In a statement published online on Wednesday, Bayside City Council called the necklace a “political symbol” and said the picture went against council media policy requirements to remain neutral.
“Council remains committed to promoting social cohesion and inclusivity and will continue to ensure the neutrality of council communications,” the statement said.
Nine complaints from the public over the newsletter’s cover image were submitted to the council as public questions, according to the minutes of an October 14 meeting.
Zaina, who turned 17 this week, won the council’s Julian Gurrieri Memorial Award in May for her volunteer work and was approached to be in Let’s Talk Bayside three months later.
“It felt really good having my achievements being recognised by the community and members of the council … I felt very honoured and proud of myself,” she said. A webpage announcing the award win has since been taken offline.
Less than a week after the edition was published in early October, Zaina’s mother received a call from a council staff member saying members of the public had complained about the teenager’s necklace.
Zaina said her inclusion within the newsletter was not political in nature but focused on the local library program and her volunteering efforts.
“It didn’t make any sense to me whatsoever … it just felt like they dismissed all the work and the effort I put into helping the council and the community,” she said.
In the days following the removal, Zaina said she was scared to leave the house or catch public transport because the complainants live in the Bayside area. She said she felt unsafe.
“Members of the community who complained about me know my face and name. And I know nothing about them,” she said.
The Palestine pendant necklace.Credit: Justin McManus
“When [the council] decided to remove me … I felt like they were just prioritising the needs of themselves and the people who complained.”
In survey data collated by The Age during local council elections last October, all seven current Bayside councillors said that councils shouldn’t be responsible for making statements on issues such as tackling antisemitism or the conflict in Gaza.
During a September 16 meeting this year, Bayside Council unanimously passed a motion endorsing the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.
The council voted to provide things such as increased awareness, advocacy, community engagement and public education “that addresses but is not limited to antisemitism”.
Despite several meetings with council staff, Zaina said she still felt the situation was unresolved, including her request for a public apology. She is unsure what will happen next.
“Council should be supporting us young people … they can’t be putting on their [statements of] council values that they’re diverse, inclusive and socially cohesive, but then go and do this to someone,” she said.
“They were just worrying about their own reputation, rather than looking at how this would impact a young girl.”
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