A western Sydney nurse has compared the moment her teenage son was thrown to the ground and cuffed by NSW police to being “beaten by an Israeli soldier” at a protest that ended in violence and mass arrests in central Sydney.
Police have defended physically restraining and beating protesters at the Town Hall rally as shocking videos of the clashes circulated on social media. But those injured in the violence are speaking out about what they labelled as a disproportionate response from officers.
A total of 27 people were arrested and a number taken to police stations across Sydney. Nine were charged.
“When participants failed to comply, officers moved to disperse the crowd, including anyone who had stopped and was blocking pedestrian access,” a spokesman said.
“As the matter is now before the court, we are unable to release the body-worn video or provide further comment.
“As indicated by the commissioner earlier today, all material will be reviewed.”
One video widely circulated on social media shows two officers punching a man several times in the head and body as he is pinned to the ground and arrested on the light rail tracks.
The man, 28-year-old Jace Turner, allegedly bit one of the arresting officers on the thumb.
Turner allegedly continues biting the officer after being punched several times and is believed to have torn through the officer’s glove and drawn blood. A photograph seen by the Herald shows significant wound on the officer’s thumb.
Kefah Maradweh, a registered nurse and Palestinian who has lived in Australia for decades, was near Town Hall in the CBD with her 16-year-old son, Nedal, daughter and baby granddaughter to oppose the visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog on Monday evening.Maradweh was treating protesters who had been pepper-sprayed when she became separated from her children.
Nedal was carrying his niece’s baby bag when his Palestinian scarf was grabbed by police and he was thrown to the ground, his mother said.
“My son’s keffiyeh was pulled, and he was thrown to the ground. His face was pushed against the concrete. One of the officers put his knee in his back – it was so cruel to do so,” Maradweh told the Herald.
“He was cuffed and dragged like a criminal, and for what? Standing up for humanity? This is not the right way – we are not criminals.”
Nedal was near a group of Muslim men who were praying toward Mecca in a landing near Town Hall as police moved in and grabbed them. The altercation was captured on video.
“We left our homeland to look for a better life for our families, safety and humanity,” Maradweh said.
“Seeing my son beaten by police, I felt what happens to my family back home. I felt what it would be like to be beaten by an Israeli soldier, not an Australian police officer.”
Maradweh said she was “very proud” of her son, who suffered bruising and grazes, but hoped he would not be traumatised by being cuffed and detained by police before being released without charge.
Her daughter, a lawyer, is considering legal action against police.
Jann AlHafny, 69, was also injured in the protest and hospitalised after suffering fractures to four vertebrae.
“They were pushing the crowd and a lot of people piled on top of me. I thought I was going to suffocate,” she told Nine News.
“The police officer was yelling at me, saying ‘Get up. Get up’. I said ‘I can’t get up. I’ve injured my back’. And he grabbed one arm and he yanked me to my feet very viciously.”
In response to questions from this masthead about the social media footage that appears to show excessive use of force on protesters, NSW Police said the crowd were issued a number of directions to disperse.
Turner was charged with assaulting a police officer causing actual bodily harm and was granted bail on Tuesday to face Downing Centre Local Court on February 24.
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Amber Schultz is a crime and justice reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.