In early October, a restaurateur in Sydney pleaded guilty to displaying a Nazi symbol during a pro-Palestinian rally. The 56-year-old was photographed at the rally holding a sign that replaced the Star of David on the Israeli flag with a blue swastika, along with the words 'Stop Nazi Israel.' He was also seen holding another sign in the colors associated with Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization in Australia, with the words 'our boys in green and gold will win.'
The rally, which took place in Sydney's central business district, occurred a day before the one-year anniversary of attacks in Israel carried out by Hamas. The rally saw an estimated 10,000 attendees, and the accused was the only person charged following the event. Despite initial attempts by the police to prevent the rally, an agreement was later reached with the organizers, allowing it to proceed peacefully.
The restaurateur, who is the co-founder of the Nomad Group that owns three high-end restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne, faces a potential sentence of up to 12 months in jail or a fine of 11,000 Australian dollars. The sentencing is scheduled for December 10.
Performing Nazi gestures and displaying Nazi symbols have been banned by various state and federal laws since 2022. Jewish groups in Australia have reported a significant increase in anti-Semitic actions amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East.
Earlier in October, a state police chief apologized to the Jewish community after a 65-year-old sergeant allegedly performed an outlawed Nazi salute at a police academy. In the same week, a self-described Nazi was informed by a magistrate that he would be the first person in Australia to be sentenced to prison for the banned gesture.
In June, three soccer fans were fined for performing the salute during a match in Sydney. These men were the first to be convicted in Australia for such offenses and have since lodged appeals.
