British Islamic commentator Sami Hamdi, who has publicly praised terror attacks, has been granted a visa to Australia, igniting a storm of criticism.
Jewish and pro-Israel groups blasted the move as hypocritical, pointing out that while Hamdi is being welcomed, democratically elected Israeli politicians continue to face bans or visa denials.
Community leaders in Australia are demanding an explanation from the government, warning that the decision undermines democratic principles and emboldens extremism. They argue that Canberra’s double standard endangers public safety and sends the wrong message about who is welcome in Australia’s political and social debate.
Ten days after the October 7 Hamas attacks, which claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis, Hamdi was filmed encouraging people to 'celebrate the victory' of the terrorist organisation.