Kids chant ‘Allahu Akbar’ in rally outside Sydney school after nurse charge

Dozens of students joined in a demonstration organised by Teachers and School Staff for Palestine NSW, as tensions rose in the aftermath of police charging nurse Sarah Abu Lebdeh over an anti-Semitic video.

Dozens of schoolchildren joined in chants of “Allahu Akbar” (God is the greatest) outside a Sydney public school as tensions rose in the aftermath of police charging nurse Sarah Abu Lebdeh over an anti-Semitic video.

Ms Abu Lebdeh and her colleague Ahmad Rashad Nadir, who has not been charged, allegedly threatened to kill Israeli patients and refuse to treat them.

On Wednesday morning protesters at Granville Boys High School, in southwest Sydney, demanded the return to school of support officer Sheik Wesam Charkawi, who was ordered by the NSW Education Department to work from home after defending the two nurses in an Instagram post.

Palestinian and Lebanese flags were waved during the protest as older men led the chants through loudhailers. Some students in uniform appeared to join the chants, while others gathered behind the school fence also joined in.

The protest was organised by Teachers and School Staff for Palestine NSW, which celebrated the “spirited turnout of students, teachers, community for Sheik Wesam”.

In his Instagram video, Sheik Charkawi said the nurses’ comments were “never meant to be literal or intended to be a threat to patient care” and criticised the “hypocrisy” of Anthony Albanese and NSW Health Minister Ryan Park for remaining silent “when confronted with the most egregious acts of violence committed by Israel”.

Sheik Wesam Charkawi. Picture: Jane Dempster

The Muslim Vote convener was ordered to take down the posts and work from home for allegedly breaching the department’s social media policy and code of ethics. Sheik Charkawi has since removed the video.

An Australian National Imams Council member, Sheik Charkawi came to public prominence after establishing The Muslim Vote campaign to take on Labor at the federal election.

On Wednesday the ANIC declared it is “deeply concerned and disappointed by the targeting of Muslim and Pro-Palestinian professionals and staff and most recently one of its own member Imams”.

“Such actions set a dangerous precedent that threatens the principles of fairness, freedom of speech and democracy in Australia.”

A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said employees had “been reminded of their duty to uphold the reputation of the department as apolitical and impartial.”

“Any student who did not follow directions from staff will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.”

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies vice-president David Ossip said: “These are incredibly troubling scenes. It is outrageous, scandalous and sad that children at a taxpayer-funded school were exploited as props at a divisive political rally.

“Serious questions need to be asked about how this was allowed to proceed. How were radicals allowed to stand outside the school gates and whip students into a fervour? How could any student or staff member who doesn’t share the views of the demonstrators feel safe in that environment?”

NSW Education Minister Prue Car has been asked for comment.

Strike Force Pearl detectives arrested Ms Abu Lebdeh after she attended Sutherland police station on Tuesday evening.

The former Bankstown Hospital nurse was captured on video earlier this month telling Israeli social media influencer Max Veifer: “One day, your time will come, and you will die the most horrible death.”

She and Mr Nadir, who also allegedly made threatening statements, were immediately sacked and banned from practising as nurses.

She was charged with three commonwealth offences – threaten violence to group, use carriage service to threaten to kill and use carriage service to menace/harass/offend.

Ms Abu Lebdeh is on strict bail conditions prohibiting her from going to a point of departure from Australia and banned from using social media.

Mr Nadir was admitted to hospital two weeks ago over concerns for his mental health and has not been charged.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the charges were a major development in what had been a very thorough and exhaustive investigation by detectives attached to Strike Force Pearl.

“Strike Force Pearl detectives must be commended for acting swiftly under enormous pressure and public expectation,” Commissioner Webb said.

“These charges have been laid following a lot of hard work and legal advice received yesterday from the commonwealth DPP.

“Detectives have overcome obstacles and jurisdictional challenges to get where we are today.

“This is the 14th arrest under Strike Force Pearl, with a total of 76 charges laid, which demonstrates the commitment of strike force detectives investigating these offences.”

Ms Abu Lebdeh’s family had previously said the nurse was “sorry” and had suffered an “extreme panic attack”.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

In the now-viral video, Ms Abu Lebdeh allegedly told the influencer: “It (Israel) is Palestine’s country, not your country, you piece of shit.”

She went on to say “when your time comes, I want you to remember my face so you can understand that you will die the most disgusting death”.

Asked what would happen if an Israeli patient came into the hospital, Ms Abu Lebdeh said: “I won’t treat them, I will kill them.”

Mr Nadir allegedly said that while Mr Veifer had “beautiful eyes”, he was going to “get killed” and go to “hell”. “Those pretty eyes should stay in this world for longer,” Mr Nadir said, who described himself in the footage as a “doctor”, which, given he was a nurse, may also constitute an offence.

Mr Veifer is a Hebrew-speaking English teacher who regularly posts videos to social media in which he has conversations on that site, particularly when he is matched with people that share anti-Israel and anti-Jewish views.

Ms Abu Lebdeh was granted conditional bail to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, March 19.