Police in Australia’s capital locked down Dissent Cafe and Bar on Wednesday after the owner refused to remove the posters from the windows. Officers seized five images depicting world leaders as Nazis, according to a statement from Australian Capital Territory police.

The bar displayed signs alongside the artwork reading ‘Sanction Israel’ and ‘Stop genocide.’ Social media photos circulating online captured Netanyahu in a Nazi uniform, along with Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk in similar attire.

Dissent Cafe and Bar described the posters as satire from the Grow Up Art group. ‘The crime is displaying these posters, clearly and obviously parody art with a distinct anti-fascist message,’ the venue posted on social media.

Officers first approached owner David Howe on Tuesday following a complaint about ‘possible hate imagery.’ When Howe declined to take down the displays, police established a crime scene and removed the materials for review under recently passed Commonwealth legislation, the statement said.

The laws, rushed through Parliament after the Bondi Beach attack that killed two people at a synagogue event, ban displaying Nazi symbols or making the Nazi salute. Penalties include up to 12 months in prison. An exception applies for ‘legitimate purposes’ such as art, education or academic use.

Howe called the police response absurd in an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ‘It’s clearly satirical,’ he said. ‘It shows you how utterly ridiculous the police force are at missing the point.’

The bar canceled a scheduled music gig, blaming ‘obvious harassment’ by authorities. Police confirmed they are consulting legal experts to assess if the posters qualify for the artistic exemption. The images remain available for purchase online from Grow Up Art.

ACT Policing Superintendent Leon Yeomans told reporters the investigation focuses on whether the display breaches the new rules. ‘We’re making full enquiries to determine if any offenses have occurred,’ he said.

The Bondi incident, where a gunman killed 26-year-old army private Beau Lamarre-Condon and injured others during a Jewish celebration, prompted swift legislative action. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the hate symbol ban as essential to combat rising antisemitism.

Critics, including free speech advocates, argue the laws risk stifling political expression. Dissent Cafe and Bar, a small venue in the Canberra suburb of Braddon, has hosted anti-war events and progressive gatherings. Howe said the posters aimed to protest Israel’s Gaza operations.

No charges have been filed. Police lifted the crime scene status Thursday morning, allowing the bar to reopen without the seized posters. The venue vowed to challenge any prosecution.

Community reactions split along familiar lines. Pro-Palestinian groups decried the shutdown as censorship. Jewish organizations welcomed enforcement of the new protections.