Key facts
- The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) brought court proceedings against journalist Mary Kostakidis.
- Kostakidis was accused of breaching the Racial Discrimination Act by sharing two X posts about a speech by the late Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah.
- The ZFA alleged the breach occurred when Kostakidis shared a video of Nasrallah's speech on X with the caption: “The Israeli govt getting some of its own medicine. Israel has started something it can’t finish with this genocide.”
- Kostakidis had previously asked the court to strike out the proceedings, arguing the claim failed to identify which race, ethnicity or nationality was offended.
- The case was dismissed with the agreement of both parties.
- ZFA chief executive Alon Cassuto stated his objectives were substantially satisfied after Kostakidis issued a public apology in 2025 for the hurt her posts caused.
Federal court proceedings initiated by the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) against journalist Mary Kostakidis have been discontinued "by consent," with no order for costs. The ZFA had accused the former SBS newsreader of violating the Racial Discrimination Act by sharing two X posts in January 2024 related to a speech by the late Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah.
Kostakidis had previously sought to have the case dismissed, contending that the ZFA's claim did not specify which race, ethnicity, or nationality was offended by her social media commentary. The ZFA's chief executive, Alon Cassuto, alleged that Kostakidis's posts, which included a video of Nasrallah's speech and the statement, "The Israeli govt getting some of its own medicine. Israel has started something it can’t finish with this genocide," constituted a breach.
The case, which originated with a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission before escalating to the federal court, was dismissed on Friday by mutual agreement. Kostakidis stated that the discontinuation was a victory for freedom of political expression in Australia, allowing her to avoid spending two years preparing a defense aimed at silencing her. She thanked supporters and emphasized the role of journalism in holding power accountable.
Cassuto commented that the proceedings had substantially satisfied his objectives, particularly after Kostakidis issued a public apology in 2025 for the distress her posts caused to Jewish and Israeli Australians. He noted that further court-compelled apologies would be meaningless given Kostakidis's subsequent publications. Cassuto also pointed to the ongoing royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion as addressing the issues that motivated the lawsuit, with a report due in December.