Amnesty International Australia calls for independent investigation of police violence towards peaceful protestors
Amnesty International Australia condemns the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by the NSW police against peaceful protesters demonstrating against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Australia.
We strongly oppose the unnecessary and excessive force used by police, and call for an urgent, independent investigation of police conduct.
The rights to freedom of expression and assembly are protected under international law. As a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Australia has a clear obligation to respect and uphold these fundamental human rights – this includes facilitating people exercising their right to peaceful protest.
Around 10,000 people gathered in Sydney to protest Herzog’s visit and to demand justice and accountability for the Israeli President who Amnesty, the International Court of Justice and the UN Independent Commission of Enquiry have determined has overseen and directly incited genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, resulting in over 70,000 deaths. At last night’s protest in Sydney, at least 27 people were arrested, and many suffered from and were subjected to extreme and unnecessary police violence.
Amnesty International Australia is deeply alarmed by reports of police targeting already vulnerable and marginalised communities. First Nations Peoples, Muslim worshippers and leaders, as well as elderly protesters, were among those subjected to police use of force, including the use of pepper spray, police on horseback charging into crowds, and officers boxing protesters in with no avenue to safely disperse before launching attacks.
