MELBOURNE, VIC — The Board of Imams Victoria (BOIV) strongly condemns the disturbing incident at the Warragul Mosque in Gippsland on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, where unhygienic pork products were thrown around the mosque grounds and its entrance*. Such filthy, unhygienic practices are an affront to common decency and our shared values as Australians.
This disgraceful act is a misguided attempt to intimidate and provoke members of the local Muslim community. All places of worship should be respected and remain safe spaces for people to practise their faith without fear of harassment, intimidation, or abuse.
We stand in solidarity with the Warragul Mosque, its leadership, and its congregation. We commend the mosque and the local Muslim community for responding with dignity and resilience in the face of this incident.
Jazeer Nijamudeen, Project Lead of the BOIV Countering Islamophobia Project, expressed deep concern over the online precursors to the attack:
“We are particularly alarmed by reports that this incident followed targeted social media activity directed towards the mosque, including commentary that attracted explicit calls for the site to be vandalised. Prompt police action to investigate this online conduct may have prevented the physical incident from occurring.”
Freedom of expression does not extend to incitement, intimidation, harassment, or acts targeting people based on their religion. Such conduct, including online hate speech, must be prosecuted by Victoria Police and investigated by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission for civil contraventions of the anti-vilification laws introduced by the Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion) Act 2025.
Muslim communities have every right to establish and maintain places of worship, just as Australians of all faiths and backgrounds have the right to practise their religion freely.
BOIV President Sheikh Abdirahman MAGAD stated that: “Victoria Police’s investigation into this incident is an encouraging first step, but we need to see perpetrators held fully accountable to ensure such hatred does not cause further harm to our community.
We appreciate the overwhelming support shown to the Warragul Mosque by members of the broader Gippsland community. Such solidarity demonstrates that Islamophobia and religious hatred do not represent the values of the vast majority of Australians, and have no place in our society.
Our mosques are places of worship, community, peace, and service. Acts intended to offend or intimidate will not deter the Muslim community from peacefully practising its faith or contributing positively to Australian society.
If anyone possesses any relevant information, eyewitness accounts, or security footage, please provide it immediately to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 or via their online reporting portal. (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdIJAmUEw1W/)
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References.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdIJAmUEw1W/
https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/resources/fact-sheet-explaining-victorias-new-anti-hate-laws