US academic subject to visa review says asking people to condemn Hamas is a ‘bullying’ question

The US academic whose visa is under review for telling a pro-Palestine rally October 7 was cause for “celebration” has previously argued asking a person to condemn Hamas is “bullying”.

A US academic who told a Western Sydney pro-Palestine rally October 7 was a cause for “celebration” has previously argued asking a person to condemn Hamas was a “bullying” question lacking nuance and context.

The Coalition has seized on the remarks of Khaled Beydoun, who’s current visa to visit Australia is under review by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke following his October 7 comments, questioning why the prominent speaker was granted entry to the country in the first place.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton also took aim at Anthony Albanese on Tuesday saying he should “stand condemned” after Labor and the Coalition were unable to reach a consensus on a motion in parliament about the Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel.

The Prime Minister condemned the terror attack, noting October 7 would “always be a day of pain”.

But Mr Dutton accused Mr Albanese of “trying to speak out of both sides of his mouth”, after the Coalition and Labor were not able to reach an agreed position on the wording of the motion.

American academic Khaled Beydoun spoke at the Lakemba Mosque rally

Meanwhile, Coalition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan said Labor must explain Mr Beydoun’s suitability for being granted a visa to visit Australia.

“Anthony Albanese now needs to answer the question: does support for Hamas pass the character test?” he said.

In a blog post from December last year, Mr Beydoun criticised controversial UK presenter Piers Morgan for “bullying” his Muslim guests into giving a definitive answer when asked if they condemn listed terror organisation Hamas.

“Morgan asks this question over and over again,” Mr Beydoun said.

“Bullying his Arab and Muslim guests into a corner, until he receives a “yes” or “no” response to a question that deserves nuance, context, and care.”

Coalition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan has questioned the visa vetting of Mr Beydoun. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Hamas has been listed as a terrorist entity by the Australian government since 2001.

Mr Beydoun said the objective of questioning someone’s support of Hamas was “clear”.

“Entrap Arab and Muslim guests into a corner whereby they must choose between explicitly supporting a legally proscribed terrorist organisation … or condemn a group conflated wholly with the Palestinian people of Gaza.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is reviewing Mr Beydoun’s visa. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

At a rally at Lakemba Mosque on Monday, Mr Beydoun, who is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University, ­addressed the crowd and said October 7 was in some ways a day of “celebration” and “growth” for Palestinian people.

“Today is not a day that is full of mourning, today is a day that marks celebration,” he said.

Mr Burke last night declaring he would review the academic’s visa. He said as soon as he heard about the comments on Monday he asked his department to conduct a visa check.

“At 8.30pm they confirmed this man is travelling on a visa,” he said.

“I immediately asked them to prepare a brief so I can consider his visa status.”

Originally published as US academic subject to visa review says asking people to condemn Hamas is a ‘bullying’ question