NSW police commissioner urged to apologise to ‘entire Muslim community’ after officers disrupted prayer at Sydney protest

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon faced intense pressure on February 11, 2026, to issue a formal apology to the Muslim community following a controversial police operation in Sydney where officers disrupted a group of worshippers during prayer. The incident occurred during a protest against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, with community leaders and politicians alleging that the police intervention was heavy-handed and disrespectful to religious practices. Commissioner Lanyon defended the actions of his officers, stating that the dispersal of the crowd was a necessary measure to maintain public order and safety during the heightened tensions of the demonstration. The confrontation has sparked a significant political backlash, led primarily by Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, who accused the police of effectively "assaulting Muslims" by interrupting their sacred rites. According to eyewitness accounts and video footage, officers moved in to clear the area while several individuals were in the middle of prayer, leading to physical scuffles and a sense of profound distress among the participants. Advocates argue that the police failed to show the basic cultural competency required to handle a sensitive religious moment, turning a peaceful assembly into a volatile confrontation. In the aftermath of the event, civil rights groups and Islamic organizations have joined the call for an independent investigation into the police's tactics. While the police department maintains that the protesters were blocking essential pathways and ignoring lawful directions to move, critics point out that the timing of the intervention—specifically targeting the moment of prayer—suggests a lack of procedural discretion. The controversy comes at a time of increased social friction in Australia regarding international conflicts, placing further scrutiny on how law enforcement manages the right to protest alongside the protection of religious freedoms.