Local photographer Marziya Mohammedali was appalled when she discovered photographs she took at Saturday’s Equal Love rally for marriage equality have been used to create a Facebook hate page targeting LGBT teenagers and community members’ children.
The page titled Perth Freaks and Sodomites attacks the people captured in the photographs accusing them of having mental illnesses and being involved in incestuous relationships. While the page’s author also makes disparaging comments about people living with HIV.
The photographer said the page was clearly a hate page that was targeting vulnerable people in the community.
“The fact that whoever runs this page has deliberately used images of minors as the main page cover and profile is disturbing”Â
It’s not the first time Mohammedali’s photographs have been stolen and used in this manner. Last year her photographs were re-purposed by the ultra-nationalist group The United Patriots Front. That group has since been banned from Facebook.
The owner of the page has also left messages on the photographers own Facebook page arguing that she shouldn’t support the LGBT community because she’s Muslim.
The page also congratulates the Liberal party on its decision to stick with the plebiscite policy and push forward with a public debate over the issue of marriage equality.
OIP Staff, image: Leigh Andrew Hill
UPDATE 7/8: 20:35 The page has been removed by Facebook.
UPDATE 8/8: 13:56 A new version of the page was created, which has also been removed by Facebook.
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