09.02.2026 22:11
Police violence marked the protests against Israeli President Herzog's visit in Australia. In shocking footage shared on social media that made headlines worldwide, police were seen violently arresting a group of Muslims who posed no threat and were quietly praying, treating them like criminals. The police's "disproportionate and provocative" intervention, dragging worshippers along the ground, escalated tensions on the streets of Sydney.
The city of Sydney, Australia, has witnessed one of the most controversial police interventions in recent years. Thousands of people gathered in front of the Sydney Town Hall to protest the arrival of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, facing a harsh response from the police. The most shocking moment of the incident was the police intervention against a group of Muslim protesters who were praying.
THEY DRAGGED THEM ON THE GROUND DURING PRAYER
According to eyewitness accounts and videos circulating on social media, a group of Muslim men praying in congregation near the area where the protests were taking place became the target of the police.
The police teams began to forcibly lift the praying group from the ground and drag them away. This physical intervention aimed at disrupting the prayer drew significant backlash from the surrounding protesters.
The Australian National Imams Council stated, "The recent footage showing Muslims praying in the city being violently pushed and forcibly removed by the police during the protests against the horrific visit of the Israeli President is shocking, extremely disturbing, and completely unacceptable."
In a statement shared via the US-based social media company X, the council emphasized that the police should "not interfere with religious worship or further escalate an already sensitive situation."
The council expressed that it felt "great anger in response to these images and conveyed its urgent and serious concerns directly to the NSW Police Commissioner and relevant ministers." The statement also mentioned that "the NSW Government and Premier Chris Minns must take responsibility for this behavior and ensure accountability at the highest level."
SYDNEY STREETS IN CHAOS: 27 ARRESTS
The police intervened with tear gas against the crowd that wanted to march in protest of Herzog's visit. In a statement from the Sydney Police, it was reported that at least 27 people were arrested on the grounds of "disturbing public order." However, the police's targeting of those who were praying was described by civil society organizations and the Muslim community in Australia as "a severe blow to freedom of belief."