Australian Officials Push Authoritarian Crackdown On Pro Hezbollah Speech

Australian Officials Push Authoritarian Crackdown On Pro Hezbollah Speech

Sept. 30, 2024

U.S. and ISRAEL IMPERIALISM - FOLLOW THE MONEY

Caitlin Johnstone

As Israel begins another invasion of Lebanon, Australian officials from both sides of the imaginary partisan divide have been falling all over themselves to get Australians punished for speech crimes about the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah.

The Australian political-media class have been in an uproar ever since footage surfaced of people waving Hezbollah flags at a protest in Melbourne over the weekend and displaying pictures of the group’s deceased leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by Israel in a massive airstrike on Friday.

After initially stating that no crime had been committed in these acts of political speech, Victoria police are now saying they have identified six potentially criminal incidents related to the demonstration. These incidents reportedly involve “prohibited symbols” in violation of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment which was enacted last year.

Needless to say, free nations do not have "prohibited symbols."

This development follows numerous statements from various Australian leaders denouncing the protests as criminal.

"I expect the police agencies to pursue this,” Victorian premier Jacinta Allan said of the protests, adding, "Bringing grief and pain and division to the streets of Melbourne by displaying these prohibited symbols, is utterly unacceptable."

Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong took to Twitter to denounce the protesters, saying Australians must not only refrain from supporting Hezbollah but from even giving “any indication of support.”

"We condemn any indication of support for a terrorist organisation such as Hizballah," Wong tweeted, adding, “It not only threatens national security, but fuels fear and division in our communities."

If you ever wonder why Australia so often stands out as a freakish anomaly in the western world with its jarring authoritarianism and disregard for human rights, this is why.

The powerful abuse our civil rights because they can. We are pummeled with propaganda in the birthplace of Rupert Murdoch and increasingly forbidden from speaking out against the atrocities of our government and its allies overseas. We are being groomed into mindless, obedient sheep for the empire.

Reading by Tim Foley

Article with supporting links: https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2024/10/01/australian-officials-push-authoritarian-crackdown-on-pro-hezbollah-speech/

Original: https://youtu.be/wRfo2osmdq0

Thanks for watching! Subscribe to https://www.caitlinjohnst.one for email updates on all my new stuff.

Thanks for watching! Subscribe to https://caitlinjohnstone.com for email updates on all my new stuff.

=

https://www.youtube.com/@CaitlinJohnstone

I write about the end of illusions. 100% reader-funded writer. All works co-authored with my American husband Tim Foley.

Patreon: http://bit.ly/3Lb4SOe
Paypal: http://bit.ly/3LcUSnx

Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)