| “This is not just a question of poor judgment, it is a damning double standard,” said Dr Rateb Jneid, President of AFIC. |
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AFIC Condemns Neo-Nazi Rally and Demands Answers from NSW Government over Double Standards in Protest Approvals
10/11/2025
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) strongly condemns the neo-Nazi rally held in Sydney over the weekend, a sickening display of hate, racism, and white supremacist ideology that has no place in any civilised society.
That such a rally was not only permitted but approved by authorities is deeply disturbing and demands urgent explanation. In recent months, we have witnessed peaceful pro-Palestinian protests, calling for an end to a genocide, being denied, restricted, or aggressively policed. Yet a gathering explicitly aligned with fascism and hate was allowed to proceed under the protection of the state.
“This is not just a question of poor judgment, it is a damning double standard,” said Dr Rateb Jneid, President of AFIC. “How can the NSW Government justify approving a neo-Nazi rally while simultaneously suppressing peaceful protests against war crimes?.”
AFIC calls on Premier Chris Minns and NSW Police to immediately explain:
• Why the neo-Nazi rally was approved, despite its hateful and provocative intent
• Why peaceful protests, particularly those in support of Palestinian lives, continue to face police obstruction and political hostility
• What criteria are being used to determine which protests are permitted and which are suppressed
The public deserves transparency and accountability. Free expression cannot be selectively applied, especially when the voices being silenced are those calling for justice, and the voices being amplified are those spreading hate.
AFIC also calls on all political leaders to unequivocally denounce the neo-Nazi rally and take immediate steps to ensure that fascist ideologies are not given a platform under the guise of democratic rights.
We stand in solidarity with all communities targeted by hate, including Jewish, Muslim, Indigenous, Black, and migrant communities and will continue to demand a fair and principled approach to civil rights, justice, and public safety for all Australians.
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