Islamophobia in Australia, antisemitism’s ignored cousin

The national response to the Islamophobia report confirms that Muslim Australians have long known: anti -Muslim prejudice is systemic. Professor Fethi Mansouri Call for rethinking.

. report This week, he struggled with Islamophobia by the private ambassador’s office, the main result is that his prejudice is not limited to a handful of abusive people. Systemic – schools, workplaces, laws, media narratives and visible Muslim people, especially in the daily harassment of women.

These findings are not new either. Ours Research at the University of Deakin And Too much public data In recent years, they have shown an alarming tendency to accelerate anti -Muslim attitudes.

There are several areas where the report can do much better and that it should do. In the most striking way, for a report about Islamophobia, the silence over recent and existing Islamophobic events is as explanatory as well as well -intentioned proposals.

Religious guards are forced to fight Islamophobia

Ignore the main narrative

First, Christchhurch massacre -The worst act of anti-Muslim violence in modern history does not take a difficult word. Fifty worshipers were shot in their mosques with ties with Australia.

Christchhurch revealed that Islamophobia is only related to the fact that Muslims felt broken, that Islam is sensitive to the criticism of Islam as a religion, or that Muslim immigrants are socially integrated and culturally reluctant to assimilate.

Second, the report avoids confrontation hyper sekuritation. Since September 11, the Muslim Australians have lived in some of the most harsh fight against terrorism in the democratic world, as well as a expanding CV (against violent extremism) that aims almost only Muslims. The surveillance framed through suspicion, raids and “community participation” strengthened the stigmatization.

Any serious attempt to address Islamophobia should deal with this control machine.

Logical offers

The report varies in scope and ambition. In addition to other things, the curriculum calls for data collection, community security programs and legal change. Points to the weight of evidence collected by groups such as . Islamophobia Register AustraliaFor years, racist abuse and negative media framework. The report of the report was delayed in a coordinated federal response, and in theory it would be a step in the right direction.

Some suggestions of the report are important and accessible.

Data collection The most obvious starting point: Police hate crime figures are inconsistent, and national surveys rarely capture religious discrimination. It will make it difficult to bury Islamophobia in ABS surveys and police records and deny the problem.

Education and Awareness Programs should also be presented; Research shows that constant anti -racist initiatives can change their attitudes throughout generations.

However, Christchhurch faces the risk of securities and strategy Islamophobia on civilization and sensitivity without accepting anti -Palestinian racism. Recognition days, awareness campaigns and grants can improve the atmosphere, but will not dismantle the structures that use Muslim and Arab Australians as foreigners, suspects or enemies.

Australia has prepared many reports on racism. The question is whether this will direct the structural reform,

Or that Islamophobia will not work endlessly, gently condemned and will not be involved in institutional.

Test Open: Will governments act, or will the Muslim Australians be more resistant to waiting and bigotry and hatred?

Private ambassador enigma

In recent years, we have seen the proliferation of special ambassadors, Special ambassador for social harmony, Now, invalid to two special ambassadors about antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Special ambassadors are ‘diplomatic’ appointments What the ministry legal powers nor necessarily extensive community or political support. Such appointments appear to be in response to certain events at best.

Worst of all, they can combine the problems they want to deal with.

To combat various forms of racism, including those directed against Jewish and Muslim Australians, Australian Human Rights Commission. These bodies are best equipped and welded to deal with all kinds of discrimination if they are appropriate and supported.

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