Melbourne man faces court for alleged display of Hezbollah flag at protest

A Melbourne man accused of waving a Hezbollah flag at a protest in Melbourne’s CBD in September has had his case delayed with the matter now set to be heard in June.

Vahid Alzubayedi at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court where he faced charges for the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag during protest activity in Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

A Melbourne man accused of waving a Hezbollah flag at a protest in Melbourne’s CBD in September has had his case delayed for three months as the Australian Federal Police seeks to engage an “expert”.

Vahid Alzubayedi, 37, appeared for the first time in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday after being charged by the Australian Federal Police with one count of public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment, after the commonwealth introduced legislation in January last year prohibiting the public display or trade in prohibited Nazi symbols and symbols used by prohibited terrorist organisations.

Under the legislation, the Hezbollah flag is a prohibited symbol.

Police allege Mr Alzubayedi displayed a Hezbollah flag during a protest on September 29, 2024.

The protest followed the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike two days earlier, with the rally forming part of a “national day of action for Gaza”.

Protesters display Hezbollah flags at a Melbourne rally on September 29. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

Mr Alzubayedi was charged in December as part of the AFP’s major investigation into alleged displays of prohibited symbols, dubbed Operation Ardvarna.

The court heard prosecutors were seeking an adjournment for 12 weeks in order to engage an expert witness

“We’re going to engage an expert witness to provide an expert analysis,” prosecutors told the court.

Magistrate Brett Sonnet questioned the need for the delay, saying he had presided over a similar case recently and didn’t find any complications.

“I recently heard a similar case, I didn’t find anything particularly complex with that,” Mr Sonnet said.

Mr Alzubayedi’s defence lawyer did not oppose the delay and the adjournment was granted.

Mr Alzubayedi will appear for a further mention hearing on June 2.

AFP Counter Terrorism Commander Nick Read said the AFP spent more than 1100 hours investigating the display of prohibited symbols in October last year.

“The AFP has been relentlessly pursuing evidence and gathering intelligence to ensure those accused of displaying prohibited symbols can be brought before the courts and face justice,’’ Commander Read said.

Commander Read said he expected further charges would be laid against other alleged offenders, with more than a dozen under investigation.

The public display of a prohibited symbol on its own does not meet the threshold of a commonwealth offence, according to the AFP.

To be considered an offence, the symbol had to be displayed in circumstances likely to intimidate, humiliate, offend or insult a “reasonable person” because they are a member of a group distinguished by race, religion, sex, national origin, or political opinion.