Australia’s pioneering hate speech laws have come under scrutiny following the arrest of activists, igniting debates around the government’s perceived shift towards an “authoritarian police state.”

On Thursday, demonstrators gathered outside Queensland’s parliament to protest the arrest of two individuals accused of chanting contentious pro-Palestinian slogans shortly after the legislation took effect.

The Queensland government faces backlash for proscribing phrases associated with Palestinian advocacy in its broader campaign against anti-Semitism.

In a first for Australia, the state has explicitly banned the phrase “from the river to the sea,” a slogan frequently used by pro-Palestinian groups, alongside “globalise the intifada.”

The two activists, a man and a woman, found themselves in legal trouble after using the phrase “from the river to the sea” during a demonstration outside the parliament on Wednesday, in defiance of the newly instituted laws.

Greens MP Michael Berkman, present at the protest, witnessed the arrest of the male activist, identified as Liam Parry.

“It was a pretty extraordinary display from the QPS (police),” he told the Australian Associated Press.

“I think the arrest yesterday has all the hallmarks of an authoritarian police state, and the police there were clearly all too happy to act as the thought police on behalf of the LNP state government.”

Parry, from the Students for Palestine group, claimed he was using the phrase in the context of education.

“The phrase the government is trying to ban is about asserting that the people who live between those bodies of water deserve dignity and freedom,” he told the rally.

“So when we say ‘from the river to the sea’ we are calling for freedom and liberation for the people of Palestine.”

Parry was arrested shortly afterwards, with protesters calling out “Solidarity” and “Free Palestine” as he was placed in a paddy wagon.

He is set to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 8 for the offence of recital, distribution, publication or display of prohibited expressions.

If found guilty, he faces a maximum of two years in prison.

A spokesperson for Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington refused to comment as the case was before the courts.

A woman wearing a T-shirt bearing the banned phrase was also arrested at the end of Wednesday’s march.

Students for Palestine spokesperson Ella Gutteridge said police “formed a huge wall surrounding her and carted her off”.

“This shows the true nature of these laws, which are to intimidate and silence peaceful activists.”

The 18-year-old woman was later released with a caution.

The full saying “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is a reference to the land between the Jordan River, which borders eastern Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.

Hamas, designated a terror organisation in Australia, includes similar wording to the slogan in its constitution as part of its rejection of Israel.

But activists say those words and “globalise the intifada” are calls for Palestinian freedom and human rights, rather than violence or the destruction of Israel.

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