Sydney Celebrations Over Assad’s Downfall Marred by Antisemitic Chants

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A celebration in Sydney marking the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria took a troubling turn as a group of protesters were filmed chanting an antisemitic slogan. The incident occurred on Sunday in Chullora, where crowds had gathered to commemorate the overthrow of Assad, whose family ruled Syria for nearly five decades.  

 

In footage exclusively obtained by *The Daily Telegraph*, men and boys holding flags and loudspeakers chanted in Arabic: *“Khaybar, Khaybar, ya Yahud”*. The phrase references the Battle of Khaybar in 628, during which a Muslim army conquered a Jewish settlement in the Arabian Peninsula.

 

The chant, which translates to “Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews. The army of Muhammad will return,” is often associated with anti-Israel demonstrations and has been widely condemned as antisemitic.  

 

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a prominent U.S.-based advocacy organization, has categorized the chant as antisemitic due to its historical and inflammatory connotations. While it is sometimes used as a rallying cry in political protests, its invocation at a celebration of Assad’s fall has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the nature of the rhetoric.  

 

The celebration itself was part of a larger wave of public rejoicing following the collapse of Assad’s government, marking the end of decades of authoritarian rule. Syrian rebels, led by Islamist factions, succeeded in toppling the regime, prompting gatherings around the world, including in Sydney.  

 

However, the presence of such inflammatory slogans overshadowed the event and highlighted the complexities of the region's politics and the narratives surrounding them. The chant not only brought antisemitism into a moment of celebration but also cast a shadow on broader efforts to promote unity and peace in the aftermath of Assad's downfall.  

 

As videos of the incident circulate, they have drawn criticism from community leaders and advocacy groups alike. The use of divisive and hateful language has sparked a renewed call for vigilance against antisemitism, emphasizing the need to ensure that public expressions of political victories do not devolve into displays of hate.  

 

‘Come after the Jews’: Sydney rally turns ugly with antisemitic hate slogans

“This comes just hours really after the synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed in an antisemitic attack … in the wake of that we have got lots of people out on the street in Sydney chanting Muhammad is going to come after the Jews.”

 

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph AU 2024-12-11