A former year 12 student has reached a settlement with the New South Wales education department after being banned from attending his school formal for wearing a scarf displaying a Palestinian flag and keffiyeh. Jad Salamah attended his graduation at Condell Park high school in September 2024 wearing the double-sided scarf. School staff asked him to remove it, and when he refused, he was unable to attend the formal.
Salamah began legal proceedings against the state of NSW alleging racial discrimination, which the department denied. Following mediation, a confidential settlement was reached, and the matter is now resolved. The department issued a statement on Monday emphasising its commitment to cultural diversity, noting that students may wear cultural attire at year 12 formals, including garments such as the keffiyeh.
The race discrimination commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, welcomed the statement but called for active anti-racism measures to prevent similar incidents. Nour Salman of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network described the incident as a clear case of anti-Palestinian racism, stating that no student should be excluded from graduation for expressing their cultural identity.
In September, a report by the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network highlighted widespread anti-Palestinian racism in Australian schools since October 2023, particularly in NSW and Victoria. Jewish groups have also reported a spike in antisemitism during the same period. Salamah earlier told Nine newspapers that the experience had ruined his high school memories, as he felt judged for expressing his culture.
