the Gaza and Lebanon wars
- Albanese played down the incident, stating 'overwhelmingly the reception was incredibly positive' and 'not a single person heckled' outside the mosque
- Ibrahim Seklaoui (29) said Albanese’s attendance was a 'disgrace' after shaking hands with Israeli President Isaac Herzog
- Kheir denied most of the community was angry but acknowledged protesters had 'valid arguments'
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- ABC and News.com.au report Stand4Palestine activist Mukhlis Mah was thrown out and claimed police threw him down the stairs, but NSW Police only state a 33-year-old man was removed and given a move-on direction without mentioning violence
- The Guardian and News.com.au quote Gamel Kheir defending engagement with government, but ABC and SMH do not include this specific defense in their quotes
- SMH reports Albanese said 'not a single person heckled' him outside the mosque, while ABC and News.com.au describe a crowd forming to confront him upon exit
- ABC and News.com.au describe Albanese and Burke remaining seated until the end of the speech, but SMH implies they were rushed into the mosque’s office amid chaos
- The Guardian notes Israel’s strikes in Lebanon had killed 912 people (including 111 children) and displaced over 1 million, while ABC and News.com.au do not provide these specific casualty figures
Source Articles
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 Western Sydney mosque.
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 podcast Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke were heckled by some worshippers at one of Australia’s largest mosques, with some booing and one shouting “genocide supporters” before the prime minister made a quick exit. The prime minister and the home affairs minister were at Lakemba mosque in Sydney’s west on F
Albo heckled, chaotic scenes at Sydney mosque
Anthony Albanese has been heckled and accused of being a “genocide supporter” at one of Australia’s 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.
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