Monday, December 15, 2025
Zoryan Institute is committed to human rights, genocide education, prevention, and the study of mass atrocity. Violence deliberately directed at civilians—irrespective of the perpetrators’ identity, religion, or professed cause—constitutes a serious violation of fundamental human rights and an assault on human dignity itself.
We stand in solidarity with the victims of recent racist and anti-semitic attacks in Australia and with all communities worldwide who endure fear, trauma, and loss as a consequence of such violence. We further reaffirm our categorical opposition to antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Armenianism, and all forms of racism, dehumanization, and religious hatred.
The shootings in Australia on 14 December have taken place in a context of growing political violence on a global scale that is encouraged and promoted by extremist individuals, political movements, and/or governments in many countries. History shows that Jews have often been victims when such extremist forces gain the upper hand. Attempts to attribute the killings to acts in solidarity with the people of Palestine, such as the recent recognition of the State of Palestine by Australia, are misplaced and disingenuous. Exploiting these acts to promote a brutal political agenda is an insult to the victims of these terrible acts and fuels conflation of antisemitism, Zionism and rightful criticism of the Israeli government.
We also honour the extraordinary courage and humanity of Muslim-Australian, Ahmad Al-Ahmed, a bystander who risked his own life to protect the Bondi Jewish community by confronting one of the shooters and disarming him. Ahmad’s actions embody selfless courage and serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring importance of human values, even in the face of horror and hatred. His bravery underscores that there is no hierarchy of suffering and that we must do our utmost to protect and support every civilian affected by violence worldwide.
We remain committed to principled dialogue that resists fear-driven narratives and affirms the equal dignity and humanity of all peoples.
– The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute)
