- Sarah Mouhanna, 19, violating flag-waving charge
- Accused of publicly displaying a banned terrorist symbol
- Mouhanna has been released on bail after a not guilty plea
A 19-year-old woman accused of displaying the Hezbollah flag at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney will contest the charges in court.
Sarah Mouhanna was charged with causing a public display of the 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 out on bail on the charges filed by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Her lawyer Hisham Karnib refused to reveal on what grounds he would defend the charges when questioned by the media outside the court.
“The case is being defended at this stage – and will continue to be defended,” he said.
Mouhana was not allowed to appear when her case returned to court on December 11.
The protest in late September was much larger than the regular, weekly pro-Palestinian rallies following the spread of the conflict to the Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon.
Sarah Mouhanna, 19, was charged with causing a public display of the symbol of a banned terrorist organization after a protest in Sydney’s city center
Mouhanna appeared before Downing Center Local Court as her lawyer entered a not guilty plea on her behalf (pictured)
A rally a week later, a day before the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, grew to an even larger crowd in Sydney, estimated at 10,000 people.
It followed an attempt by police to halt the event’s progress over public safety concerns.
Screens warned protest participants that displaying the Hezbollah flag, symbols or portraits of the group’s recently assassinated leader, Hassan Nasrallah, could be considered a criminal offense.
Several people were seen wearing green and yellow, the colors of Hezbollah’s official flag.
Hezbollah and Hamas are banned terrorist organizations in Australia.
Hezbollah and Hamas are banned terrorist organizations in Australia (photo: Hezbollah flag seen during pro-Palestinian rally for Gaza and Lebanon in Melbourne)
At the time, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned anyone thinking about taking a flag for either group to a protest.
“They are symbols of terror,” he said.
“They are illegal and will not be tolerated here.”
About 1,200 people were killed and another 250 kidnapped when Hamas attacked Israel.
More than 42,000 people have been killed in subsequent Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to Palestinian officials.