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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/28/tony-burke-cancels-lakemba-mosque-speech-safety-concerns-western-sydney-ntwnfb
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| Safety concerns force Tony Burke to abandon plan to address western Sydney prayer event | Safety concerns force Tony Burke to abandon plan to address western Sydney prayer event |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Home affairs minister leaves Ramadan event after federal police learn of possible disruption from protestors angry at Labor’s response to Gaza war | Home affairs minister leaves Ramadan event after federal police learn of possible disruption from protestors angry at Labor’s response to Gaza war |
| The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, was forced to leave a Muslim prayer event in western Sydney due to security concerns after protesters turned up intent on telling the local MP he was “not welcome”. | The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, was forced to leave a Muslim prayer event in western Sydney due to security concerns after protesters turned up intent on telling the local MP he was “not welcome”. |
| Protesters planned to heckle and “interrupt” Burke when he was due to address congregants at the nightly Ramadan prayers – called Taraweeh prayers – at the Australia National Sports Club in Lakemba on Friday 21 March. | Protesters planned to heckle and “interrupt” Burke when he was due to address congregants at the nightly Ramadan prayers – called Taraweeh prayers – at the Australia National Sports Club in Lakemba on Friday 21 March. |
| Burke arrived at the centre before the prayers commenced and greeted several members of the congregation, before being whisked into a private room. | Burke arrived at the centre before the prayers commenced and greeted several members of the congregation, before being whisked into a private room. |
| He left the Parry Park venue before the prayers were completed without addressing the congregation. | He left the Parry Park venue before the prayers were completed without addressing the congregation. |
| Sources told Guardian Australia that Burke left the event due to “safety concerns” after WhatsApp messages were circulated urging people to come to the prayers to protest Burke’s presence. | Sources told Guardian Australia that Burke left the event due to “safety concerns” after WhatsApp messages were circulated urging people to come to the prayers to protest Burke’s presence. |
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| The message stated that it would “be a great service if brothers can come to Parry Park today and hold them to account and showing them that they are not welcome”. It was sent hours before the nightly prayers at about 8.30pm. | The message stated that it would “be a great service if brothers can come to Parry Park today and hold them to account and showing them that they are not welcome”. It was sent hours before the nightly prayers at about 8.30pm. |
| Many members of the Muslim community have expressed anger at the Albanese government’s response to the wars in Gaza and Lebanon after the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023. | Many members of the Muslim community have expressed anger at the Albanese government’s response to the wars in Gaza and Lebanon after the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023. |
| According to attenders and organisers, who asked to remain anonymous, the crowd swelled after the messages were circulated. | According to attenders and organisers, who asked to remain anonymous, the crowd swelled after the messages were circulated. |
| Burke said the Australian federal police advised him to leave after becoming aware of the messages and of additional attenders. | Burke said the Australian federal police advised him to leave after becoming aware of the messages and of additional attenders. |
| “When I arrived, I became aware that a text message had been circulating on WhatsApp asking people who would not normally attend to turn up and tell me I was unwelcome,” he said. | “When I arrived, I became aware that a text message had been circulating on WhatsApp asking people who would not normally attend to turn up and tell me I was unwelcome,” he said. |
| “The organisers, once I’d arrived, checked and saw about 15 young men who they had not previously ever seen at prayers at Parry Park. | “The organisers, once I’d arrived, checked and saw about 15 young men who they had not previously ever seen at prayers at Parry Park. |
| “After speaking to the Australian federal police, given the nature of the message that had been circulated, and the fact that I was there to speak to the community, not the people who had travelled some distance for a different purpose, I decided to attend on another occasion.” | “After speaking to the Australian federal police, given the nature of the message that had been circulated, and the fact that I was there to speak to the community, not the people who had travelled some distance for a different purpose, I decided to attend on another occasion.” |
| A spokesperson for the Australian national sports club, which organises the prayers, said they had asked Burke to speak to the congregation so he could “answer some of their questions”. | A spokesperson for the Australian national sports club, which organises the prayers, said they had asked Burke to speak to the congregation so he could “answer some of their questions”. |
