Australia tourist who tore up pro-Palestine banners in Kochi is being held on bail

An Australian lady tourist was taken into custody by police on Thursday after she destroyed pro-Palestine posters and banners at Fort Kochi earlier in the week. The 38-year-old Jewish woman Zara Shilensky Michele appeared before the Thoppumpady magistrate’s court. Later on, bail was granted to her.

Despite the fact that Zara’s friend—another Australian—was also there while the posters were being taken down, authorities said they were unable to determine if she was actively involved. Meanwhile, two Australian embassy representatives reached Kochi to assist Zara in completing the necessary legal formalities and obtaining release.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Manoj K R of Mattancherry informed TNIE that Zara was brought before the magistrate court after her arrest was documented. We chose to present her in court since she is a foreign national, despite the fact that she was charged with provocation with intent to incite disorder under IPC 153, an offense for which she is subject to bail. At this point, the court would specify the requirements for granting bail. She would be present for the trial thanks to the circumstances, he added.

The bail was verified by a Fort Kochi police station official. “The court ruling outlining the requirements for granting bail has not yet been sent to us. We now know that the accused is scheduled to depart from Kochi. We need to find out whether the court has ordered her to stay in Kochi till the probe is over,” he said. The pro-Palestinian banners, posters, and boards at Fort Kochi beach and Kamalakkadavu put up by the Students Islamic Organization (SIO) of India were destroyed by Zara.