During the Eid al-Fitr prayers at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was escorted out of the mosque after some worshippers protested his presence. The event, held on Friday morning, 20 March, had formally invited the Prime Minister along with Tony Burke and several government officials. However, the escalating tensions forced security personnel to guide the Prime Minister out of the building.
The incident began when the mosque’s community leader, Gamel Khair, was addressing the congregation, urging engagement between the government and Muslim Australians. During this address, a segment of attendees shouted slogans accusing the Prime Minister of supporting “genocide” and demanded, “Leave this place.” The unrest appeared to be fuelled by anger over the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza and concerns about rising Islamophobic incidents within Australia.
According to the Australian Associated Press, police briefly removed one individual from the mosque but released them without charge. As the Prime Minister departed, some worshippers continued shouting, with one asking, “Why is he here? Remove him! This is a disgrace.”
Despite the disruption, the mosque’s administration, the Lebanese Muslim Association, affirmed that Prime Minister Albanese had been welcomed and that the mosque’s doors remain open to all. A statement from the association emphasised: “The situation in Gaza and the devastation in Lebanon are not distant concerns for our community. Engaging with elected leadership is a way to convey our concerns, not a betrayal of trust.”
Prime Minister Albanese later told the media that the majority of the congregation, reportedly over 30,000 people, had greeted him positively, describing the overall atmosphere as “incredibly supportive.”
Religious events featuring political figures have in recent years elicited mixed reactions in Australia. Following the 2023 Hamas–Israel conflict, incidents of communal tension and Islamophobia increased, and protests occasionally erupted after the government banned extremist groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir.
The main details of the event are summarised below:
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Lakemba Mosque, Sydney, Australia |
| Date & Time | 20 March, morning |
| Chief Guest | Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister |
| Other Attendees | Tony Burke, government officials |
| Number of Worshippers | Approximately 30,000 |
| Main Incident | Some worshippers shouted at Prime Minister and demanded he leave |
| Mosque Response | Welcomed him and confirmed doors remain open |
| Background | Gaza–Israel conflict, rising Islamophobia in Australia, ban on extremist organisations |
The Lebanese Muslim Association clarified that inviting the Prime Minister aimed to confront the community’s growing concerns constructively. While some expressed dissatisfaction, the overall event remained peaceful, and the Prime Minister’s visit was conducted with respect. Security measures had been heightened due to threatening letters received by the mosque in recent months, but the association maintained that his presence provided a valuable opportunity to highlight community concerns.