QURAN-E-HAKIM.NET CONDEMNS NSW POLICE ASSAULT OF PRAYING MUSLIMS AT ANTI-HERZOG RALLY

To view a video of the attack published by The Guardian Australia, click: Police disperse praying Muslims during protests in Sydney.

In a story by Jordyn Beazley and Cait Kelly The Guardian reported: 

"New South Wales police have pepper-sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, with a state Labor MP claiming their actions were “totally over-the-top” and a Greens MP alleging she was assaulted.

"The violent and chaotic scenes came after thousands gathered lawfully near Sydney’s Town Hall on Monday evening, before attempting to march to state parliament in defiance of a NSW law passed after the Bondi antisemitic terror attack that effectively bans protesters from marching in designated areas.

"It also followed a NSW supreme court case in which the Palestine Action Group failed to overturn sweeping powers handed to police for the duration of Herzog’s visit.

"Police said 27 people were arrested and a number of protesters were treated after being pepper-sprayed. According to police, 10 officers were “assaulted” but none of those assaults were serious.

"Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, former Australian of the Year Grace Tame, and Labor backbencher Sarah Kaine were among the high-profile people who addressed the crowd. Three NSW Labor backbenchers defied the premier to attend the protest.

"But more than an hour after the protest started, organisers and police held tense conversations, with demonstrators attempting to negotiate with officers to allow protesters to march.

"Police refused to let people march, telling organisers that protesters had to disperse and could not legally march.

“ 'You need to tell these people to disperse in an orderly manner,' senior police officer Paul Dunstan was overheard telling an organiser. 'You do not have the right to go on the roadway under the [public assembly restriction designation], you know that.'

"Police also said over a megaphone that protesters had to move on due to a 'major event' declaration, which the Palestine Action Group had failed to overturn in the supreme court just hours before.

"Protesters began beating drums and yelling 'let us march'. As protesters attempted to march, police pepper-sprayed the crowd. People near the front ran back, coughing and spluttering, while those who were sprayed poured water over their eyes.

BELOW: Jordan Ryan Hennessy has his eyes washed out after being pepper-sprayed by police. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

"Various scuffles broke out, with a number of people detained by police.

"NSW Labor backbencher Anthony D’Adam alleged he saw police punching and throwing someone to the ground, as tensions heated up.

"He alleged an officer pushed his bike into a woman and 'clearly hurt her'. When she got angry, he claims another officer pushed her into the crowd and other bystanders, who fell over, were shocked and angry and started yelling.

“ 'That then resulted in a number of other officers joining the fray,' D’Adam told Guardian Australia.

“ 'They grabbed someone and threw them on to the ground,' he said, alleging punches were thrown.

“ 'It just seemed totally over-the-top in terms of the police reaction.'

"D’Adam said if the government, which he is a member of, had allowed the protesters to march up George Street, it would not have happened.

"NSW police were contacted for comment. A spokesperson said that, as a matter of practice, the force did not comment on remarks made by other individuals."

TO READ THE GUARDIAN'S FULL REPORT ON THE PROTEST CLICK THE GUARDIAN 09 FEB 26 .