Australia puts curbs on use of ‘Intifada’ slogans

SYDNEY, Australia (MNTV) — Authorities in Australia are tightening restrictions on demonstrations in support of Palestinians in response to the Bondi Beach attack, reports NBC News.

In New South Wales, the Australian state where the attack took place, police will be granted expanded powers to shut down unauthorized protests, while tougher hate speech laws will be introduced, including a proposed ban on the slogan “globalize the intifada.”

The move came shortly after U.K. police arrested two people in London on racially aggravated public order charges for allegedly shouting slogans invoking “intifada” at a demonstration. 

The Arabic word “intifada” is generally translated as “uprising” and is used to describe two major Palestinian uprisings in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip against Israeli occupation, the first beginning in 1987 and the second in 2000.

Supporters say the term “globalize the intifada,” which has been used for years at protests worldwide, refers to international solidarity against Israeli occupation.

Israeli officials and some Jewish organizations, however, argue the term carries an inherent call to violence against Israel.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said that the “implications” of demonstrations in support of Palestinians could be seen in the Bondi attack and, after authorities designated the shooting a terrorist event, he has introduced reforms that would give his government powers to shut down unauthorized protests for three months.

“When you see people marching and showing violent bloody images, images of death and destruction, it’s unleashing something in our community that the organizers of the protest can’t contain,” he said.

Minns on Saturday announced further reforms to hate speech laws that would ban the “globalize the intifada” chant alongside other “hateful comments and statements,” as well as “terrorist symbols such as the ISIS flags.”