The knife attack by a minor at Sydney University on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, along with the subsequent discovery of a ‘hit list’ targeting mosques and centres, has underscored the pressing issue of widespread and unaddressed Islamophobia in our community.
AFIC unequivocally condemns all forms of Antisemitism and Islamophobia. However, the disproportionate focus on incidents of Antisemitism, without parallel attention to attacks on Muslim and Palestinian communities, is undermining our social harmony.
It has been reported that both Islamophobic and Antisemitic attacks have risen sharply since the October 7 attacks and the subsequent collective punishment in Gaza. Alarmingly, AFIC is aware that many Islamophobic incidents remain unreported. The community often does not report these incidents due to a lack of trust in the response services, and their frequency has led to a troubling numbness to such aggression.
To illustrate, AFIC has received several reports of individuals being harassed as they leave mosques after evening prayers, women being abused for wearing hijabs, and notably, a distressing incident involving a person who swerved across three lanes of traffic to verbally assault a single mother in front of her children, simply because she was wearing a scarf.
As the Federal Government considers an inquiry into Antisemitism on university campuses, Dr. Rateb Jneid, President of AFIC, stated, “If the government does not take equivalent action for Muslim and Palestinian communities, it is this lack of fairness that will jeopardise our successful multicultural nation.”
AFIC urges the Government to extend its focus beyond the influential lobby groups and voices of entrenched power to ensure equitable treatment for all communities. It is imperative that our actions reflect a commitment to inclusivity and justice for every Australian.
AFIC, established in 1964, stands as the Peak Muslim Organisation in Australia, with 170 members including 9 State and Territory Councils. It has a rich history of pioneering numerous community services and actively advocating for the rights and representation of the Muslim community.
Authorised:
Dr Rateb Jneid, President