[ad_1]
Police are investigating after Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian messages were spray-painted on the driveway of a woman’s home in Melbourne’s north in what she believes was a response to her public support for Palestine.
The sidewalk and driveway outside Rita Manesis’s home were spray-painted with messages such as “Get out, Muslim bastards” and “Death to Palestine,” along with several swastikas or Nazi symbols, according to the Islamophobia Register.
Anti-Palestinian graffiti outside Rita Manessis’s home in Melbourne’s north.Credit: Islamophobia Register
Manesis, a non-Muslim woman, told the ABC she believed she was targeted for showing support for the Palestinians as political tensions in Australia increased as Israeli forces advanced further into the city of Rafah at the southern tip of the Gaza Strip.
Victoria Police confirmed on Saturday that officers were called to reports of offensive graffiti in Templestowe on June 7 and were investigating.
“Symbols and actions based on hate have absolutely no place in our society,” said police spokesman Sam Bidey.
loading
Keith Wolahan, the federal MP for the north-east Melbourne electorate of Menzies, said the matter had been referred to police and called for such hate speech to stop.
“I have seen reports of reprehensible anti-Islamic graffiti in my constituency. I have contacted the local police and they are investigating the matter. There is a fine line between legitimate expressions of strong emotion and ugly hatred,” he said.
The Islamophobia Register, which records, reports and analyses Islamophobic incidents in Australia, said the graffiti was part of a significant increase in recorded Islamophobic incidents since the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
[ad_2]
Source link
