The Alliance of Australian Muslims (AAM) and the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) welcome the judgment of the Supreme Court of New South Wales delivered on 17 August 2026 in State of New South Wales v Farhat [2026] NSWSC 985, and its clear distinction between antisemitism and political criticism of Israel and Zionism.
AAM and ANIC have long raised concerns about attempts to conflate hatred and prejudice against Jewish people with legitimate criticism of the State of Israel, its policies and the political ideology of Zionism.
Justice Fagan found that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) formulation does not reflect the established understanding of antisemitism in Australia, describing its wording as “verbose and imprecise” and concluding that it is “detached from the reality of the common usage and understanding of antisemitism in this country.”
The judgment also affirmed that Zionism, as a political ideology, is open to discussion and criticism, including in relation to Palestinian rights.
AAM and ANIC unequivocally condemn Islamophobia, antisemitism, racism and all forms of religious and racial hatred. At the same time, combating genuine antisemitism must not be used to silence legitimate political expression, criticism of Israel or advocacy for Palestinian rights.
AAM and ANIC therefore call on Federal and State governments, universities and public institutions to reject the IHRA formulation and uphold freedom of political expression, including the right to advocate for justice and human rights.
Australia must confront genuine antisemitism without undermining the right to freely discuss, criticise and advocate on matters of political concern, including the actions of states and political ideologies.
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