Victorian Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri accuses Labor of being complicit in ‘genocide’
Pictures of an accused kidnapper were used to promote a pro-Palestine event at Fed Square that featured speeches from Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri and Clementine Ford.
Victoria
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A Victorian Greens MP appeared alongside an accused kidnapper at a Melbourne CBD pro-Palestine event on Thursday night.
Richmond MP Gabrielle de Vietri spoke at the “Say NO to Injustice” rally at Federation Square, with accused kidnapper Mohammad Sharab labelled as a speaker on social media adverts for the event.
But a Greens spokesman said on Thursday afternoon that Mr Sharab was not a speaker despite his photo featuring on ads saying: “Mohammad is a justice activist from Gaza, Khan Younes. Key rally organiser and Sit-intifada organising member.”
Controversial feminist Clementine Ford and owner of restaurant chain Burgertory Hash Tayeh – whose Caulfield store was firebombed in November – were also to feature on the panel.
Mr Sharab, a regular speaker at pro-Palestine rallies in Melbourne’s CBD, is alleged to be one of four people who kidnapped and violently assaulted a 31-year-old Melbourne man in February.
His co-accused, Melbourne woman Laura Allam, 27, who is the CEO of non-profit humanitarian organisation the Al Jannah Foundation, is alleged to have orchestrated the man’s kidnap and torture.
At the rally, Ms de Vietri accused Labor of being “complicit” in “genocide”.
“Labor has signed a death sentence for humanity and the planet,” she said.
Mr Sharab did not address the crowd but was seen talking to Ms de Vietri.
Earlier this year Ms de Vietri provoked outrage after turning up wearing a Palestinian scarf to an event at parliament calling for the immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
In February she was one of four Greens MPs kicked out of the chamber after performing a pro-Palestine stunt.
Senior Liberal MP David Southwick said if Ms de Vietri wanted to stand with Mr Sharab, “then she has no place in the Victorian parliament”.
“Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri seems more interested in being a fringe-dwelling activist than a member of parliament,” he said.
Mr Southwick said when anti-Jewish racism was nearing “its worst levels in Australian history”, Victoria did not need MPs “pulling vile stunts that fan the flames of anger, hatred and division”.
Ms de Vietri has been contacted for comment.
Police allege Mr Sharab was involved in the violent kidnap and assault alongside Ms Allam on February 16.
Ms Allam is understood to have picked up the man from his home after asking him out for dinner.
After a short drive, she is alleged to have stopped and gotten out of the car before the victim was surrounded by three masked men who allegedly dragged him out of the vehicle, kicked him and stomped on him.
Police allege the victim was later struck to the head with a hammer and had a finger broken during the assault.
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