Australia revoked the visitor visa of Israeli influencer Sammy Yahood after officials concluded his online posts promoted anti‑Islam sentiments. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said "spreading hatred is not a good reason to come" to the country. The decision follows tougher Australian hate‑crime measures introduced after a mass shooting at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people. Yahood says he was blocked from flying on to Melbourne and has vowed legal action.
Australia Revokes Visa Of Israeli Influencer Over Anti‑Islam Posts
Australian Federal Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke attends a news conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australian, in December 2025 [File: Dominic Giannini/EPA]
Australia has revoked the visitor visa of Israeli social media influencer Sammy Yahood after authorities determined his online posts amounted to spreading hatred. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Canberra "will not welcome visitors whose purpose is to spread hatred."
What Happened
Yahood, who is originally from the UK and is a recent Israeli citizen, said his visa was cancelled just hours before a scheduled flight from Israel. Australian officials cited legislation used to refuse entry to people deemed likely to incite hatred.
Controversial Posts
Shortly before the decision, Yahood posted on X (formerly Twitter) that "Islam ACCORDING TO ISLAM does not tolerate non-believers, apostates, women’s rights, children’s rights, or gay rights." He also described Islam as a "disgusting ideology" and called it an "aggressor." In other posts he urged the deportation of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar and mocked the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
Tony Burke, Home Affairs Minister: "Spreading hatred is not a good reason to come [to Australia]."
Context And Reaction
The visa revocation follows recent tightening of Australia’s hate‑crime laws after a mass shooting at a Jewish event at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people. The government says the stricter measures reinforce a refusal to tolerate imported extremism or public campaigns of hatred.
Despite the Australian decision, Yahood said he flew from Israel to Abu Dhabi but was prevented from boarding his onward flight to Melbourne. On X he described the ban as "unlawful" and said he would "be taking action," calling the incident "a story about tyranny, censorship and control."
Local media noted Minister Burke has previously revoked visitor visas over Islamophobic rhetoric, including cases involving Israeli‑American activist Hillel Fuld and lawmaker Simcha Rothman, amid concerns their visits would "spread division." The Conservative Australian Jewish Association, which had invited Yahood to speak, said it "strongly condemned" the government’s decision.
Broader International Notes
The article also references heightened regional tensions: Israel recently demolished the UNRWA headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem, a move condemned by the U.N. and Palestinian leaders as a serious escalation and breach of international norms.
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