Islamic Council President said October 7 was ‘legitimate’ days after event

Footage shows the Islamic Council of Victoria president declaring ‘shame on them’ in reference to journalists asking him to condemn Hamas days after October 7.

Islamic Council of Victoria President Adel Salman speaks at a pro-Palestine rally at Broadmeadows Town Hall on December 18th, 2023. Picture: Facebook / Islamic Council of Victoria

Just eight days after October 7, Islamic Council of Victoria president Adel Salman not only told thousands of protesters that the terrorist attack on Israel was a “legitimate response to occupation and siege”, but also ­declared that journalists should be ashamed for asking whether he condemned Hamas.

Confirmation Mr Salman’s refusal this week to condemn the attacks was a long-held position came as Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre said it was shifting Saturday evening’s performance by anti-Israel activist Clementine Ford to a different venue, citing safety concerns.

Video footage shows Mr Salman addressing a pro-Palestine protest in Melbourne just over a week after Hamas militants stormed into Israel, killing 1200 people and taking 253 hostage, 134 of whom remain in captivity.

“We must be honest with each other. We must differentiate between legitimate resistance actions, and everything that has happened is a legitimate response to occupation and siege,” Mr Salman said to cheers.

“And our message to all of those who ask us to condemn is this: when have you ever condemned Israel actions and killings? When (Australian Palestine Advocacy Network president) Nasser (Mashni) is ­interviewed, when I’ve been ­interviewed, when any Palestinian representative is interviewed, the first question is, ‘Do you condemn the actions of Hamas?’ Shame on them.”

Mr Salman this week sparked calls from Jewish groups for the Islamic Council to be defunded, and condemnation from politicians including Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, after he described October 7 as a “legitimate acts of resistance”.

Asked on Friday how his ­October 15 comments were consistent with his claim in a statement on Wednesday to “condemn the killing of innocent civilians on October 7”, Mr Salman said: “It is 100 per cent consistent.” He referred The Weekend Australian to Wednesday’s statement, which claimed not to be legitimising the killing of innocent civilians, but also stated that “October 7 did not happen out of nowhere”.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin described Mr Salman’s comments, just days after the October 7 atrocities, as ­“utterly repugnant”.

“The true nature of anti-Israel activists is being revealed and any lingering delusion that pro-Palestinian means anything other than pro-Hamas, pro-rape and pro-murder is crumbling,” Mr Ryvchin said.

“Despite Mr Salman’s attempted clarifications, these earlier remarks remove any doubt as to his beliefs. While the civilised world looked at the barbarism of that day with shock and horror, Mr Salman viewed it as a legitimate act. That is simply unforgivable.

“No decent human being can find satisfaction in the slaughter of 1200 people, systematic sexual torture and other inhuman acts intended to shock and traumatise an entire generation.

Anti-Israel activist Clementine Ford. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

The Malthouse Theatre, meanwhile, notified attendees of Ford’s Love Sermon performance that the event had been moved to Trades Hall in Carlton.

The move comes after The Weekend Australian last week revealed that long time board member and supporter of the Malthouse, Debbie Dadon, had resigned over the theatre’s decision to host Ms Ford, whose event was to be held in an adjoining venue to an acclaimed performance of the play Yentl, which was expected to be attended by Jewish community members.

“On the advice of our risk consultant and law enforcement officials, we have addressed the growing concerns regarding our ability to guarantee the absolute safety of our audience in and around our temporary outdoor stage,” a Malthouse spokesman said.

“We work in a dynamic environment, and the continuous review of these measures is imperative. Therefore, after careful deliberation and consultation with all parties involved, we have decided to move Clementine Ford’s performance of ‘Love Sermon’ to Trades Hall.”

Ms Ford played a key role in disseminating a list of Jewish writers and artists, who received abuse and death threats from anti-Israel activists.

Zionist Federation CEO Alon Cassuto said: “This is a sad reflection of the state of affairs in Australia that Clementine Ford has incited so much antisemitism that two events can’t be safely held in the same venue on the same night.”