Amnesty International Australia is demanding an independent investigation into the police's violent response to peaceful protesters. The organization strongly condemns the excessive force used by the NSW police against demonstrators, who were protesting against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The rights to freedom of expression and assembly are fundamental human rights protected by international law, and Australia, as a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), has a clear obligation to respect and uphold these rights.
Around 10,000 people gathered in Sydney to demand justice and accountability for the Israeli President, who has been accused of overseeing and inciting genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, resulting in over 70,000 deaths. However, at least 27 people were arrested, and many were subjected to extreme and unnecessary police violence.
Amnesty International Australia is deeply concerned about reports of police targeting vulnerable and marginalized communities, including First Nations Peoples, Muslim worshippers and leaders, and elderly protesters. The use of pepper spray, police on horseback charging into crowds, and officers boxing protesters in with no avenue to safely disperse before launching attacks is deeply troubling.
'The right to protest is protected under international law. What we witnessed last night was a serious assault on those rights and a deeply troubling display of State-sanctioned violence,' said Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia's Occupied Palestinian Territory Spokesperson.
The excessive use of force by police occurred against the backdrop of rushed protest laws passed by the NSW Parliament. Amnesty warned that these laws risk criminalizing peaceful protest and enabling arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement, particularly against vulnerable and marginalized communities. The events of last night demonstrate that our fears were well-founded.
'Police brutality and the use of excessive force by police have no place in Australia. Law enforcement officials should be protecting people's right to protest, not violently suppressing peaceful protest and harming those demonstrating,' Duar added.
Amnesty International Australia reiterates that police must prioritize facilitating peaceful protest, not suppressing it through the use of force. Law enforcement authorities must observe international standards; police use of force must be targeted, proportionate, and only when strictly necessary to achieve a legitimate objective. Non-violent acts of civil disobedience, including those that disrupt traffic or public spaces, must not be forcibly and violently dispersed. Dispersal should only be used as a last resort.
'The Australian people will not be deterred. The right to protest will continue to be exercised, and police conduct must be urgently investigated so that accountability and justice are delivered,' Duar concluded.
