A former University of Sydney lecturer accused of verbally abusing Jewish students on campus has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges and vowed to fight the case in court, as supporters clashed with journalists outside the courthouse.
Rose Nakad, 53, appeared at her first court hearing this week, where she denied two counts of harassment and intimidation with intent to cause fear or harm, as well as an additional charge of offensive conduct. Nakad was accompanied by a group of supporters, some wearing keffiyehs, who confronted reporters waiting outside the courtroom.
During the hearing, Nakad rejected the allegations against her. Her next court appearance is scheduled for next month, and she has been granted an exemption from attending in person.
The charges stem from an incident last October, during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, when Nakad was filmed confronting Jewish students on campus in a video that later went viral. In the footage, she is heard shouting antisemitic slurs, calling the students “parasites,” “rubbish” and “filthy f***ing Zionists.”
In the video, Nakad also says: “If you tell me you’re an anti-Zionist Jew, I have no problem with you,” before adding, “A Zionist is the lowest form of rubbish. Zionists are the most disgusting thing that has ever walked this earth.”
She is further heard declaring herself “an Indigenous Palestinian” and “a real Semite,” while repeatedly yelling at the students to leave. A university security guard is seen attempting to separate her from the group as the students ask her to walk away.
Following the incident, the University of Sydney immediately suspended Nakad and later terminated her employment. In a statement at the time, the university said her conduct was “deeply troubling and completely unacceptable,” stressing that antisemitism has no place at Australia’s oldest university.
Outside the courthouse this week, tensions flared when one of Nakad’s supporters attempted to block a cameraman from filming and verbally abused a reporter. Police said no criminal offenses were reported in connection with the confrontation.
Nakad declined to comment to journalists.