| AFIC Condemns Israel’s Discriminatory Death Penalty Laws as Further Evidence of Apartheid and Calls for Immediate Australian Action |
** Dr. Rateb Junaid,
President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said: "This
legislation is not an isolated case, but rather a continuation of
Israel's complete disregard for international law."
|
AFIC Condemns Israel’s Discriminatory Death Penalty Laws as Further Evidence of Apartheid and Calls for Immediate Australian Action
01/04/2026
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) strongly condemns proposed Israeli legislation that would impose the death penalty in a manner that applies exclusively to Palestinians, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and further confirmation of the apartheid nature of the Israeli state.
A law that explicitly creates separate legal consequences based on identity, codifies inequality. It entrenches a system in which one population is subject to harsher punishment than another for comparable conduct.
Such a framework meets the very definition of apartheid under international law.
This development cannot be viewed in isolation. It must be understood as part of a broader and consistent pattern, from the devastation of Gaza, to forced displacement, to the expansion of military operations across multiple countries, all of which reflect a system of control, domination and unequal treatment.
“This legislation is not an isolated matter but a continuation of the complete disregard for international laws by Israel.,” said AFIC President Dr Rateb Jneid. “It confirms what many human rights organisations have already concluded, that Palestinians are subject to a system of institutionalised discrimination that cannot be reconciled with international law.”
AFIC also notes reports that the Australian government has responded by stating it is “concerned” about the proposed laws.
Concern is no longer a credible response.
“For more than two years, we have heard the same language, concern about civilian deaths, concern about displacement, concern about expanding conflict,” Dr Jneid said.
“During that same period, we have witnessed what many credible observers have described as genocide, ethnic cleansing, and now the formalisation of laws that entrench apartheid. Concern has not stopped any of this.”
Australia now faces a clear choice: whether to uphold international law in principle, or to continue to apply it selectively. Australia must move beyond statements and take tangible, meaningful action.
This includes raising the issue at the United Nations, supporting and sponsoring resolutions that explicitly condemn discriminatory laws, and engaging directly with the Israeli government to make clear that such legislation is unacceptable.
AFIC also called on the Australian government to summon the Israeli ambassador and communicate, in unequivocal terms, that Australia rejects any legal framework that institutionalises unequal treatment on the basis of identity.
If laws of this nature are allowed to pass without consequence, it will further erode the credibility of international law and signal that fundamental human rights protections can be disregarded with impunity.
“Equality before the law is a foundational principle,” Dr Jneid said. “When a state openly abandons that principle, and the international community responds with little more than concern, the consequences extend far beyond one region.”
The time for careful language and cautious diplomacy has passed. When apartheid is being formalised in law, silence and inaction become complicity.
Australia must act.
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AFIC, established in 1964, stands as the Peak Muslim Organisation in Australia, with 170 members including 9 State and Territory Councils. It has a rich history of pioneering numerous community services and actively advocating for the rights and representation of the Muslim community.
Authorised:
Dr Rateb Jneid, President |
