A NSW minister who criticised the violent breaking up by police of a Muslim prayer during Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia says he was “inspired” by the sight of women in hijabs volunteering with the state’s emergency services.
In a statement, Digital Government Minister and Bankstown MP Jihad Dib said he was “deeply distressed” by footage of police moving in to break up prayers during a protest outside Sydney’s Town Hall during the Israeli President’s visit.
“These scenes were confronting, and they should never have happened,” he said.
The actions of officers are now being probed by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, the police watchdog.
Bankstown MP Jihad Dib says he was ‘inspired’ by the sight of women in hijabs volunteering with the state’s emergency services. Picture: NewsWire
It comes amid a nationwide discussion about social cohesion in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack, an alleged failed bomb attack at an Invasion Day rally in Perth, and threats to the Lakemba Mosque, Australia’s largest Islamic congregation.
Appearing before a budget estimates hearing on Tuesday, Mr Dib recalled an “inspiring” and “deeply personal” moment when speaking about volunteers.
“Probably the most inspiring thing that I’ve seen … I saw some women wearing a hijab at an RFS (base), so they’re RFS firefighters wearing a hijab,” Mr Dib said.
“Maybe it was very, deeply personal, but I was really inspired by that.”
Mr Dib said the NSW RFS was investigating fire-resistant hijabs.
“Now, think about what that does to other women who might wear a hijab who can go, ‘OK, I can be part of that RFS’, or somebody who looks a little bit different or sounds a bit different,” he said.
The actions of officers are now being probed by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani
Mr Dib told the inquiry the state government was focused on “spontaneous volunteering” – training diverse members of the community to be able to respond in an emergency – with an eye to making it “easier and a bit more practical” for differently-abled or people with English as a second language to volunteer.
Another “inspiring” encounter was with people with disabilities operating drones at Coogee Beach to spot sharks, Mr Dib said.
“We want volunteers, and there’s a role for different people,” he said.
“I’m just trying to convince my mum to volunteer for the cooking because that’s where she’ll be going.”
Mr Dib was born in Lebanon and the NSW lower house’s first Muslim MP.
His electorate of Bankstown is about 32 per cent Muslim, according to the 2021 census.