NSW Police Admit Communication Breakdown Led to Forcible Dispersal of Praying Muslims at Sydney Protest

New South Wales Police have admitted that a communication failure among their own ranks led to the forcible removal of Muslim worshippers who were performing sunset prayers during a protest outside Sydney Town Hall last Monday NSW premier won’t apologise to Muslims after police grab men praying at rally against Isaac Herzogtheguardian.com·SecondaryChris Minns doubles down on support for NSW police, stating officers would ‘never have disrupted a prayer service … unless it was in the middle of a riot’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, says he will not apologise to the Muslim community after police disrupted a group of men praying during a Sydney protest against the visiting Israeli president, Isaac Herzog..

The incident, captured on video that quickly went viral, showed officers shoving and dragging approximately a dozen men who were kneeling in two straight lines for the Maghrib prayer, led by Sheikh Wesam Charkawi Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say.. The footage sparked immediate condemnation from Muslim community groups, civil liberties advocates, and members of the NSW parliament.

According to NSW Police, a senior officer had agreed with Mahmud Hawila — a barrister and former police officer who was negotiating on behalf of the worshippers — to allow the prayer to conclude before issuing move-on directions NSW premier won’t apologise to Muslims after police grab men praying at rally against Isaac Herzogtheguardian.com·SecondaryChris Minns doubles down on support for NSW police, stating officers would ‘never have disrupted a prayer service … unless it was in the middle of a riot’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, says he will not apologise to the Muslim community after police disrupted a group of men praying during a Sydney protest against the visiting Israeli president, Isaac Herzog.. However, the agreement never reached the officers on the ground.

"The senior officer was attempting to relay that message to other officers who were carrying out a move-on direction during what was a noisy, dynamic and fast-moving situation," a police spokesperson said Friday NSW premier won’t apologise to Muslims after police grab men praying at rally against Isaac Herzogtheguardian.com·SecondaryChris Minns doubles down on support for NSW police, stating officers would ‘never have disrupted a prayer service … unless it was in the middle of a riot’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, says he will not apologise to the Muslim community after police disrupted a group of men praying during a Sydney protest against the visiting Israeli president, Isaac Herzog.. "However, some worshippers were moved on before the message from the senior officer was able to be relayed."

The protest, organized by pro-Palestine groups, drew thousands to central Sydney on Monday evening to demonstrate against the four-day visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say.. The visit had been declared a "major event" by authorities, activating expanded police powers to search individuals and disperse crowds across large parts of the CBD and eastern suburbs Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say..

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon offered what critics described as a qualified apology. "I have apologised for any offence taken for interfering with that religious process," he said, while insisting the move-on direction was not targeting any particular religion NSW premier won’t apologise to Muslims after police grab men praying at rally against Isaac Herzogtheguardian.com·SecondaryChris Minns doubles down on support for NSW police, stating officers would ‘never have disrupted a prayer service … unless it was in the middle of a riot’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, says he will not apologise to the Muslim community after police disrupted a group of men praying during a Sydney protest against the visiting Israeli president, Isaac Herzog.. The Australian National Imam's Council confirmed Lanyon had contacted it to apologize, but the Lebanese Muslim Association and the Australian Federal Imams Council said they had received no such communication Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say..

Sheikh Charkawi rejected the police account, saying no citizen should require protection from the police during worship. "The only remedy to the situation must result in nothing short of an inquiry and consequences. The commissioner is ultimately responsible. Those who made the decisions must step down, resign or be removed from their position," he said Friday NSW premier won’t apologise to Muslims after police grab men praying at rally against Isaac Herzogtheguardian.com·SecondaryChris Minns doubles down on support for NSW police, stating officers would ‘never have disrupted a prayer service … unless it was in the middle of a riot’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, says he will not apologise to the Muslim community after police disrupted a group of men praying during a Sydney protest against the visiting Israeli president, Isaac Herzog..

NSW Premier Chris Minns has been the most vocal defender of the police response, repeatedly refusing to apologize and rejecting calls for an independent inquiry — including from members of his own Labor government Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say.. "I genuinely believe that NSW police, their leadership, their regular officers, would never, ever have disrupted a prayer service, or individual Australians who were exercising their religion unless it was in the middle of a riot," he told reporters Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say..

The premier's position has put him at odds with his own emergency services minister, Jihad Dib, who is Muslim and described himself as "deeply distressed" by the footage. Dib wrote on social media that "the scenes were confronting, and they never should have happened" Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say.. Minns acknowledged Dib had "said things I don't agree with" but defended the minister's efforts to repair community relationships Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say..

Hawila, the barrister who negotiated the prayer agreement, has called for police to release body-worn camera footage from the incident. "Simple demands — 1. Release the footage. 2. Public apology. 3. Independent investigation," he wrote on social media NSW premier won’t apologise to Muslims after police grab men praying at rally against Isaac Herzogtheguardian.com·SecondaryChris Minns doubles down on support for NSW police, stating officers would ‘never have disrupted a prayer service … unless it was in the middle of a riot’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, says he will not apologise to the Muslim community after police disrupted a group of men praying during a Sydney protest against the visiting Israeli president, Isaac Herzog.. Commissioner Lanyon acknowledged the footage exists but would not commit to making it public, saying it "is not ordinarily made public" Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say..

Human Rights Watch weighed in, saying verified videos showed police "violently dispersing people kneeling in prayer" and calling on the state government to investigate the alleged use of excessive force Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say.. The organization argued that NSW's restrictions on legitimate protest "doesn't increase safety, but opens the door to abuse" Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say..

Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence, who attended the rally, argued that any investigation should examine the broader legislative context. He pointed to "major events" powers and the public assembly restriction declaration (Pard) — laws rushed through after the Bondi beach terror attack that killed 15 at a Hanukah festival — as having created a "pressure cooker" for both police and protesters Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say..

The incident has deepened existing tensions between NSW Police and the Muslim community. A coalition of groups including the Lebanese Muslim Association and the Australian Federal Imams Council has called for Commissioner Lanyon's resignation . Five people were hospitalized after Monday's rally, and nine have been charged, with five accused of assaulting police NSW premier won’t apologise to Muslims after police grab men praying at rally against Isaac Herzogtheguardian.com·SecondaryChris Minns doubles down on support for NSW police, stating officers would ‘never have disrupted a prayer service … unless it was in the middle of a riot’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, says he will not apologise to the Muslim community after police disrupted a group of men praying during a Sydney protest against the visiting Israeli president, Isaac Herzog..

The political fallout continues to widen. Greens member Sue Higginson has referred police conduct to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Isaac Herzog rally didn’t reach officers, NSW police saytheguardian.com·SecondaryMen praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president’s visit Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say., while community groups have signaled they will pursue legal avenues if the government does not act. The question of whether body-worn camera footage will be released remains the most immediate flashpoint, with transparency advocates arguing it could either vindicate or further condemn the police response.