URGENT UPDATE: Two Palestinian Australian brothers, Shamikh and Majed Badra, were subjected to a shocking tirade of racist abuse on a train in Sydney on October 15, 2023. This incident occurred on the same day that thousands participated in anti-immigration rallies across the city, igniting fears of escalating hostility towards multicultural communities.
The Badra brothers, both filmmakers, had just attended a rally for Palestine in Sydney’s Central Business District before boarding the train at Town Hall. While traveling to Stanmore, Majed wore a black-and-white keffiyah, a garment associated with the Palestinian cause. Shortly after they sat down, four men began verbally assaulting them, specifically targeting Majed for his attire.
“They were behind us, so we didn’t see them to begin with,” Shamikh recounted. “But they just started abusing Majed, telling him to ‘take off your scarf.’” The verbal abuse escalated quickly, with the assailants shouting, “If you want to fight for Palestine, go back there,” and “Get the fuck out of here. We don’t want you in our country.”
Video footage of the incident shows the attackers becoming increasingly aggressive, prompting Shamikh to attempt to de-escalate the situation. “I urged them to sit down and we can talk,” he said. Despite his efforts, the aggression continued, forcing the brothers towards the train’s doors as they felt physically threatened.
Shamikh described the experience as “an attack on our identity,” emphasizing that no one should feel unsafe due to their heritage. “Everyone has the right to be proud about their identity, their family, their history. We didn’t do anything,” he stated firmly.
The train was halted at Macdonaldtown station, where all passengers were ordered off. The Badra brothers promptly reported the incident to the NSW Police, providing video evidence of the abuse. Authorities are currently investigating the matter, and it remains unclear if the assailants were connected to the anti-immigration protests that also took place that day.
During the March for Australia, which attracted an estimated 15,000 people, protesters chanted “send them back,” while members of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network distributed leaflets urging for a “white Australia.” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the event, stating, “If you go to a rally and the Nazis turn up, it’s not one you should be at.”
In a separate incident, 12 arrests were made following a similar anti-immigration rally in Victoria, attended by around 5,000 people. The rally also saw a neo-Nazi group storm an Indigenous camp, raising alarms about the growing influence of extremist groups in Australian cities.
Shamikh and Majed Badra are known for their documentary, Gaza Nippers, which highlights a surf lifesaving program for children in Gaza. Tragically, their work has been overshadowed by the ongoing conflict, with reports indicating that at least seven nippers and club supporters have been killed in the current war.
As the Badra brothers process the trauma of this incident, they remain resolute in their commitment to speak out against racism. “No one should feel unsafe because of who they are. And we should not be silent about this,” Shamikh asserted.
The situation remains developing as authorities continue to investigate the incident. Stay tuned for more updates on this urgent matter.
