The Canadian Peace Congress expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the alleged Islamic State (IS) anti-Semitic attack in Sydney, Australia which took place on December 14, 2025. We condemn, in the strongest possible terms this cowardly terrorist attack on the Jewish community celebrating the important religious holiday of Hanukkah.

The suspects, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram, killed at least 15 people including a ten year old girl, two rabbis and a holocaust survivor. They injured 40 other innocent people. The younger Akram was known to Australian police for his close ties with an IsLamic State terrorist cell based in Sydney closely connected to IS leader Issac El Matari.

Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Muslim man originally from Syria, intervened to stop the attack by wrestling the elder Akram to the ground and disarming him. Mr. al-Ahmed suffered two gunshot wounds in the process of stopping the assault on the Jewish community. He is recovering in hospital.

Islamic State is an international Salafi jihadist organization which has attacked individuals and states across West Asia and beyond. Syria and Iraq suffered greatly from IS attacks and occupation. Iran has been singled out as a prime opponent of IS. Civilian target groups include Christians, Shia Muslims, Alawites, atheists, Mandeans and Jews.

This terrorist organization has morphed numerous times to gain favour by certain state powers. In Syria, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant morphed into the “moderate” opposition to the Bashar al Assad government and received weapons and financial support from Zionist Israel and US imperialism. The current governing clique in Syria is another IS offspring. There are suspected ties between Mossad and numerous terrorist organizations including IS.

The Canadian Peace Congress is deeply disturbed by attempts of the Zionist regime in Israel and the Trump regime in the USA to use the Hanukkah tragedy in Australia to further their attacks on Palestinian resistance in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Much effort is being applied to link Palestinian and world wide solidarity with Gaza to this terrorist attack. The Canadian Peace Congress recognizes this ploy to divide the solidarity movements as they struggle against the Zionist genocide in Palestine. We steadfastly refuse to allow Zionists to equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism.

We also condemn efforts to whip up hysteria against immigrants and refugees by fascist and neo-fascist organizations and political parties in numerous counties around the world.

Down with the IS and all terrorists!
Down with anti-Semitism!
Down with efforts to conflate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism!
Down with efforts to attack refugees and immigrants!

 

Canadian Peace Congress, Executive Committee
December 17, 2025