Greens candidate Sriranganathan’s anti-Zionist post sparks outrage among Brisbane’s Jewish community
The Greens’ Brisbane mayoral candidate has faced backlash from the Jewish community following a controversial social media post about Zionists.
QLD Politics
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Politics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Greens mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan has drawn outrage from the Jewish community, after he provocatively excluded Zionists from a social media post about a planned Gabba reconstruction protest.
“Snap action on Thursday morning – all welcome (except TERFS, Nazis and Zionists),” Mr Sriranganathan posted to Facebook alongside the event promoting a Gabba reconstruction protest.
The post, which grouped Zionists with trans-exclusionary radical feminists and Nazis, sparked an immediate backlash and calls for an apology, particularly from Jason Steinberg, the President of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies.
Mr Steinberg condemned the comparison of Zionism to Nazism as profoundly offensive and ignorant.
“This comparison between Nazis and Zionists is, is probably one of the most horrific pieces of propaganda that you could label anyone with – It’s just abhorrent,” Mr Steinberg told the Courier-Mail.
“I don’t see anywhere where, where Mr. Sri, has called out Hamas terrorists for attacking, murdering innocent Jewish people in Israel.”
He emphasised the painful history of Jewish oppression, including the Holocaust, arguing that equating Zionism with Nazism not only trivialises the horrors of the Holocaust but also perpetuates a dangerously misleading narrative.
The statement that Zionists are unwelcome at a Greens event, or any event for that matter, was condemned by Steinberg as a direct attack on the values of multiculturalism that Brisbane City aspires to uphold.
“Our political figures, need to understand that whatever they say, is, is taken in the context that it’s read.”
He underscored the insensitivity of such remarks, especially in the context of a surge in antisemitic incidents in the Jewish community.
“We’ve got people in the workplace being abused because they’re Jewish and we’re seeing a rise in anti Israel, anti Jewish graffiti, hate. It’s really hate popping up around Brisbane and Queensland. And it’s all because of the propaganda,” he said.
Although the controversial post was reportedly removed, the absence of a formal apology from Sriranganathan to Steinberg or the Queensland Jewish community adds to the tension.
“He needs to apologise for that if he if it is a mistake. Apologise publicly,” he said.
“Anything but a public apology from a from a mayoral candidate for the wonderful city of Brisbane. Anything short of that? I think the people of Brisbane would probably have a pretty clear view that that’s unacceptable.”
Mr was Sriranganathan contacted for comment but did not respond.
‘Step forward’: Focus of next Toowoomba leaders summit revealed
Toowoomba’s leaders from three levels of government will finally meet again for the first time in nine months — and one major issue will be on the agenda.
Clear and present danger: Focus needs to be on saving lives first
The timing of Steven Miles’ cheap political point scoring as he questioned the Premier’s response to the ongoing floods in Townsville is questionable, if not childish, writes the editor. Now is the time to act. Lives are at risk.