A police investigation has been launched following allegations of antisemitism at the Sydney Biennale’s opening night. Two major corporate partners have also distanced their brands from the event.
The controversy centres on an onstage monologue delivered by Zubeyda Muzeyyen, a US citizen who performs by the name DJ Haram, at the opening night celebrations at White Bay Power Station on 13 March.
On 17 March, the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) filed a letter of complaint to the police, asking them to urgently investigate comments allegedly made by Muzeyyen during her performance. The letter, signed by the JBD’s president David Ossip, alleged that the comments could been seen as advocating terrorism and therefore breach Australia’s criminal code.
Ossip referred to Muzeyyen’s onstage use of the terms “long live the resistance” and “glory to all our martyrs”. While the term “martyr” has been used by Palestinians to describe any person killed by an aggressor, the letter says that “the language of ‘martyrdom’ and ‘resistance’ is frequently used in propaganda and messaging associated with organisations that are listed as terrorist organisations under Australian law, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah.”
Ossip asked New South Wales Police to refer the matter to the Australian Federal Police “for consideration under the relevant terrorism offences contained in the Criminal Code”.
The letter went on to make another complaint, this time under the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), about Muzeyyen’s statement—“It is our duty to oppose the vile Zio-Australian-Epstein empire”—while onstage at the opening night party.
Ossip’s letter of complaint says: “The term ‘Zio’ is a derogatory term directed at Zionists in Australia and, in contemporary discourse, is commonly used as a pejorative reference to Jewish people who support the existence of Israel.” It adds that Muzeyyen’s statement “appears to promote a conspiratorial narrative suggesting malign influence by Jewish Australians” through the reference to Epstein, “a convicted child abuser”.
The letter said Muzeyyen’s statement during her performance at the Sydney Biennale party was capable of inciting hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule towards Jews or Jewish Australians. Highlighting Muzeyyen’s call to “oppose” the so-called “empire”, Ossip wrote: “What constitutes such opposition is left undefined in a sinister and nebulous manner.”
The letter asked NSW Police to consider whether the biennial, as organiser of the opening night event, was aware of the likelihood that Muzeyyen was planning to make the statements that she did. The biennial has publicly confirmed that it was not aware of the details of the planned performance.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed police were investigating whether the DJ’s comments amounted to an offence.
“It’s important to know that hate crimes, hate speech, has a high bar,” Commissioner Lanyon told ABC Radio Sydney. “There’s a reason for that high bar. Obviously free speech is something we value in this country.”
Muzeyyen has not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing.
The biennale is investigating the opening night incident. In a statement to The Art Newspaper, a spokesperson for the event said: “The Biennale of Sydney did not commission, approve, or have prior knowledge of these specific remarks. The views expressed by the artist are entirely her own and do not represent the views of the Biennale of Sydney, our Board, or our government and corporate partners.
“While the Biennale provides a platform for diverse voices and perspectives, we require all public discourse by our representatives and participating artists to be lawful and in strict accordance with our Code of Conduct. We are currently reviewing this incident internally.”
Strengthened security
On Friday 20 March a new statement appeared on the biennale’s website saying it will strengthen its “operational and governance measures” for the rest of the public performances scheduled for the biennale, which runs until 14 June. This will include a “comprehensive risk reassessment of all remaining public programs and performances”.
The biennale statement noted that Muzeyyen’s performance had “deviated significantly from the agreed brief, without prior notice, and was contrary to the artist agreement in place”.
Corporate partner reaction
The two corporate partners that have distanced themselves from the biennale are the law firm MinterEllison and the consultancy firm PwC.
PwC withdrew its association with the biennale, saying to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that it had lost confidence in the biennale being welcoming and inclusive for everyone. A MinterEllison spokeswoman told the Australian Financial Review that its pro bono legal relationship with the biennale would continue. But the firm did not want its branding associated with Muzeyyen’s remarks. The logos of both firms have been removed from the biennale website.
Muzeyyen’s speech also drew the ire of the NSW premier Chris Minns and arts minister John Graham. Graham said the DJ’s comments were “inflammatory and wrong”.