Solidarity was shown to former SBS journalist Mary Kostakidis on July 29, who is facing the Federal Court of Australia in a case brought by聽Alon Cassuto, chief executive of the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA).
The ZFA is attempting to muzzle Kostakidis for her pro-Palestine stance.
The 鈥淪tand with Mary鈥 event was organised by the Australian Friends of Palestine Association (AFOPA) and attended by unionists, Socialist Alliance and others.
Kostakidis鈥 lawyers were seeking to have the聽ZFA case struck out.聽If it succeeds, it will have a chilling effect on any criticism of the Israeli government. However, Justice Stephen McDonald reserved his decision.
AFOPA Chairperson Christa Christaki said she was pleased to see so many pro-Palestine activists attend.聽
If the government implements the Special Envoy聽to聽Combat Antisemitism鈥檚 plan against antisemitism and organisations adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition, vexatious litigation, such as the one being brought against Kostakidis, will gain unwarranted legitimacy.
This is in spite of the recent 聽that聽found that criticism of Zionism and the state of Israel are not antisemitic.