Protesters Launch Legal Battle Against Controversial Anti-Hate Speech Laws

Pro-Palestinian activists are gearing up to challenge Queensland’s hate speech laws in court after numerous arrests at a protest against the legislation.

On Sunday, Justice for Palestine Magan-djin supporters marched towards Brisbane’s state parliament, following the arrest of 20 individuals the previous day for allegedly using or displaying two prohibited phrases.

At least two more people were detained on Sunday for similar offenses.

Earlier this year, Queensland enacted laws prohibiting the slogans “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada,” classifying them as hate speech targeting Jewish communities.

Nevertheless, these chants — commonly heard at pro-Palestinian gatherings in Australia and globally — are known to have varying interpretations.

The phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” describes the region stretching from the Jordan River, which forms Israel’s eastern boundary, to the Mediterranean Sea on the west.

Anyone who recites or displays the terms can face up to two years in jail if found to have used the popular pro-Palestine chants to menace or harass others.

The group arrested on Saturday faces 14 charges of displaying a prohibited expression and seven charges of reciting a prohibited expression.

But Subhi Awad, from Justice for Palestine Magan-djin, said the group would mount a constitutional challenge against the laws.

They had received legal advice that “almost everyone” of the arrested protesters had acted legally if they used the prohibited expression, he said.

“(The law) provides that it is a reasonable excuse to use the prohibited expression for a purpose that is in the public interest and (their) conduct is reasonable in the circumstances,” he said.

“The section provides, as an example of what is a purpose in the public interest, use of the prohibited expression in a genuine political dispute carried on in the public interest.”

On Friday pro-Palestinian demonstrators had attempted to test the laws with a John Farnham flash mob.

Several hundred people refused to sit in silence or live with fear as they donned blonde wigs and 80s regalia to belt out the 1988 classic Two Strong Hearts.

The song contains the lyrics “reaching out forever like a river to the sea”, but no one was arrested for singing along.

“Politicians and police have been bullying artists and activists for simply displaying the lyrics of this classic Australian song, and we let them know tonight that we won’t stand for it,” said Deb Cleland, who choreographed the dance.

‘Absurd and stupid laws’

At the rally outside parliament on Sunday, Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi said telling the truth was becoming a crime.

“Your state, Queensland, is at the spear tip of this fight for civil liberties,” she said.

“We are here today, standing with those who refuse to be silenced, who refuse to obey these bad, appalling, reckless, but also absurd and stupid laws.”

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli previously said the laws provided strong protection and came in response to clear calls from the Jewish community.

“This is about drawing a clear line — and stamping out the embers of hatred that were allowed to burn unchecked for too long — to ensure we protect Queenslanders,” he said in announcing the legislation.

But Australian Progressive Party state leader Edward Carroll, who was among those arrested on Saturday, said the laws “do not protect us as Jewish people”.

“They are not about combating antisemitism — they are about silencing dissent and support for Palestine,” he said.

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