| “We approached Tony, we knew the congregation had some questions for him about various things, and we wanted to create a time for him to answer them,” they said. | “We approached Tony, we knew the congregation had some questions for him about various things, and we wanted to create a time for him to answer them,” they said. |
| “We hoped it would be a bit of a forum, where people could ask questions. We have never had him here during Taraweeh prayers, but we knew people had urgent concerns around what is happening in Gaza and with Palestinian refugees.” | “We hoped it would be a bit of a forum, where people could ask questions. We have never had him here during Taraweeh prayers, but we knew people had urgent concerns around what is happening in Gaza and with Palestinian refugees.” |
| One attender said people were shocked when Burke disappeared. | One attender said people were shocked when Burke disappeared. |
| “The crowd were quite calm, there were more people, but they just had some questions for him, surrounding the state of Palestinian refugees, whether Australia would sanction Israel and whether he would criticise Israel. | “The crowd were quite calm, there were more people, but they just had some questions for him, surrounding the state of Palestinian refugees, whether Australia would sanction Israel and whether he would criticise Israel. |
| “In fact, his disappearance is in keeping with how Labor treats us here. We feel neglected and ignored and this didn’t change that. He is avoiding us.” | “In fact, his disappearance is in keeping with how Labor treats us here. We feel neglected and ignored and this didn’t change that. He is avoiding us.” |
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| The man said he believed some of those at the prayers would have “interrupted” Burke. | The man said he believed some of those at the prayers would have “interrupted” Burke. |
| “I expect people would have interrupted Burke had he spoken, to raise some frustrations with Labor. But it was a safe space, no one was making a ruckus or anything like that. I don’t think it was rowdy at all.” | “I expect people would have interrupted Burke had he spoken, to raise some frustrations with Labor. But it was a safe space, no one was making a ruckus or anything like that. I don’t think it was rowdy at all.” |
| Another attender, however, said he was “furious” when he heard Burke would be addressing the congregation. | Another attender, however, said he was “furious” when he heard Burke would be addressing the congregation. |
| “There was definitely a backlash within the community and I am sure Burke was told to expect a rough crowd – to expect hecklers. | “There was definitely a backlash within the community and I am sure Burke was told to expect a rough crowd – to expect hecklers. |
| “When I heard he was speaking, I was furious, and I was hoping he would face some of the questions from the community. But he left before anyone could ask him anything.” | “When I heard he was speaking, I was furious, and I was hoping he would face some of the questions from the community. But he left before anyone could ask him anything.” |
| Organisers confirmed Burke decided to leave due to “safety concerns”. | Organisers confirmed Burke decided to leave due to “safety concerns”. |
| Burke represents the south-western Sydney seat of Watson, which he has held for more than 20 years. A local independent backed by grassroots movement the Muslim Vote is seeking to prise him from the seat at the forthcoming federal election. | Burke represents the south-western Sydney seat of Watson, which he has held for more than 20 years. A local independent backed by grassroots movement the Muslim Vote is seeking to prise him from the seat at the forthcoming federal election. |
| Burke has attended Eid prayers – held to mark the end of Ramadan – at Parry Park for years but has never attended Taraweeh prayers there. The prayers, held every night at mosques or community centres, can go for hours. | |
| He was due to speak for 15 minutes between prayers. | He was due to speak for 15 minutes between prayers. |
| Muslim organisations, including the National Imams Council and the Lebanese Muslim Association, last week called on federal Labor to address a rise in Islamophobia. | Muslim organisations, including the National Imams Council and the Lebanese Muslim Association, last week called on federal Labor to address a rise in Islamophobia. |
| “We demand that the government take immediate action to strengthen laws that address anti-Muslim hate and ensure the safety and wellbeing of Australian Muslims,” they said in a joint statement at the time. | “We demand that the government take immediate action to strengthen laws that address anti-Muslim hate and ensure the safety and wellbeing of Australian Muslims,” they said in a joint statement at the time. |
| Comments left on the social media pages of the organisations included calls for a “Christchurch again” – an apparent reference to the New Zealand city where an Australian man killed 51 worshippers in 2019 at a mosque and Islamic centre. | Comments left on the social media pages of the organisations included calls for a “Christchurch again” – an apparent reference to the New Zealand city where an Australian man killed 51 worshippers in 2019 at a mosque and Islamic centre. |
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