Hi everyone,
Well, by now the world has heard about our Prime Minister’s visit to the local mosque in Lakemba, a predominantly Muslim inhabited area of Sydney, an area we know very well having grown up in Sydney and spent half our lives living and traversing its suburbs. There’s been quite a few changes demographically since we made the exodus from the big smoke.
In Australia, as in the UK the votes from that community are highly coveted, sometimes at the expense of others within the community and electorate. The courting of these particular voters is very important to the current Labor Party and each year, to appear ecumenical the PM and his devoted Minister for Immigration (among other portfolios) the not very esteemed Tony Burke visit the mosques for solidarity during the Muslim month of Ramadan. Okay, that’s fine, but this time, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Albo to the Aussies and Albozo to the conservatives) was heckled and driven away out through the back door. He was chased down the street with his entourage placed around him and shuffled into a waiting car.
When this Prime Minister appeared on television, he gave an entirely different story about what happened, played down the entire debacle, smiling AND lying bold faced to the Australian people when we ALL saw what actually occurred. The man is beyond a joke!
So, it appears that the leader of the clowns of parliament isn’t appreciated by the Jews or the Muslims. The rest of Australia has had enough of this circus fiasco and the sooner he’s gone, the better for everyone it seems.
For pictures, videos and links, please access the link below. The entire article follows the link.
https://apple.news/AZn9cmM83QTygP9SYV7QEQw“Albanese Confronted By Protesters At Lakemba Mosque
“By Mostafa Rachwani
“Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was surrounded by protesters yelling “shame” and “disgrace” during Eid prayers at Lakemba Mosque on Friday morning, forcing him into a rushed escape.
“Albanese was attending the prayers, held to mark the end of the month of Ramadan, alongside Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
“One source of anger was Albanese’s support for Israel, with those in the crowds mentioning the wars in Gaza and Lebanon as key to their frustrations.
“Others mentioned the police actions at the protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog, where Muslims were forcibly removed while they were praying at Town Hall in February.
“While neither the prime minister nor Burke spoke to the incensed crowd, attendees shouted down a speech being made by Gamel Kheir, the secretary of the Lebanese Muslim Association, which owns and runs the mosque.
“Kheir was giving one of the speeches traditionally delivered after the prayer, with Albanese and Burke seated just ahead of him. A crowd formed a circle around the official party, shouting Kheir down and demanding to know why the prime minister was invited.
““Why is he here? Get him out of here! It’s a disgrace,” one man shouted, as the mosque event descended in chaos.
“While some called for calm, and for the protesters to sit down and hear the speeches, the crowd would not be talked down, despite Kheir calling for more robust engagement with politicians and the government.
“This masthead understands that there were initial discussions to have Albanese give a speech at the event, but the mosque’s organisers demanded he just attend and listen.
“Traditionally, the mosque hosts politicians from state and federal level at the Eid prayers, and many have given speeches in previous years.
““We must engage and have frank and open dialogue with our political leaders, and not shy away and be reclusive,” Kheir was saying, as the crowd began pushing and shoving.
““You called him honourable, when he is responsible for millions of Muslim deaths,” one man shouted as Kheir attempted to wrap up his speech.
Albanese and Burke were then rushed into the mosque’s office amid a crush of people, some attempting to confront the prime minister.
““Why are you protecting him?” another man shouted as Albanese and Burke were attempted to leave the mosque.
““We have the right to be angry” another shouted as the crowd pushed and shoved to get closer to the Albanese, who was also being called a “putrid dog”.
“A stand-off then ensued, with protesters waiting outside the mosque’s office for Albanese, while organisers attempted to find a way around them.
“Eventually, Albanese was able to escape via a back door, but was chased by the crowd. Some yelled “Alba-tizi” after him, a play on his name, combining it with the colloquial Arabic word for buttocks.
“Others shouted “shame on you” at Albanese until he was able to drive away.
Despite the dramatic exit, Albanese posted pictures to X showing him smiling and shaking hands with attendees.
““Eid Mubarak. An honour [to] join thousands for Eid al-Fitr at Lakemba Mosque this morning,” he wrote.
“One of the men who shouted out at the prime minister, 29-year-old Ibrahim Seklaoui, said it was a “disgrace he was sitting there” and said the anger in the crowd reflected how the Australian Muslim community was feeling.
““He wants to come here after shaking hands with the president of Israel, who’s got blood on his hands. And that means our prime minister has blood on his hands. And to come here and act like nothing has happened is a disgrace,” he said.
He said Albanese’s attendance had “disrespected” the Muslim community because “when one of us bleeds, we all bleed”.
““So to watch our brothers and sisters overseas be in pain, and then you want to come here and be welcomed in open arms? Everyone here has pain in their hearts.”
Kheir said after the event that he “respected people’s opinions” and that he knew something “controversial” was going to happen.
““I think the community showed a lot of courage in welcoming him given what is happening overseas. There’s always a difference of opinion in the community, and we’re not saying what is right or wrong here.”
Kheir denied that much of the community was just as angry but said: “I do believe they have the right to be angry.
““I don’t validate what or how they did it, but they do have some valid arguments. I think this shows the community wants to, and needs to vent at politicians.
““But maybe not in the way it was done today.”
The prime minister’s office has been contacted for comment.“
This was the best news all week.
Love and Shalom,
Rebbetzin Glenys xo