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Asylum seekers standing behind a fence at the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea last month. Picture: AAP Image/Eoin Blackwell
ABC presenter Yassmin Abdel-Magied has been forced to delete a social media post in which she suggested Australians should be thinking about Manus Island, Nauru, Syria and Palestine today instead of the Anzacs.
The 26-year-old took to Facebook this morning to write “Lest We Forget (Manus. Nauru. Syria. Palestine), but deleted the post after being slammed by her followers.
The host of ABC 24’s Saturday morning Australia Wide quickly amended the post to simply say “Lest. We. Forget” and issued an apology.
“It was brought to my attention that my last post was disrespectful, and for that I unreservedly apologise,” she wrote.
Yassmin Abdel-Magied: Issued a swift apology.Source:Supplied
Abdel-Magied upset ABC viewers in February.Source:ABC
Comments flooded in from followers disgusted by Abdel-Magied’s disrespect for Anzac Day:
“Absolutely disrespectful. This day isn’t for those people it’s for the brave service men and woman who have served/serving our great country so we can try and live a normal, safe life,” wrote Wilson Sam.
“Your previous post has completely discredited you. I’m ashamed that you are Australian because you clearly don’t share Australian values. Not only have you disrespected those who gave their lives so you can enjoy Australian freedoms and speak your mind, you have very clearly voiced your real agenda here,” wrote Libby Colubski.
Abdel-Magied came under fire in February after declaring on national TV that Islam was the “most feminist religion”.
“Islam, to me, is one of the most ... is the most, feminist religion, right?” she said on the Q&A program in February.
She sparked a heated row on the ABC’s Q&A program with Senator Jacqui Lambie, accused Abdel-Magied of “playing victim”.
Ms Lambie at the time said anyone who supports sharia law should be deported, to which Abdel-Magied responded that she was frustrated by people talking about Islam without knowing anything about it.
ANZAC day marchers in Elizabeth St, Sydney. Picture: John GraingerSource:News Corp Australia
All ages joined in the Newcastle march. Picture: Peter Lorimer.Source:News Corp Australia
Ex-servicemen take part in the Anzac Day March in Sydney. Picture: AAPSource:AAP
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton slammed Ms Abdel-Magied’s comments, which were partly aimed at Australia’s asylum seeker detention arrangements on Manus Island and Nauru.
“It is a disgrace that on our most significant national day to mark the passing of people who have defended this country, this advocate seeks to make political mileage,” Mr Dutton told the Daily Telegraph.
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Asylum seekers standing behind a fence at the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea last month. Picture: AAP Image/Eoin BlackwellSource:Supplied
Originally published as Yassmin deletes ‘disrespectful’ Facebook post