Weeks after I first exposed the rape denialism and terror support of Dalal Smiley, CEO of Wellsprings for Women (an organization providing support services to women) and inductee to the Victorian Honor Roll of Women for 2024, the mainstream media has finally caught on, following some pressure from Jewish groups.
A women’s safety advocate who dismissed violence against women during Hamas’ October 7 attack and excused Palestinian children calling for Jews to be stabbed was nominated by an Allan government minister for a prestigious award.
Former Multicultural Affairs Commissioner Dalal Smiley has denied Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation, supported their attacks on Israel and argued Palestinian kids expressing a desire to kill Jews are not brainwashed but instead forming the view based on their “lived experience”.
But with the help of Minister Gabrielle Williams she was inducted into the 2024 Women’s Honour Roll.
Parliament also platformed her organisation Wellsprings for Women, which provides support to women suffering family violence, in Queens Hall this week, sparking fury among some Jewish leaders.
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Ms Smiley later told the Sunday Herald Sun she condemns “any acts of sexual violence that may have occurred” during the October 7 attack.
“While my comment referred to reports that state the lack of evidence found about the rapes, I certainly condemn any acts of sexual violence that may have occurred on 7 October as crimes against humanity,” she said.
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The Jewish Community Council of Victoria and the National Council of Jewish Women, in a joint statement, said somebody who is on an Honour Roll is supposed to be a role model.
“While Ms Smiley may have done great work in the local community, the Victorian Jewish community is concerned by her apparently supportive statements on social media for Hezbollah, which has been listed as a terrorist organisation by the Commonwealth; her denial of violent abuse of Jewish women by Hamas; and her implication that the massacre of October 7 was a “legitimate act of resistance,” she said.
“Holding a position of public honour brings with it responsibility and expressing divisive and offensive personal opinions is not acceptable for a Victorian honour roll nominee.”
Jewish MP David Southwick also slammed the decision.
“Instead of condemning someone who stokes division, the Allan Labor Government has decided she deserves an award and a free feature in the Victorian parliament,” he said.
What is even more disturbing to me than the lack of media exposure this has received is despite the fact that the Victorian government is now definitely aware of her vile views, they are not rescinding the honor.
A Victorian government spokesman defended Ms Smiley’s award, but said “the Government does not support those views”.
Meanwhile, following my post, Smiley deleted her social media accounts except for her X account, on which she tweeted the following for the first time in over a month:
I am sure she had absolutely no ulterior motive whatsoever for tweeting something in defense of Jewish people, while trying to distance anti-Israel speech from antisemitic speech, right after being exposed.
I mean, it’s not like she has also made light of antisemitism by liking posts that claim it is always a “trick” to stifle debate – also right after being exposed:
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