Authorities must take appropriate action on suspected hate crime against Palestinian-owned Melbourne business

Overnight, the Caulfield branch of well-known Australian restaurant chain Burgertory was destroyed by a fire, which police are currently treating as suspicious. Burgertory stores including the Caulfield branch have been the subject of increasing abuse and vilification since October 7, including both public slander and harassment of staff members in-store.

This abuse, fuelled by a campaign of misinformation about Palestinians and supporters of Palestinian human rights, has culminated in the suspicious fire destroying Burgertory's Caulfield branch. "I am shocked and saddened by this attack on one of my restaurants" says Mr Tayeh. "I am a proud Australian Palestinian and supporter of the human rights of the Palestinian people, and to know that I am being targeted because of this is deeply distressing."

The ICV together with APAN, Free Palestine Melbourne, and PCA express our grave concern that this was an intentional act, amounting to a hate crime against Mr. Tayeh as a Palestinian and Muslim. It is imperative that this investigation is handled with the utmost thoroughness and transparency.