Teenager Defends Accusation of Displaying Hezbollah Flag
Sarah Mouhanna, 19, is being represented by a lawyer who has not disclosed her defense against charges of displaying the flag of a proscribed terrorist organization.
At a pro-Palestinian protest in Sydney on Sept. 29, a 19-year-old woman named Sarah Mouhanna was accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag and will contest the allegations in court.
Mouhanna was charged with publicly displaying a symbol of a prohibited terrorist organization following the protest in Sydney city center.
Appearing in Downing Centre Local Court on Oct. 23, her lawyer entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf, and her bail was continued until the next court date on Dec. 11.
The charge was brought by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, as both Hezbollah and Hamas are proscribed terrorist organizations in Australia.
Mouhanna’s lawyer, Hisham Karnib, chose not to disclose the defense strategy when questioned by the media outside court, stating, “The matter is defended at this stage, and it will remain defended.”
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The protest where she allegedly committed the offense was larger than the regular pro-Palestinian rallies in Sydney, following the expansion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold.
Despite police attempts to prevent it on public safety grounds, a rally held a week later before the first anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel drew an even larger crowd of around 10,000 people.
Protesters Were Warned
Screens at the event cautioned attendees that displaying Hezbollah flags, symbols, or portraits of the group’s deceased leader, Hassan Nasrallah, could be considered a criminal offense.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also cautioned against bringing flags from either group to protests, calling them symbols of terror that are illegal and will not be tolerated.
Despite warnings, many were seen wearing and displaying green and yellow, the official colors of Hezbollah’s flag, along with signs featuring Nasrallah, with some mourning his death.
Shadow Minister for Home Affairs James Paterson criticized this display on social media, suggesting authorities should crack down on those showing the flag.
On Sept. 29, thousands of Australians participated in a “National Day of Action” calling for a ceasefire in conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, where over 1,200 people were killed during Hamas’s attack on Israel and over 42,000 in subsequent Israeli strikes in Gaza, according to Palestinian officials.
AAP contributed to this story
