‘Incitement to violence’: Jewish leaders, politicians call for ‘Bash Zionist’ tops to be scrapped

An anti-Israel activist is selling a T-shirt which features slogans such as “bash Zionists” and “support armed resistance” at places including a mosque in Heidelberg, leaving members of Australia’s Jewish community “shocked” and calling for a ban.

An anti-Israel activist selling T-shirts reading “bash Zionists” in order to raise money for Indigenous Australians and Palestinians in Gaza has sparked outrage, prompting Jewish leaders and politicians to label the merchandise an “incitement to violence”.

The black T-shirts with slogans in bold white writing exclaiming “bash Zionists”, “may God crush them” and “support armed resistance” are sold online nationwide and have been promoted at the Elsedeaq Heidelberg Mosque in Melbourne by graphic designer Carla Scotto.

The mosque’s Imam Alaa Elzokm said he did not approve of the T-shirts and was unaware they were being sold and promoted at his place of worship on November 30. He said he could not identify the sellers as members of the congregation.

The T-shirts have also been promoted by a Melbourne woman referred to as Huda Nur Haraco on social media.

Designer of "bash Zionists" T-shirts Carla Scotto.

Ms Haraco was pictured at the mosque wearing the $65 top in an Instagram post shared by Ms Scotto on the day she was selling them.

When contacted, Ms Haraco declined to comment saying only: “I don’t sell T-shirts.”

Prominent artist Matt Chun based on the south coast of NSW has also spruiked the black tops which also bear the number 1312 – the numerical equivalent of ACAB which is slang for “all cops are b.....ds” – and feature a tombstone referring to Western colonialism.

Children’s author Chun boasted on his Instagram: “My comrade Carla’s mutual aid work has been tireless … this T-shirt goes hard.”

NSW artist Matt Chun has been spruiking the T-shirts with anti-Semitic slogans. Picture: Supplied

Carla Scotto tagged Hoodvstheworld, also referred to Huda Nur Haraco, in one of her T-shirts in XL.

Chun, real name Matthew Jones, did not respond to requests for comment.

Ms Scotto says on her ­website she had planned to design the tops for a while, “but no one ever hired me to do it so f..k it. Enjoy!”.

Stating that profits from sales would go to multiple aid funds, she writes on her website: “My friends and I went through many rounds of edits on this bad boy, and showed to a few diverse eyeballs to get constructive criticism on it.

Carla Scotto is pictured wearing and selling the tees at the Heidelberg Mosque. Picture: Supplied.

“If you feel like this is some half-assed hatred, think again. If you’re feeling sensitive about any components of this design, I assume you don’t have the same sensitivity for the brazen Zionist violence that has been broadcast to your phone.”

Ms Haraco promoted the merchandise, reposting a picture on her Instagram of Ms Scotto in the T-shirt in December saying: “We will sell out… dm me your size.”

The sale of the shirts have so far generated $1300 for “Blak and Palestinian” recipients, according to a newsletter Ms Scotto posted on December 5.

Jewish Sydney resident Ofir Birenbaum saw the T-shirts being sold while in Melbourne and said he was “shocked”.

Carla Scotto has been designing the tops for months. Instagram

The T-shirts were promoted for sale at Elsedeaq Heidelberg Mosque in Melbourne

The $65 T-shirts with anti-Semitic slogans have raised funds for Indigenous Australians and Palestinians in Gaza. Picture: Supplied

“They were sold in a mosque, they automatically misrepresent the Muslim community and expose them to violent rhetoric,” he said.

“I later discovered they’re sold online too.

“Calling to ‘bash Zionists’ is a call to harm 97 per cent of the world’s Jewish population who identify as Zionists and believe in the existence of Israel.”

Australian Jewish Association CEO Robert Gregory denounced the T-shirts as an incitement to violence. “Almost all Jews in Australia identify as Zionists and this is a call to physically attack them,” he said.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson called for T-shirts to be pulled from sale. “It’s open incitement to violence,” he said. “It should not be sold in Australia.”

Ms Scotto was contacted for comment.