Images released from Narellan Cemetery in Camden, near Bondi Beach, have shocked the public, as they show a serious act of vandalism against Muslim graves, just days after the deadly terrorist attack that took place on Sunday. According to authorities and community representatives, unknown individuals scattered pig heads on Muslim graves, in an act believed to have been revenge. In the Islamic religion, pork is considered forbidden and unclean, which makes the act particularly offensive and provocative.
Muslim gravedigger Ahmad Hraichie strongly condemned the incident, calling it inhumane and senseless. “This is pure stupidity. It achieves nothing. It only fuels anger, pain and division. We don’t need more people being empowered by cowardly acts like this,” he said. He stressed that the buried individuals had no connection to the recent events: “Graves are places of rest, dignity and respect – in all religions and for all humanity.” The incident came at a time when Sydney’s Muslim leaders had refused to hold funerals and even to receive the bodies of the perpetrators of the terrorist attack, a father and his son.