Onkaparinga councillor Sandra Brown shares offensive, anti-Islamic images on Facebook

A long-time suburban Adelaide councillor has publicly shared anti-Islamic material on her personal Facebook page, defending her actions as “freedom of speech”.

Onkaparinga Cr Sandra Brown shared a series of anti-Islam pictures on Facebook. Picture: AAP/ Keryn Stevens.

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A long-time Onkaparinga councillor has publicly shared anti-Islamic material on her personal Facebook page, defending her actions as “freedom of speech”.

Cr Sandra Brown – a council member for 21 years – used her personal Facebook account over the past month to show a number of pictures and messages that discredit Islam and Muslims.

She shared an image — which included a bullet — about halal being an “Islamic tax supporting the very people who want to see your demise”.

Another image was a derogatory meme about Prophet Mohammed, and she shared a Senator Fraser Anning video about stopping Muslim immigration.

Just days after Australian man Brenton Tarrant allegedly murdered 50 people at two New Zealand mosques, Cr Brown defended her decision to distribute the content because she was not the original creator of the material, nor was it linked to her official council Facebook pages.

“My personal site has nothing to do with my councillor site – I am entitled to have a personal Facebook page,” Cr Brown said.

Onkaparinga Cr Sandra Brown shared a series of anti-Islam pictures on Facebook. Picture: AAP/ Keryn Stevens.

“As a person, I have a democratic right and have freedom of speech that if people send me things, I can share them with other people.”

All the material was posted before the mass shootings at two Christchurch mosques.

Cr Brown’s personal Facebook profile made reference to her position as a Pimpala Ward councillor and is public.

However, she removed all reference to Pimpala shortly after she was contacted by the Southern Times Messenger.

She runs three council-related Facebook pages: Councillor Sandra Brown, Council Elections and Pimpala Ward updates.

Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson denounced Cr Brown’s shared posts, saying she was “outraged” and “deeply saddened” by the content.

She is investigating the matter and looking at the council’s code of conduct to decide what to do next.

“I was deeply saddened by the devastating events in Christchurch on Friday and was outraged to learn of these posts,” Mrs Thompson said.

“The commentary shared and posted by Cr Brown is appalling and unacceptable, regardless of the timing.

Erin Thompson is “deeply saddened” by Cr Brown’s shares posts. Picture Dean Martin

“While this content was on Cr Brown’s personal page and not on her councillor page, I suspect our communities won’t make any distinction between the two.

“The sentiments expressed in these posts fly in the face of what the City of Onkaparinga stands for.”

Syed Muneeb Janud, a spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association mosque at Morphett Vale, said he would like to meet with Cr Brown because she seemed “ill-informed about Islam”.

“These posts are hurtful and insensitive, especially at a time like this,” he said.

“In saying that, we would still be happy to sit down with the councillor and discuss her grievances and answer any questions she may have to remove any misconceptions.

“The path forward should be based on dialogue, respect and mutual understanding.”