Antisemitism lawsuit dropped against former SBS newsreader
The racial discrimination case was launched in 2025 over social media posts about the Israel-Gaza war.
The lawsuit filed by Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto against former SBS journalist Mary Kostakidis has been discontinued. The case was initiated in 2025 over Kostakidis' social media posts related to the Israel-Gaza war. Cassuto alleged that the posts were reasonably likely to offend, insult, humiliate, or intimidate Australian Jews, potentially violating anti-discrimination laws.
However, the court ruled that the proceeding should be discontinued with no order as to costs after both parties agreed to it. Kostakidis shared a video of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, urging Jews to leave Israel, which the Zionist Federation claimed was anti-Semitic under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition.
Kostakidis' lawyer argued that the posts did not meet the legal definition of anti-Semitism and were directed at the Israeli government. Kostakidis released a statement expressing relief over the decision, stating that it is a win for freedom of political expression and press freedom.
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