Muslim groups call for rethink of approach to terrorism ahead of Islamophobia report
Aftab Malik is expected to hand down his report today. (Supplied)
In short:
Muslim groups say rethinking religious discrimination and approaches to counterterrorism should be a top priority to address a spike in Islamophobic incidents.
A long-awaited report by Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik is expected to be handed down today
The ABC understands the recommendations will not go as far as those put forward by the special envoy for antisemitism, who called for the power to cut funding to public institutions that they deem not to be addressing the problem sufficiently.
Muslim groups say rethinking religious discrimination and approaches to counter-terrorism should be a top priority to address a spike in Islamophobic incidents, ahead of a report by the government's special envoy on the issue.
The long-awaited report by Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik is expected to be handed down today, with recommendations for action by the government.
The ABC understands those recommendations will not go as far as those put forward by the special envoy for antisemitism, who called for the power to cut funding to public institutions that they deem not to be addressing the problem sufficiently.
Muslim groups have told the ABC they want to see the government take action on legal frameworks around Islamophobia and prevention through education and engagement.
Spike in Islamophobic incidents
Since October 7, 2023, there has been a 530 per cent increase in incidents reported to the Islamophobia Register Australia.
The register's co-executive director, Nora Amath, said that it involved violence, verbal abuse, and intimidation, often targeting visibly Muslim women.
She said there has been a further spike in recent weeks after anti-immigration rallies, including a fake bomb allegedly being thrown into a mosque on the Gold Coast.
"We can say with some indication that the domestic flashpoint of the anti-immigration rally has provided the context in which these incidents of Islamophobia have spiked," Ms Amath said.
Calls for legal protection and action to address 'terrorist' labels
Bilal Rauf is a senior advisor at the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) and a barrister.
Muslim groups, including the ANIC, have long advocated for religion to be included in anti-discrimination laws.
"For many people, their religious identity is fundamental to who they are and what they do, and yet, somewhat inexplicably, the law gives very little protection, and in our federal discrimination laws, there is no protection for it."
Mr Rauf said the government had not given anti-Muslim hate the same response as hate directed at other communities.
"We've seen in respect of other communities, laws rushed very quickly, but in respect of Islamophobia or anti-Muslim sentiment, there's been very little response or engagement."
Bilal Rauf says, for many people, religious identity is "fundamental to who they are and what they do". (ABC News: Sean Tarek Goodwin)
Another issue that has been raised by Muslim leaders is whether counter-terrorism laws are designed or applied in ways that disproportionately target Muslims, leading to stigma and Islamophobia.
Nora Amath said that could be seen in the fact that events involving Neo-Nazi or sovereign citizen groups have not been viewed through the prism of terrorism.
"The Muslim community feels there has been a double standard when it comes to how 'terrorist' is applied," Ms Amath said.
"If it's a young Muslim person who engages in violent acts, they are immediately deemed a terrorist; however, when a non-Muslim engages in a violent act, there are other confounding issues, whether it's mental health or other reasons."
Nora Amath says the Muslim community feels a "double standard" is applied in the definition of terrorism. (Supplied)
Bilal Rauf said the government should tread carefully to ensure the approach to counterterrorism does not isolate Muslims.
"When there's a myopic view of it, or one which has a disproportionate impact on some communities, it has the reverse effect, it actually drives further division," Mr Rauf said.
"It drives people to become insular rather than working together, and that's something that needs to be given careful thought."
Gamel Kheir from the Lebanese Muslim Association agreed.
"That definition seems to be way more defined in targeting the Muslim extremism issue and leaving everything else as a separate issue altogether," Mr Kheir said.
Better education and awareness of Muslim community
Gamel Kheir said the report focused on bringing Muslims and non-Muslims together.
"The recommendations from our understanding are very much needed and would go a long way to finally backing social harmony,"he said.
Gamel Kheir says the report's recommendations will "go a long way to finally backing social harmony". (ABC News: Timothy Ailwood)
Mohammad Atae Rabbi Hadi is a minister with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia and an Imam at a mosque south of Brisbane.
"There was a report in the past of a pig head being left behind here. This is something that we've had a chat with the envoy and the prime minister about as well," Imam Hadi said.
He said more needs to be done to educate non-Muslims and demystify the community.
"I think more education can be provided to the wider Australian Muslim community in regard to Muslim beliefs and how, in actuality, Islamic practices don't go against Australian values at all," he said.
He also said the media had a role to play.
"The media could be more responsible in terms of not sensationalising Muslims, for example, and painting them as extremists."
The ANIC, Islamophobia Register Australia, the Lebanese Muslim Association, and the Ahmaddiyya Muslim Community each told the ABC they have endorsed the special envoy's report.