Australian Multicultural Council member Aimen Jafri scrubs anti-Israel posts after dressing-down

The nation’s top multicultural body has defended anti-Israel board member Aimen Jafri, who branded the country as a terrorist state, angering colleagues and Jewish leaders.

Aimen Jafri ahead of the Together for Harmony: Conversations to Inspire Change event in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

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A “distinguished” board member of Australia’s peak multicultural body has copped a dressing-down after declaring Israel a terrorist state, sparking concerns from inside the ministerially appointed body and Jewish leaders about the integrity of the institution.

Australian Multicultural Council board member Aimen Jafri used her social media platforms to criticise Israel, among other Middle Eastern nations, for selling their “souls to the devil”.

Ms Jafri, former chair of the Multicultural Council of Tasmania and a former director of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia, has been criticising Israel since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October 2023.

She was appointed to the AMC board on the recommendation of the Tasmanian government in early March, and described as a “distinguished leader” on the AMC website.

Former Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein, a prominent Jewish community advocate, was appointed to the board at the same time.

Aimen Jafri said she was grateful to join the Australian Multicultural Council board alongside former Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein, a leading Jewish community advocate.

But in November 2023, Ms Jafri compared Australia’s support for Israel with the historical oppression of First Nations people, after the national referendum on whether to amend the Constitution to include an Indigenous voice to parliament.

Ms Jafri posted: “Australia please stop supporting (the) killing of indigenous people of Palestine. Oh I forgot you didn’t support your own indigenous people on Oct 14.”

She later posted an image of children in Gaza, sitting in front of a tent, headlined with a statement reading “If you don’t like refugees coming to your country, then stop voting for politicians who love to bomb the shit out of other countries”. Ms Jafri captioned the post “It’s that simple … #IsraelTerrorist #Gaza #Auspol #Politas”.

Ms Jafri also voiced her opinion on the humanitarian visas being issued to Palestinians fleeing the war in Gaza, saying those who did not support the ceasefire should help support the incoming refugees.

“Those who did not asked for a cease fire hope you have money to support the 3000 refugees who are coming to Australia. Or is this part of the business model. You bomb, you make money, bring refugees, you make money. Stop the hypocrisy … support the humanity. Cease fire now.”

Australian Multicultural Council board member Aimen Jafri quickly scrubbed her social media posts criticising Israel after concerns were raised.

On the anniversary of the Abraham Accords, she also blasted Middle Eastern nations that had made peace with Israel, accusing them of selling their “souls to the devil”.

“Shame on UAE, Saudi, Bahrain and Morocco. Sold your souls to the devil,” she wrote.

But hours after The Australian raised the alarm with the AMC leadership, Ms Jafri began to clean up her social media platforms, removing the incendiary remarks.

AMC sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have raised concerns over Ms Jafri’s rhetoric.

One source said it was “abhorrent” for a board member of Australia’s peak multicultural body to be attacking a country so many Australians originate from.

“This is somebody that is considered as a community leader and should be aware that making abhorrent statements that call Israel a terrorist state would cause hurt during a time where the Australian Jewish community is feeling the brunt of anti-Semitism,” the source said.

It’s understood the AMC had examined the matter and told Ms Jafri to wipe her remarks from online platforms, then determined that she understood her obligations and responsibilities.

AMC chair Christine Castley said she was “very confident” in Ms Jafri in response to the comments she had previously made.

“Aimen brings a wealth of experience to the AMC and I’m very confident in her abilities and participation,” Ms Castley said.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim, one of the first members of the Australian Multicultural Council when it was established by the Gillard government in 2011, said it was “inappropriate” for anyone who dehumanised an entire nation to be part of such a body.

Peter Wertheim says it is inappropriate for anyone who has a record of dehumanising an entire nation to be a member of such a body. Picture Thomas Lisson

“As a former member of the Australian Multicultural Council, I know that its focus is supposed to be on social inclusion and cohesion, and countering racial discrimination and prejudice,” Mr Wertheim told The Australian.

“It is completely inappropriate for anyone who has a record of demonising and dehumanising an entire nation to be a member of such a body. This is the opposite of the kind of example Council members should be setting.”

Ms Jafri declined to respond to a series of detailed questions when approached for comment.

A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said the new AMC board was appointed to provide the government with independent advice and to respond to key recommendations within the Multicultural Framework Review report.

“All appointments to the AMC have been undertaken in line with the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Cabinet Handbook. The department provides secretariat support for the AMC,” the spokesperson said.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said the “appalling”, “offensive” and “dangerous” comments from Ms Jafri put the integrity of the government institution at risk.

“These comments are appalling and completely unacceptable from a government-appointed member of a peak multicultural body,” Mr Leibler said.

“To falsely call the world’s only Jewish state and only democracy in the Middle East a terrorist entity, while Jewish Australians are experiencing record levels of anti-Semitic hate, is not just offensive, it’s dangerous.

“If this is the standard of leadership in our multicultural institutions, then the integrity of those institutions is at serious risk.”

Aimen Jafri has previously compared Australia’s support for Israel to the historical oppression of First Nations people. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich, who is Jewish, said the comments from Ms Jafri were “unconscionable” while Jewish Australians are facing an explosion of anti-Semitism.

“You cannot preach harmony while spewing such inflammatory rhetoric,” Dr Abramovich said.

“Equating Australia’s support for Israel with the historical oppression of First Nations people weaponises Indigenous suffering to smear another minority. This is not solidarity, it’s exploitation. And it has no place in a government-appointed advisory role.

“We were told this Council stands for unity and respect for all people. You cannot fight racism with double standards. You cannot stand against hate with one eye closed. And if this is the face of multicultural Australia, then something is deeply, dangerously broken.”