Current:Home > StocksAustralia bans Nazi salute, swastika, other hate symbols in public as antisemitism spikes -Elevate Profit Vision
Australia bans Nazi salute, swastika, other hate symbols in public as antisemitism spikes
View
Date:2025-04-18 03:16:51
Australian lawmakers have banned the performance of the Nazi salute in public and outlawed the display or sale of Nazi hate symbols such as the swastika in landmark legislation that went into effect in the country Monday. The new laws also make the act of glorifying OR praising acts of terrorism a criminal offense.
The crime of publicly performing the Nazi salute or displaying the Nazi swastika is punishable by up to 12 months in prison, according to the Reuters news agency.
Mark Dreyfus, Australia's Attorney-General, said in a press release Monday that the laws — the first of their kind in the country — sent "a clear message: there is no place in Australia for acts and symbols that glorify the horrors of the Holocaust and terrorist acts."
"No one in Australia will be allowed to glorify or profit from acts and symbols that celebrate the Nazis and their evil ideology," the press release said.
- U.S. sees "unprecedented," "staggering" rise in antisemitic, anti-Muslim incidents
The landmark new laws were introduced as Australia tries to get to grips with a spike in antisemitism in the country as the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza rages.
Preliminary data released by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry showed a rise in antisemitic incidents in the wake of the bloody Oct. 7 terror attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants, which the Israeli government says left more than 1,400 people dead. Israel launched an immediate war on Hamas in response, which health officials in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip say has killed nearly 23,000 people.
Data released in December showed a total of 662 antisemitic incidents were reported during October and November 2023 in Australia.
"By comparison, there were 495 anti-Jewish incidents reported in Australia for the entire 12 months to 30 September 2023," the council said.
In October, unverified video went viral online showing a small group of people appearing to chant antisemitic slogans at a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Sydney Opera House. A video posted on social media on Oct. 8 by the conservative Australian Jewish Association group purportedly showed protesters launching flares and chanting "Gas the Jews" and other antisemitic refrains.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the reports of the chants as "horrific" and "appealing" at the time of the incident.
- In:
- Palestine
- Israel
- Australia
- Gaza Strip
- Antisemitism
- Nazi
veryGood! (91)
Related
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Chappell Roan defies norms with lesbian country song. More queer country anthems
- SWA Token Boosts the AI DataMind System: Revolutionizing the Future of Intelligent Investment
- Opinion: TV news is awash in election post-mortems. I wonder if we'll survive
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Ruby slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz' recovered after 2005 theft are back in the spotlight
- Wyoming moves ahead with selling land in Grand Teton National Park to federal government for $100M
- Innovation-Driven Social Responsibility: The Unique Model of AI ProfitPulse
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Woman asks that battery and assault charges be dropped against Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young
Ranking
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice appoints wife Cathy to state education board after U.S. Senate win
- 'They are family': California girl wins $300,000 settlement after pet goat seized, killed
- NBA rewind: Thunder rise to top of Western Conference on record-pace defense
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Giuliani to appear in a NYC court after missing a deadline to surrender assets
- 12 Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Bestie Ahead of Christmas & Hanukkah 2024
- Roland Quisenberry: A Token-Driven Era for Fintech
Recommendation
2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
30 quotes about stress and anxiety to help bring calm
AI ProfitPulse: Ushering in a New Era of Investment
Liam Payne's Body Flown Back to the U.K. 3 Weeks After His Death
Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
She was found dead by hikers in 1994. Her suspected killer was identified 30 years later.
Innovation-Driven Social Responsibility: The Unique Model of AI ProfitPulse
Halle Bailey Deletes Social Media Account After Calling Out DDG Over Son Halo