Australia Day billboard image showing women in hijabs taken down after threats of violence

AN AUSTRALIA DAY billboard depicting two Muslim women has been canned after threats from members of far right groups.

Social media erupted with an Islamophobic backlash after this photo of a billboard in Melbourne began circulating.

MEMBERS of far right social media groups are celebrating a win for “people power” after an Australia Day billboard depicting two Muslim women was hastily pulled following an Islamophobia-fuelled outcry.

Social media erupted after a picture of the billboard began circulating last Friday, with many Facebook users slamming the Melbourne freeway advertisement as “un-Australian”.

On Tuesday, Victorian Multicultural Affairs Minister Robin Scott revealed the image would be removed, after the company behind the ad, QMS, received threats.

But he warned the issuers of the threats not to take the action as a win.

“Anyone who considers this a victory needs a refresher on the true meaning of Australia Day,” Mr Scott said.

However, members of far right Facebook groups — many of whom had earlier lamented the depiction of two women in hijabs front of an Australian flag was the ultimate insult to our country’s scared, national day — were quick to celebrate.

“POWER TO THE PEOPLE at last,” wrote one commenter.

“Good. Should have had a BBQ at the beach scene instead. That’s more Australian,” wrote another.

“It should have been burnt to the ground!!!”

“The Government’s anti Australian propaganda is completely out of control! The only thing Australian’ about those people was perhaps their location,” said another commenter.

“If only the idiots took notice so quickly to everything else that's wrong with Islam,” came another.

Islamophobia Register Australia founder Mariam Veiszadeh said it was not the first time such a backlash resulted in advertising material being withdrawn.

“Increasingly, any visible portrayal of Australian Muslims or any diversity for that matter, in connection with a public campaign is becoming the subject of backlash from small but vocal parts of the community,” she told news.com.au

“Last year Optus was forced to withdraw advertisements in Arabic from some of its stores because of a similar backlash and threats to staff, from people who ignorantly conflated the Arabic language with Islam and Muslims.”

The original post about the billboard was shared nearly a thousand times and attracted almost 600 comments.

The image sat beside an outer Melbourne freeway to advertise an official flag-raising ceremony in Docklands and an Australia Day Parade in the Kings Domain Gardens.

The litany of Islamophobic comments on Facebook encouraged people unhappy with the sign to direct their displeasure to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

Many of them referred to him as “Imam Daniel Andrews”, an honorific for a Muslim leader.

Mr Scott said comments indicating that Australia Day should only be represented by beach scenes, beer and barbecues missed the true meaning of our national day

“It is about bringing people together and celebrating the diversity which makes this state and this country great,” Mr Scott said.

“It’s very disappointing to see a small minority attacking proud Australians for their love of their country.”

QMS declined to comment on the threats received.

The uproar came just days after a divisive Australia Day advertisement by Meat and Livestock Australia, in which multiple ethnic groups are seen to turn up uninvited to a barbecue being held by indigenous Australians.

It drew criticism from similar quarters, including from One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson.