ACOSS Australian Council of Social Service is deeply concerned by what unfolded during protests in Sydney earlier this week, including the use of force by NSW Police against a racially marginalised community.
We are alarmed by footage and reports of police physically removing Muslim people while praying, including punching and kicking people, and using pepper spray.
ACOSS supports calls from Hugh de Kretser, the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission and Giri Sivaraman கிரி சிவராமன் the Race Discrimination Commissioner, for all allegations of unlawful conduct by police to be fully and impartially investigated, with accountability where wrongdoing is found.
The right to peaceful assembly is fundamental to a healthy democracy and must be respected and protected. People have the right to gather peacefully and to practise their religion without fear of violence or intimidation.
Police have a responsibility to ensure public safety, but the use of force should be a last resort and proportionate to the circumstances.
Governments and law enforcement agencies must uphold human rights and ensure that protest is facilitated, not suppressed.
You can read the full response from the Australian Human Rights Commission here: https://humanrights.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/search-listing-media-releases/rights-and-freedoms/response-to-violence-at-sydney-protests
