Australian PM Anthony Albanese Heckled at Eid Prayers in Sydney Mosque

Fri Mar 20 2026 09:31:43 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

During an Eid event at Lakemba Mosque, PM Anthony Albanese faced protests from attendees, reflecting deep dissatisfaction with the government's handling of issues impacting the Muslim community.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was heckled at a mosque event in Sydney, where several attendees criticized the government's support for Israel amidst rising tensions related to the Gaza conflict. Despite the protests, the Lebanese Muslim Association welcomed Albanese, emphasizing the importance of dialogue with elected officials.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced significant protests during a visit to Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, which was marking the end of Ramadan with Eid prayers. Invited by community leaders, Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke were met with shouts of genocide supporters and calls to leave as they attended the event.

The mixed reception comes amid escalating discontent among Australia's Muslim community regarding the government's response to the Israel-Gaza conflict and increasing Islamophobia at home.

A man who protested against Albanese was removed from the premises by police but later released without charges. Witnesses reported sustained heckling as the Prime Minister navigated through the crowd, with attendees vocalizing their disapproval of his presence.

Following the event, the Lebanese Muslim Association issued a statement affirming the Prime Minister's welcome at the mosque, acknowledging high emotions in the community due to ongoing issues in Gaza and Lebanon. They stated, Choosing to engage with the elected leadership of this country is not a betrayal of those concerns. It is how we give them a voice.\

Albanese responded to the backlash, noting a generally positive reception from the majority of the large crowd, which numbers over 30,000. He suggested that the unrest may be connected to the government's recent actions against extremist organizations. Furthermore, he highlighted that this visit marked the first invitation extended to a Prime Minister for Eid prayers since the onset of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The incident reflects broader tensions in Australian society, characterized by rising reports of antisemitism and Islamophobia since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Many contend that political events have convoluted religious celebrations, an issue that has led to previous disturbances at Eid events involving elected officials.

This latest event illustrates ongoing divisions within Australian society, exacerbated by recent conflicts abroad and domestic policy responses, leading to complex interactions at such community gatherings.