A high-profile Melbourne burger chain founder has faced court accused of using “insulting words” at a pro-Palestine rally last year as police arrested two other protesters for the same alleged offence on Tuesday.
Activist sources told Guardian Australia that an elderly man led chants of “All Zionists are terrorists” outside the Melbourne magistrates court on Tuesday in a crowd of about 60 protesters.
The protesters were showing support for Hash Tayeh, who was appearing in court after being charged last month with allegedly using the phrase at a rally in May 2024.
A Victoria police spokesperson said two men were arrested on Tuesday after a planned protest outside the Melbourne magistrates court.
“Officers maintained a strong presence to keep the peace and ensure community safety,” the spokesperson said.
“Two men were allegedly observed chanting an insulting phrase.”
Police said the two men, a 79-year-old from Preston and a 48-year-old from Reservoir, were expected to be charged on summons with using insulting words.
In March, police charged Tayeh with four counts of “using insulting words in public” for allegedly uttering the phrase “All Zionists are terrorists” during a rally in May last year.
Outside court on Tuesday, Tayeh said “standing up for innocent men, women and children who are slaughtered in cold bold is not controversial”.
“I will stand for any people who are persecuted. Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, atheist and beyond. Because injustice against any is injustice against all,” he said.
“Silence is not an option. When innocent blood is shed, we are obligated to speak, to resist and to fight with every breath we have.”
He said his court case was a “platform to expose the truth”.
Police laid the charges against Tayeh under a section of the state’s Summary Offences Act which prohibits profane, indecent or obscene language.
The offence has a maximum penalty of two months’ imprisonment for the first offence and six months for three or more offences.
The phrase has been denounced by Jewish groups, including the Jewish Community Council of Victoria.
Tayeh is due to reappear in the Melbourne magistrates court on 24 June.
