Home > Sydney gang rapes in 2000
The Sydney gang rapes were a series of four separate crimes which occurred in Sydney in the winter of 2000. The common thread in these cases was that the perpetrators were gangs of young males of Lebanese Muslim origin, while the victims were females of European descent. The perpetrators were alleged to have made racist comments against their victims in the course of the offences, leading some to categorise them as hate crimes. During the trial of one of the offenders, Bilal Skaf, text messages sent on his mobile phone were revealed which contained sentiments such as "When you are feeling down ... bash a Christian or Catholic and lift up".Actions taken by government ministers, including the Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, who publicly identified the perpetrators' background, led to a great deal of controversy. Community groups complained that Carr was smearing the entire Lebanese Muslim community with the crimes of a few of its members, and that his public comments would stir up ethnic hatred.
The separate gang rapes were, in chronological order:
- August 10, 2000 - Two females aged 17 and 18 accepted a lift from Chatswood, lured by the offer of marijuana. They were taken to Northcote Park, Greenacre , where they were forced to perform oral sex on eight males.
- August 12, 2000 - Another victim was raped at gunpoint by two males at Gosling Park, Greenacre , having been lured there by one of the rapists, who was an acquaintance. She escaped before she could be raped by another twelve males who were awaiting their turn.
- August 30, 2000 - A woman, named C at the trial (she later revealed her identity on the 60 Minutes60 Minutes is the name of an American magazine-format television news program produced by CBS News. The program, which since 1968 has aired at 7 P. on Sundays, has often been a leader in the ratings, both because of its provocative content and because it television program) was lured from a train at BankstownSuburbs of Sydney Bankstown is a major suburb in Sydney, Australia's south west. It is the site of Sydney's second airport, Bankstown Airport, and holds an extensive and large shopping centre (mall), Centro Bankstown. Incomplete Sydney suburbs. by the promise of marijuana. She was then raped at three separate locations by 14 males, over a period of six hours. As a final humiliation they hosed her down with water.
- September 4, 2000 - Two 16 year old females were lured from Beverly HillsBeverly Hills (Australia), is a suburb of southwestern Sydney, Australia, located about 15 kilometres from the Central Business District. It is often referred to colloquially as "Bevo" by its residents. When first settled in the late 19th Century it was k train station to a house in LakembaLakemba is a Sydney suburb with a large Lebanese Muslim community and mosque. It is sometimes derogatorily nicknamed "Lebkemba". The imam of the Lakemba Mosque, Taj El-Din Hilaly, styles himself " Grand Mufti of Australia". Benjamin Taylor had a 22 hectar, were they were raped by three males over a period of four hours.
Other rapes were attempted, but were not carried out. The West Australian ("Reign of terror by mobile phone and the promise of a smoke", July 31, 2002) reports that a 14-year old girl was approached by four males on a train on August 4, 2000, but she escaped before she could be harmed. One of the attackers was quoted as saying on his mobile phone, "I've got a slut with me bro, come to Punchbowl."
The sentences handed down to the offenders were very severe. Bilal Skaf, ring leader of the August 30 gang rape, was sentenced to a total of 55 years' imprisonment.
The gang rapes led to the passage of new legislation through the New South Wales State Parliament , dramatically increasing the sentences for gang rapists. Also in the course of one of the trials, the defendants refused counsel claiming that all lawyers were against Muslims. This led to the contentious prospect of the defendants being able to cross examine the witnesses themselves, a situation that was averted by further legislation being put through the New South Wales parliament.
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