Calls to kill Jews has no place in Australia

This week, on the streets of Sydney, at what was purported to be a celebration of the downfall of the Assad regime in Syria, footage of attendees chanting "Khaybar, Khaybar ya Yahood!" sent shockwaves across the Jewish community.

The chant translates to: “Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews. The army of Muhammad will return…."

The footage originally published by news.com.au has since been taken down, however the words clearly chanted, are chilling, and are a direct and deliberate reference to the massacre of Jews by Muhammad's army in 628CE in Khaybar (present-day Saudi Arabia). 

Terrifying chant: “Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews. The army of Muhammad will return”, heard on Sydney streets

Calling to kill Jews, is a threat to all Australians.

READ: https://t.co/GXaHnkbqfx pic.twitter.com/0DwKNy9fTz

— Never Again Is Now Australia (@NeverAgainANZ) December 12, 2024

Co-chief executive of the Executive Council of the Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin hit out against the chant saying:

“The Jewish people have literally nothing to do with the civil war in Syria but in the irrational mind of the anti-Semite, everything is about the Jews,” he said.

“This incident further demonstrates the extent of the antisemitism crisis and the use of street rallies to incite further hatred and violence.”

The Anti-Defamation League also pointed out that the chant:

“shifts the complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a religious battle between Islam and Judaism. Moreover, in celebrating a past military defeat of Jews, this chant can be perceived as a threat of armed violence or forcible expulsion against Jews today.”

For centuries, the chant has been used as a threat to terrify Jewish communities, deliberately evoking the memory of this event as a symbol of Jewish defeat and subjugation.  In modern times, it is often shouted by extremists to intimidate Jews, implying that history will repeat itself. 

It is terrifying that such a thing could happen openly in the streets of Sydney. 

It is a wake-up call to every Australian who values our country’s values of respect, freedom, and equality. When this slogan is shouted on our streets, it is not just offensive—it is dangerous and an attack on Australian values. Hatred, when left unchecked, spreads like wildfire, and no peace-loving Australian wants hatred to transform our beautiful country. 

The fact that this chant occurred at all, points to a deeper issue: Australia needs to address the inciting of violence with real and serious consequences. 

This incident suggests that our current legal framework fails to adequately protect minorities from this kind of hatred.

No one should have licence to call for the killing of Jews—or any group—without facing severe repercussions. 

A failure to act not only puts Jewish Australians at risk but sends a message that such behaviour is tolerated in Australia. 

Schools and communities must educate Australians about the dangers of antisemitism, and the dark history this kind of racial hatred represents.

Australia is a nation where people of all backgrounds should be able to live in safety and dignity. 

We must ensure that Australia remains a place where respect, compassion, and truth triumph over hatred.