Earlier this week, the Australian Federal Court found that Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad contravened the Racial Discrimination Act, a series of lectures containing “racist and antisemitic material” – including by portraying Jewish people as “wicked”, “scheming”, “vile”, “mischievous” and “descendants of apes and pigs.”
APAN President Nasser Mashni has sprung in to action following the judgment, not to condemn Haddad, but rather retweeting disgraced journalist Mary Kostakidis – who herself has posted antisemitic things – to highlight a part of the judgment to show that “anti-Zionism is not antisemitism.”
By implication, both Kostakidis and Mashni are implying all they do is engage in “political criticism of Israel”, and surely do not “blame Jews for the actions of Israel.”
Let’s put that to the test.
Take Kostakidis.
How is perpetuating the antisemitic trope of a powerful “Jewish lobby” influencing the media mere political criticism of Israel? How is this not blaming Jews for the “actions of Israel”?
Mashni’s no better. In fact, he’s worse.
Sure, he also engages in that same antisemitic trope:
but he also mocks the idea of antisemitism while retweeting notorious antisemites:
which he has done also on other occasions:
mocks and denies Jewish geneology:
Holy shit, the head of the Palestinian movement in Australia Nasser Mashni @iamthenas went full blood and soil yesterday: ''The skin of the Jews is not designed for the land of Palestine.'' Also denounced both Australia and Israel as "racist shitholes.'' pic.twitter.com/DIHDaCoLRg
— Drew Pavlou (@DrewPavlou) May 17, 2024
incites against Australian Jews:
and promotes and takes part in rallies where there is rank antisemitism:
Seen at yesterday's anti #Israel not antisemitic rally outside the #Melbourne State Library:
— David Lange (@Israellycool) September 23, 2024
"Khaibar Khaibar ya yahud, Jaisyu Muhammad saufa ya'ud!"
Translation: "Khaybar Khaybar oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return." pic.twitter.com/mmfGdFbsSo
Pro-Palestine Rally Organisers Hash Tayeh and Nasser Mashni Stand By as Attendees Hurl Racist Abuse at Jewish People in Melbourne
— Kofy Time (@kofy_time) January 12, 2025
Both Tayeh and Mashni repeatedly deny that their rallies—which have paralysed the city of Melbourne for the past 15 months—are anything but… pic.twitter.com/A6o9J0jcJM
Mashni doth protest too much – in more ways than one.
