This US professor sparked outrage at a Sydney mosque. Here’s why

An American law professor has sparked controversy for saying October 7 is a “good day” and “not fully a day of mourning” at a Sydney mosque, and the immigration minister is considering his visa status. The comments came on the anniversary of Hamas’ brutal massacre in Israel and as conflict escalates in the Middle East.

Who is Khaled Beydoun? Why is he controversial? What have the reactions been? And what could happen next?

Who is Khaled Beydoun?

Visiting Australia as part of a multi-leg speaking tour, American law professor and author Khaled Beydoun has been a source of information for supporters of Palestine and about the year-long war in Gaza and the recent conflict in Lebanon.

Khaled Beydoun at a rally outside Lakemba Mosque.Credit: Facebook

But speaking at the Hizb ut-Tahrir rally at Lakemba Mosque on Monday after the third and final stop on his tour, Beydoun has become engulfed in controversy after remarking that the October 7 rally marked a day of “celebration” for the pro-Palestinian movement.

A professor of law at Arizona State University, Beydoun has written extensively on Islamophobia. His university profile says he is widely regarded as one of the pre-eminent subject-matter experts globally.

His book The New Crusades: Islamophobia and The Global War on Muslims argues the American war on terror has facilitated and intensified a number of anti-Muslim campaigns across the globe.

Monday was not the first time Beydoun has courted controversy. The author faced intense backlash, and later deleted his X profile after participating in a 2019 competition offered by the online platform Muslims of the World.

The competition claimed the winner would meet families of victims shot during the Christchurch terrorist attack, according to The New Zealand Herald. White supremacist Brenton Tarrant live-streamed himself murdering 51 people at two mosques in the city on March 15, 2019.

The Muslims of the World competition said the winner would visit the mosques with the platform’s founder, Sajjad Shah, Imam Suhaib Webb, and Beydoun. People were required to follow the three to enter the competition.

The announcement was met with intense backlash, including from other affected families.

The daughter of one victim, Christchurch graphic designer Maha Elmadani, described the competition as disgusting and told Beydoun he and his friends were not welcome “to come here and look at us like some animals in a zoo”.

Beydoun later apologised, saying the “whole idea was badly conceived, wrong, and was a serious lapse of judgment”.

A viral tweet Beydoun posted after France’s victory over Croatia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup also sparked controversy.

Beydoun wrote: “Dear France … 80% of your team is African, cut out the racism and xenophobia. 50% of your team are Muslims, cut out the Islamophobia. Africans and Muslims delivered you a second World Cup, now deliver them justice.”

The tweet was polarising, drawing praise from some quarters and censure from others who accused Beydoun of stoking division.

In a recent Instagram post to his 2.5 million followers, Beydoun wrote: “Is there anything more religiously fanatical than a triangular conspiracy between evangelical Christians, unhinged militant Zionists and money-worshipping neoliberals pushing genocide in Gaza and all of us to the brink of World War III?”

Beydoun frequently rails against the “censorship” of his social media accounts.

“When our history of this moment is written, it will stand that Instagram and Meta stood with genocide, actively suppressing our voices and silencing us.”

Reactions

Why is he here?

Beydoun undertook a three-leg tour of Australia last week. Beginning in Perth, he spoke in Melbourne on Thursday before finishing off in Sydney.

Titled “Between Gaza and the World: How Genocide Has Changed Us All, 1 Year Later”, the tour was backed by a company called White Flame. The website claims, “We specialise in delivering high-quality Islamic events and marketing solutions that are tailored to your unique vision”.

In response to one comment on his Instagram, Beydoun said he would try to attend the October 6 rally at Sydney Town Hall. He was a guest speaker of Lakemba Mosque at the rally, organised by Stand For Palestine Australia.

Photos posted on Facebook promoted Beydoun’s appearance at the event.

What happens next?

Burke has considered cancelling Beydoun’s visa. The route for cancellation would be under character provisions.

If that goes ahead, Beydoun could appeal against the decision through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Ultimately, it may be unnecessary. Beydoun’s Instagram said he would be in Australia “this coming week”.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.