| AFIC: New Evidence Exposes Government Narrative – Only a Full Independent Investigation Can Restore Trust |
** “This was not just a mistake on the night. It was followed by days of deflection and denial,” Dr Jneid said.
|
AFIC: New Evidence Exposes Government Narrative – Only a Full Independent Investigation Can Restore Trust
16/02/2026
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) notes today’s media reports that a police officer on the ground agreed to allow Muslim prayer to proceed on Monday night, before police action escalated and worshippers were violently dispersed.
This revelation completely undermines the public narrative advanced by the NSW Premier, the Police Commissioner, and the Police Minister in the days following the incident. Their statements, which sought to justify or minimise what occurred, are now shown to be misleading at best and disingenuous at worst.
AFIC, together with nearly 200 Muslim organisations, has already rejected the positions put forward by the NSW Government and police leadership, and has called for accountability. The latest reporting confirms what the community has said from the outset that this was not a spontaneous or unavoidable policing response, “This latest evidence shows that the official version of events cannot be trusted,” said Dr Rateb Jneid, President of AFIC. “When leaders misrepresent what happened to justify the use of force against people at prayer, the problem is no longer just operational. It is institutional.”
In light of this new information, there can be no acceptable course of action other than a full, genuinely independent investigation into what occurred, including the chain of command, decision-making processes, and the instructions given on the night.Anything less would confirm that the NSW Government is more interested in protecting reputations than upholding rights.
AFIC reiterates, in full, the collective demands outlined in the joint statement issued by nearly 200 Muslim organisations :
• A full and public apology from the NSW Premier, the Police Minister, and police leadership for the disruption of peaceful Muslim prayer and the use of force against worshippers;
• The resignation of the Police Commissioner, whose leadership bears responsibility for a policing culture in which such conduct was permitted to occur;
• The establishment of a genuinely independent inquiry with full powers to investigate this incident, including decision-making authority, operational orders, and the use of force;
• That all officers found to have acted unlawfully or abusively be held personally accountable, including through criminal charges and prosecution where the evidence supports it.
“This was not just a mistake on the night. It was followed by days of deflection and denial,” Dr Jneid said. “When governments and police leadership close ranks instead of telling the truth, they deepen the harm and destroy trust. Our community will not accept that.”
AFIC will continue to stand with the Muslim community and with all organisations who signed the joint statement until there is real accountability, transparency, and justice. Anything less will only confirm that equal treatment under the law does not extend to Muslims in New South Wales.
Dr Rateb Jneid
President – AFIC |
