Australian Prime Minister Faces Hostile Reception at Mosque, Labeled ‘Putrid Dog’ by Protesters

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced a hostile reception on Friday at the country’s largest mosque, as attendees expressed their discontent with his position on the Israeli conflict with Hamas.

During his visit, Albanese was met with derogatory remarks, being labeled a “putrid dog” and a “genocide supporter” in relation to the ongoing casualties in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, according to The Telegraph.

Footage captured the prime minister alongside the Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, at Sydney’s Lakemba Mosque. The visit coincided with the community’s celebration of Eid al-Fitr, marking the conclusion of Ramadan.

As Albanese departed the mosque, some in the crowd voiced their displeasure, shouting, “Why is he in here? Get him out of here!”

“Why is he in here? Get him out of here!” some shouted. 

Albanese and his Left Labor government have drawn criticism for its support of a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel’s right to defend itself. 

During the commotion, Gamel Kheir, the mosque’s secretary, pleaded for calm. 

“Respect the place you’re in,” he said. “We must engage and have frank and open dialogue with our political leaders and not shy away and be reclusive.”

“You called him honorable. He’s responsible for the deaths of 1 million people, 1 million of our brothers and sisters,” one person reportedly shouted. 

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was heckled out of a mosque in Sydney during a visit Friday. (AuBC via APTN)

Albanese was taken into an office inside the mosque by security before he was taken out of the building and into his motorcade. 

As he was leaving, cries of “shame on you” and the slur “Alba-tizi,” a derogatory Arabic play on his surname, referencing buttocks, were shouted. 

“He wants to come here after shaking hands with the president of Israel, who’s got blood on his hands,” said one person who confronted the prime minister. “To come here and act like nothing has happened is a disgrace.”

Albanese posted photos on X showing him smiling and shaking hands with attendees.

Attendees heckled Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a visit to a mosque Friday, March 20, 2026. (AuBC via APTN)

“Overwhelmingly, the reception was incredibly positive,” he told reporters of his visit. “I walked through the crowd to the mosque, and not a single person heckled. There were a couple of hecklers inside. They were dealt with.

“Contrary to what’s been suggested, no one was rushed out,” he added. “We just sat there. … It was dealt with by the community themselves because overwhelmingly they did not want that to occur.”

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