Call to criminalise threats against places of worship

Melbourne: Recently, a senator has called for tougher laws against threats to places of worship after a synagogue was firebombed. This incident has really shaken the community.

The attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue has sparked a wave of support and anger among Australians. It’s a tough reminder of the past, especially for Holocaust survivors.

Senator Paul Scarr shared a powerful story from Holocaust survivor Max Joseph, linking the synagogue fire to the horrors of Kristallnacht. He’s pushing for the government to step up and strengthen hate crime laws.

He pointed out that just like Dr. Joseph witnessed his synagogue burning in Berlin back in 1938, the Jewish community in Melbourne faced a similar horror recently.

Scarr believes it’s time for the Labor government to expand laws to make threats against places of worship a criminal offense. His comments came during a discussion on a federal bill aimed at tackling hate crimes.

A recent Senate committee report backed the bill but suggested creating a national database to track hate crimes and protect marginalized groups, including those with disabilities.

The government is under pressure to address rising anti-Semitism, especially after several incidents targeting Jewish communities. They’ve made some moves, like banning the Nazi salute and appointing an anti-Semitism envoy.

There’s also an ongoing inquiry into anti-Semitism at universities, with many leaders expressing concern over the synagogue attack and another incident in Sydney.

Melbourne University’s interim vice-chancellor, Nicola Phillips, emphasized the need to combat anti-Semitism and ensure campuses are safe for everyone, including Jewish students and staff.