Cops charge protester for Hezbollah flag
A Melbourne man has been charged for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a pro-Palestine protest in Melbourne’s CBD earlier this year.
The Australian Federal Police said the 36-year old man displayed the flag on September 29 after thousands of people rallied in Melbourne following the assassination of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Mr Nasrallah was killed by an Israeli air strike in late September.
Police allege there were at least six investigations directly related to the protest, as demonstrators allegedly waved Hezbollah flags and symbols.
The protesters say they were calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
Hezbollah is considered a terrorist group by the Australian, UK and United States governments.
The AFP charged the Ferntree Gully man on Friday with one count of publicly displaying a prohibited terrorist organisations flag.
The man will face a Melbourne court in March 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of 12-months imprisonment.
Police are investigating thirteen people at the rally for allegedly displaying the prohibited terrorist organisations symbols.
The AFP says they have seized several phones and clothing depicting the Hezbollah symbol.
AFP Counter Terrorism Commander Nick Read said the AFP would not tolerate crimes that incited or advocated violence, or hatred, based on race and religion.
“The AFP has been relentlessly pursuing evidence and gathering intelligence to ensure those accused of displaying prohibited symbols can be brought before the courts and face justice,’’ Commander Read said.
Mr Read said the arrest comes after a lengthy investigation by police.
“More than 1100 hours has been spent investigating this matter, including reviewing more than 100 hours of CCTV evidence and police body worn camera footage and progressing the analysis of information collected during an AFP week of action in October,” Mr Read said.
