The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, says he will not apologise to the Muslim community after police disrupted a group of men praying during a Sydney protest against the visiting Israeli president, Isaac Herzog.
Muslim groups including the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) and the Australian Federal Imams Council (Afic) have called on the premier and the NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, to issue a public apology.
1:18 Police disrupt praying Muslims during protests in Sydney – video
Lanyon has apologised only “for any offence that may have been taken” after police dragged away people praying outside Sydney’s town hall on Monday evening.
The sheikh leading the prayer described the police behaviour as “unhinged and aggressive”.
The Australian National Imam’s Council (Anic) confirmed Lanyon had contacted it to apologise, but LMA and Afic said they had not been contacted.
Continue Reading on The Guardian
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.