Woman dubbed ‘Zionist Karen’ is charged after allegedly threatening a pro-Palestinian mum in Bankstown Kmart
- Do you know the woman? Email padraig.collins@mailonline.com
A woman who allegedly verbally abused and intimidated a mother and daughter at Kmart over their pro-Palestinian outfits has spent the night behind bars.
The extraordinary encounter on Friday afternoon at a shopping center in Bankstown in the south west Sydneysaw a woman launch into a foul-mouthed tirade at a customer.
Video filmed by alleged victim Mariam shows the woman in the video unleashing a barrage of abuse against her and her terrified 10-year-old daughter.
‘Are you proud of ‘From the River to the Sea?’ wears,” the woman shouted at the pair, referring to the slogan frequently used by the pro-Palestinian movement.
The phrase refers to Israel’s border between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
“You are…get fuck Allah,” the woman’s tirade continued. “Every damn day. Damn.’
NSW Police launched an investigation into the incident and following investigations arrested a woman, 39, at a house in Parramatta in Sydney’s west on Sunday evening.
The woman was charged with one count each of publicly threatening violence on grounds of religion, behaving in an offensive manner, using offensive language and intimidating with intent to cause fear of bodily harm.
A woman (pictured) has been charged over an alleged outburst at Kmart
The woman was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Monday.
Police made the arrest hours after images were shared widely on social media platform
The footage sparked a rally outside Bankstown police station on Sunday, just hours before the woman was arrested, with calls for more action, with officers only investigating the following day.
Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Bilal El Hayek was among community leaders to condemn the incident.
“I have been made aware of and viewed footage of a very concerning incident at Kmart Bankstown,” he wrote on Facebook.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure everyone in Canterbury-Bankstown feels safe and respected.
‘Our city is built on values such as diversity, inclusivity and mutual respect.
“Hate speech and discrimination are never acceptable, and we must all work together to create an environment of kindness and understanding.”
Mariam (pictured) recalled the alleged abuse she and her daughter committed at Kmart on Sunday during a gathering outside Bankstown police station
A woman, 39, will appear in court on Monday charged with a series of offences
Arab-Australian poet and local Greens federal election candidate Omar Sakr added:
“We deserve better than the police who don’t bother to show up at the scene of a crime,” Sakr said.
‘Mariam deserves better than this; our community deserves better than this.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kmart for comment.