Australia Sanctions Extreme Right-Wing Online Network ‘Terrorgram’

Australia on Monday slapped sanctions on the extreme right-wing online network “Terrorgram” to combat rising antisemitism and online extremism, following similar actions by the United States and Britain.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government’s action would make it a criminal offence to engage with “Terrorgram” and help prevent children from becoming caught up in right-wing extremism.

“Terrorgram is an online network that promotes white supremacy and racially-motivated violence,” Wong said in a statement.

“It is the first time any Australian Government has imposed counterterrorism financing sanctions on an entity based entirely online.”

Offenders will face up to 10 years in jail and heavy fines, she said.

The Australian government also renewed sanctions on four right-wing groups: the National Socialist Order, the Russian Imperial Movement, Sonnenkrieg Division and The Base, Wong said.

Terrorgram Designated In US

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration in January designated “Terrorgram,” which primarily operates on the Telegram social media site, accusing it of promoting violent white supremacy. Britain in April made it a criminal offence in the country to belong to or promote the group.

In a statement, Telegram said calls to violence have no place on its platform.

“Moderators removed several channels that used variations of the ‘Terrorgram’ name when they were discovered years ago. Similar content is banned whenever it appears,” it said.

Rising Antisemitic Attacks

Australia has also seen an escalating series of attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars since the Israel-Gaza war began in October 2023, sparking fear among Australia’s nearly 115,000 Jewish people.

Police last week arrested members of a neo-Nazi group in the South Australian city of Adelaide when the country marked its National Day, and charged a man for displaying a Nazi symbol.

Jews Concealing Identity

The escalating attacks have prompted Jews to hire security guards for private events and remove visible signs of their Jewish identity, according to security companies and community leaders.

Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the umbrella group for Australia’s Jews, said some Jews were removing skull caps worn by men as a symbol of faith while outside, and taking down mezuzah, a parchment scroll containing Hebrew verses traditionally attached from the doors of Jewish homes.

“The more of these attacks that we see, and particularly given their gravity and the scale, people will begin to question how they can live in Australia as Jews, and that will then force them into a very difficult choice,” he said.

(With inputs from Reuters)