Prominent Australian horse trainer Kim Waugh, wife of cricket legend Mark Waugh, sparked controversy on X by calling Muslim protesters who heckled Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Sydney’s Lakemba Mosque “animals.”
Tense Confrontation at Lakemba Mosque
On March 20, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke faced heated protests during Eid al-Fitr prayers at Lakemba Mosque. The leaders attended the event with the Lebanese Muslim Association to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir addressed worshippers, urging greater community engagement with government on issues like the Gaza conflict, rising Islamophobia, and domestic policies. Shortly after, a group of protesters, organized by Stand4Palestine, disrupted the gathering.
Hecklers shouted “get them out of here,” “shame,” and “disgrace.” They labeled the politicians “genocide supporters” and chanted “Allahu Akbar.” Stand4Palestine organizer Mukhlis Mah declared, “How dare you come here. This is our sacred place – why are you inviting him here today? The shame is on you.” Others jeered, “boo Tony Burke, boo Albanese,” and called the Prime Minister a “putrid dog.”
Albanese and Burke, who had removed their shoes and joined the prayer hall, exited swiftly, flanked by security and police.
Kim Waugh’s Fiery Social Media Response
Waugh reacted to a post by commentator Avi Yemini highlighting Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi’s defense of the protesters. Faruqi, deputy leader of the Australian Greens since June 2022, accused the federal government of “gaslighting Muslims” over Israel’s actions in Gaza.
In a parliamentary exchange, Labor representatives reportedly censured Faruqi, prompting her Instagram post: “The Labor party continues its record of cracking down on people who speak out against a genocide, while ignoring the perpetrator. They obviously care more about pomp and ceremony than Palestinians being starved and killed in their thousands. Labor has shown more outrage over me holding a sign than over Israel starving an entire population.”
Waugh commented on X: “Stop letting her have a say. She is crazy. They are a bunch of animals.” In another post, she added: “Is she for real. Hello, embarrassing.”
Waugh, a successful horse trainer with a notable win rate from thousands of starts, stunned many X users with her outspoken remarks.
