Submitted via email: tips[at]dailytelegraph.com.au 

Dear Editors,

We are writing to express our deep concern and outrage regarding the article titled “The Daily Fail Lets Hatred off the Hook in Bankstown”, authored by Andrew Bolt and published in The Daily Telegraph on 22 December 2024.

This article is not only factually misleading but also dangerously inflammatory. It defends the indefensible actions of an attacker known to the police for threatening and assaulting members of the Muslim community. Astonishingly, Bolt omits critical facts, such as the attacker’s recent attempt to murder a prominent Muslim community leader. After stalking her target and identifying their place of work, this individual allegedly tried to ram her car into the person—an act thwarted only because a pedestrian crossed her path, forcing her to brake at the last moment. This chilling incident has been reported to the police, yet Bolt conveniently ignores it.

Such glaring omissions and Bolt’s failure to conduct proper investigative journalism raise serious questions about his fitness as a journalist. His article goes further, implying that the attack on a Muslim woman was somehow justified—a reckless and dangerous stance. Suggesting that wearing a T-shirt supporting Palestinian liberation or speaking out against the genocide in Gaza warrants violence is not only morally reprehensible but also a tacit endorsement of hate crimes.

The article also perpetuates harmful misrepresentations, including the mischaracterisation of the slogan “From the River to the Sea.” This phrase has been explained repeatedly by both Palestinians and Jewish allies as a call for the liberation of all people, envisioning equality and justice for everyone in the region. It is not, as falsely implied, a call for the destruction of the Jewish people. Many Jewish allies of Palestinians openly support this sentiment, understanding it as a unifying message for justice and coexistence rather than one of division or harm. Such misinterpretations fuel unwarranted fear and hatred, distracting from its true purpose as a call for liberation.

Bolt’s rhetoric is deeply harmful. It excuses criminal behaviour, emboldens extremists, and undermines the safety of Muslims in Australia. By publishing such a piece, The Daily Telegraph threatens the social cohesion of our society and gives a platform to hateful and divisive narratives.

We demand the immediate removal of this article from your platform. Furthermore, we expect The Daily Telegraph to issue a retraction, accompanied by a clear and public apology for justifying criminal behaviour and for contributing to an atmosphere of hostility and fear. It is incumbent upon you to condemn such attacks unequivocally and take responsibility for the impact your publication has on our community.

Sincerely,

Families for Palestine Grassroots Community Group – unceded First Nations land (NSW)