Australian police have admitted that Muslim worshippers had permission to perform prayers, as authorities face backlash about their forcible removal.
The New South Wales Police Force confirmed on Thursday that the worshippers had been told they could continue to worship, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
"The NSW police force has now become aware that a senior police officer had allowed a group of Muslim protesters to continue praying at Town Hall Square on Monday evening," said a spokesperson.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia, leading to clashes with police at several locations.
"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,” the spokesperson added.
Footage circulated on social media showed police forcibly removing Muslim worshippers and dragging them as they performed prayers during the protest.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said he “apologised for any offence taken for interfering with that religious process,” noting that the move by police did not target any religion.
Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir demanded “the commissioner and the (NSW) premier (Chris Minns) make a public apology on mainstream media, the same way."
Independent lawmaker Allegra Spender said an independent inquiry into the police response at the protest was needed to "restore public trust".
Minns has doubled down in his defence of the police, saying, "Constant protests form a risk to community cohesion."
The incident triggered widespread condemnation, including from the Australian National Imams Council, which described the police actions as “shocking, deeply disturbing, and entirely unacceptable.”
Australia’s special envoy for Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, has demanded an investigation into the police use of force and urged Minns to issue a public apology to the Muslim community.
A UN Human Rights Council special commission of inquiry into the war in Gaza said last year that Israel was committing genocide and cited statements by Herzog as evidence of genocidal intent.
