- Sarah Mouhanna, 19, will fight flag-waving charges
- Accused of public display of a banned terrorist symbol
- Mouhanna is released on bail after pleading not guilty
- READ MORE:
A 19-year-old woman accused of displaying the Hezbollah flag at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney will challenge the allegations in court.
Sarah Mouhanna was charged with causing a public display of a symbol of a banned terrorist organization following a protest in Sydney city center on September 29.
The 19-year-old appeared at Downing Center Local Court on Wednesday, when her lawyer entered a not guilty plea on her behalf.
Mouhanna remains free on bail on the charge brought by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
His lawyer, Hisham Karnib, declined to reveal why he would defend the charge when questioned by the media outside court.
“The matter is being defended at this time and will continue to be defended,” he stated.
Mouhana was excused from appearing when her matter returns to court on December 11.
The late September protest was much larger than regular weekly pro-Palestinian demonstrations following the expansion of the conflict in Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Lebanon.
Sarah Mouhanna, 19, was charged with causing a public display of a symbol of a banned terrorist organization following a protest in Sydney city centre.
Mouhanna appeared at Downing Center Local Court, when his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf (pictured)
A week later, a day before the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, a demonstration gathered an even larger crowd in Sydney, estimated at 10,000 people.
This followed an attempt by police to stop the event for public safety reasons.
The screens warned protest attendees that displaying the Hezbollah flag, symbols or portraits of the group’s recently slain leader, Hassan Nasrallah, could be considered a criminal offense.
Several people were seen wearing and sporting green and yellow, the colors of Hezbollah’s official insignia.
Hezbollah and Hamas are terrorist organizations banned in Australia.
Hezbollah and Hamas are terrorist organizations banned in Australia (pictured, the Hezbollah flag seen during the pro-Palestine rally for Gaza and Lebanon in Melbourne)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a warning at the time to anyone thinking about bringing a flag of either group to a protest.
“They are symbols of terror,” he said.
“They are illegal and will not be tolerated here.”
Some 1,200 people were killed and another 250 kidnapped when Hamas attacked Israel.
According to Palestinian officials, more than 42,000 people have been killed in subsequent Israeli attacks on Gaza.