Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced a hostile reception during a visit to one of the country’s largest mosques on Friday, being escorted out through a rear exit after being met with chants and heckling — before later telling reporters the visit had gone well.
Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke attended Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, a traditional Labor Party stronghold, where a section of those present greeted the Prime Minister with chants of “genocide supporters” and calls for him to leave. Other individuals were heard directing personal abuse at him. One person was removed by mosque security before Albanese departed. He was subsequently escorted out through a back exit.
Despite the visible disruption, Albanese sought to minimise the incident when speaking to journalists afterwards. “I walked through the crowd to the mosque, and not a single person heckled,” he said. “There were a couple of hecklers inside, they were dealt with. Contrary to what’s been suggested, no one was rushed out.” He described the overall reception as “incredibly positive.”
Hours after leaving the mosque, the Prime Minister posted a message on social media marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, writing that Australia’s diversity was its “strength” and reaffirming his government’s commitment to ensuring every Australian felt “safe and respected.”
The Lebanese Muslim Association, which runs the mosque, said Albanese had been welcome to attend prayers and indicated its doors would remain open to visitors.
The visit came against a backdrop of rising tension between the Australian government and parts of the country’s Muslim community over Canberra’s position on the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. A recent visit to Australia by Israeli President Isaac Herzog had already sparked significant protests, with police called to remove demonstrators praying outside Sydney’s Town Hall during that event.
Your Party MP Zarah Sultana commented on the incident, saying politicians who had supported Israel’s actions in Gaza and backed US-Israeli operations in Iran and Lebanon should not be surprised by the reception they received when visiting mosques. Lakemba, while historically a safe seat for Labor, has seen community relations become increasingly strained as the conflicts in the Middle East have continued.
