Australia charges woman over pro-Hezbollah protest

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Australian police have charged a 19-year-old woman after an investigation into Hezbollah flags flown at a Sydney demonstration, AFP reports.

“She was arrested and charged with cause public display of prohibited terrorists organisation symbol,” said New South Wales Police.

Other attendees at the pro-Palestine protests, which took place in Sydney and Melbourne last week, also waved Hamas flags or placards with slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The protest has divided politicians, police and community leaders on what constitutes free speech or illegal activity.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday the two protests — set for October 6 and 7 — should not go ahead and that any demonstration would be seen “as incredibly provocative”. “It would not advance any cause. It would cause a great deal of distress,” he told national broadcaster ABC. Albanese added he would attend a vigil instead.

Police have indicated they would seek to stop the demonstrations from going ahead. New South Wales Police said on Tuesday despite discussions with organisers, they were “not satisfied that the protest can proceed safely” and had decided to apply to the NSW Supreme Court to prohibit them.

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