‘You don’t even need to mention the diggers’: Yassmin Abdel-Magied weighs back into Anzac Day debate

NEARLY one year after her controversial Anzac Day post, Yassmin Abdel-Magied has weighed back in wondering who will be next.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied for a show about Australia’s hijab fashion scene.

NEARLY one year since a controversial Anzac Day Facebook post which sparked a major backlash, Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied has once again weighed in to the debate.

The author and TV host came under fire last April for writing, “Lest. We. Forget (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine ...)”. Despite deleting the post and apologising for being “disrespectful”, the resulting media firestorm and ultimately led to her leaving Australia, which she later compared to an “abusive boyfriend”.

“Only seven more days before another unsuspecting Australian gets run out of town for some mild criticism of the diggers,” New Matilda journalist Ben Eltham tweeted on Tuesday.

Ms Abdel-Magied replied, “Hot tip — you don’t even need to mention the diggers. You just need to ask for people to extend their empathy to others.”

Only seven more days before another unsuspecting Australian gets run out of town for some mild criticism of the Diggers

— Ben Eltham (@beneltham) April 17, 2018

Hot tip - you don't even need to mention the diggers. You just need to ask for people to extend their empathy to others. https://t.co/HWbvIkjDbP

— Yassmin Abdel-Magied (@yassmin_a) April 17, 2018

Anzac day is for remembering the ANZACs. Armistice day is for remembering the futility and diversity of war, its combatants and its victims. You're intent is welcome, its ignorance of history and our collective hysteria about your inappropriate timing is disappointing.

— Greg Bell (@gReb3l) April 17, 2018

I’m not sure I agree. I think Anzac Day has traditionally had that dual role and that’s why Remembrance Day isn’t a huge thing here.

— Caitlin Fitzsimmons 🧜‍♀️ (@niltiac) April 17, 2018

Hey, as far as I can see, it was no criticism of Diggers, just a request to extend the care to those whom many of the Diggers are protecting - and to expand the values of helping others and resisting tyrrany. Those are positive values!

— Alwyne Smith (@MayasDragon) April 17, 2018

At this time, Australia is low on sympathy and big on racial and social hatred. We hate asylum seekers and people on welfare and animal rights activists and those who seek a more just society. My Dad fought in Vietnam and he would agree with you Yassmin-and i agree with you.

— Kate Emerson (@KateEmerson88) April 17, 2018

I hear it only takes an incorrect visa application these days and off you go! I don't remember anyone forcibly telling you to leave? Freedom of speech and the freedom criticize ones comments. #ANZACspirit

— Sacha (@shagga111) April 17, 2018

Lol hot tip- take some of your own advice this year ... you dont need to mention the diggers and degrade them to draw attention to others . You have 364 other days in the year for your virtue signalling sweetheart

— AYRI FEEK (@AYRIFEEKUN) April 17, 2018

Many on Twitter voiced their support. “At this time, Australia is low on sympathy and big on racial and social hatred,” wrote author Kate Emerson.

“We hate asylum seekers and people on welfare and animal rights activists and those who seek a more just society. My dad fought in Vietnam and he would agree with you, Yassmin — and I agree with you.”

Last week, Ms Abdel-Magied was denied entry to the US where she was scheduled to speak at a New York event titled “No Country for Young Muslim Women”. US immigration officials said she was put on a plane back to the UK because she did not have the correct visa.

She later told Channel Ten’s The Project she was subjected to “aggressive” treatment, with the officer at one point saying she would “shoot” her. “When the officer got aggressive, my gut instinct to use humour kicked in,” she said. “I jokingly asked if she was going to shoot me. She said, ‘I will’.”

Earlier this year, Ms Abdel-Magied revealed a racism complaint about her tweets had been dismissed by the Australian Human Rights Commission. She recently made her acting debut in the SBS digital series Homecoming Queens, and will host Hijabistas!, a six-part series on Islamic fashion, airing on ABC iView on May 1.

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