By Maani Truu, ABC
Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke sat quietly while anger erupted in the crowd.
Photo: ABC News
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke were confronted at an Eid event in Western Sydney, with a small number of attendees calling for them to be removed.
Both remained for the conclusion of the address, before being led out of the mosque.
The prime minister and Burke were attending the event to mark the end of the month of Ramadan.
Anger at the Australian government has spilled over at an Eid prayer event attended by the prime minister and home affairs minister, with a couple of attendees calling for the politicians to be removed from the Western Sydney mosque.
Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke – whose electorate includes Lakemba, where the event was held this morning – sat quietly as a small number of people began shouting during a speech to the congregation following the prayers.
Hecklers could be heard shouting “boo Tony Burke, boo Albanese”, “genocide supporters”, and “get them out of here”. Other attendees appeared to give the prime minister and local member a warm welcome.
The speaker urged calm from the crowd, many of whom remained seated, before continuing his address.
“You called him honourable, he’s responsible for the deaths of 1 billion people, 1 billion of our brothers and sisters,” another attendee shouted.
“You don’t represent us anymore.”
Both Albanese and Burke remained until the end of the speech, which was held to mark the end of Ramadan, before being led out of the building.
Politicians faced similar protests during Eid last year, with the religious holiday coinciding with the federal election campaign.
It’s not unusual for a federal election campaign to overlap with Eid al-Fitr, one of the most important days in the Muslim calendar. It is the absence of many senior politicians at traditional community events that raises eyebrows.
Former Coalition frontbencher Jason Wood had to be escorted out of an event on the outskirts of Melbourne after he was loudly heckled and physical altercations broke out.
Burke also abandoned a scheduled appearance at a Ramadan prayer event in Lakemba last year after plans for a protest were circulated.
Members of the Muslim community are split on the issue of whether politicians should be invited into places of worship, as has happened for years. Some see their presence as a sign of progress, while others believe it is inappropriate.
Burke and Albanese have been contacted for comment.
– ABC News