Former Sydney Uni staffer banned from campus after court appearance

A former staff member of the University of Sydney has faced court charged with multiple offences after allegedly launching an unprovoked antisemitic tirade at Jewish students during a religious gathering on campus last year.

Former teacher and lecturer Rose Nakad appeared at Newtown Local Court today, Tuesday 3rd of February, where her legal team indicated she would contest all charges and entered pleas of not guilty.

NSW Police allege Ms Nakad confronted a group of Jewish students and academics on 9 October on the university’s Camperdown campus while they were celebrating Sukkot, a Jewish festival. According to court documents cited by The Australian, the incident was described as unprovoked, with police alleging she shouted antisemitic abuse, including calling those present “parasites” and “filthy Zionists”, causing fear and distress among members of the group.

Police allege that between 2.00pm and 2.05pm Ms Nakad stalked or intimidated Sarah Aamidor and Arielle Melamed, with intent to cause fear of mental harm. She has been charged with two counts of stalking or intimidation with intent to cause physical harm and one count of behaving in an offensive manner in or near a public place or school. Ms Nakad was arrested on 22 December at Parramatta Police Station.

Prosecutors will allege that the abuse included statements such as “You’re shredding children, bit by bit” and that the conduct occurred within view and hearing of a public place while the group was engaged in a religious observance on campus.

Magistrate Alexander Mijovich varied Ms Nakad’s bail conditions, ordering that she not enter the University of Sydney or come within one kilometre of its campuses, including Darlington. Aside from that change, her bail was continued.

Around 25 pro-Palestinian activists attended the hearing in a coordinated courtroom sit-in, organised by activist groups Weapons Out of Western Sydney and the Revolutionary Organisation of Students and Youth. An online flyer circulated by the groups described Ms Nakad as a “comrade and mentor” and framed the charges as repression linked to her political views.

The case follows the release last year of video footage, which allegedly shows Ms Nakad approaching a group of Jewish students, academics and a rabbi gathered on Gadigal Green and launching a four-minute antisemitic tirade. In the footage, Ms Nakad refers to herself as an Indigenous Palestinian while accusing Israel of killing children and denouncing Zionists in abusive terms.

The matter is due to return to court next month.