The quickest way to divide a country is to ‘other’ those we know little about

As a Muslim man living in Australia, I have overwhelmingly experienced people’s warmth, generosity, and at times, curiosity. At work, my colleagues often ask me questions about Islam, and I have no qualms in answering. For some, it’s the first time they have conversed with a Muslim since leaving high school or university.

However, my experience hasn’t been shared by all Muslims.

Artwork: Matt Davidson.Credit: Matt Davidson

Islamophobia, that word at once reviled, championed and misunderstood, has resulted in Australian Muslims being verbally and physically attacked and threatened, and Muslim institutions being vandalised. This spectre has found its home online, where Muslims have been subjected to abuse and hatred, simply because they are Muslim.

The Islamophobia Register Australia has been reporting on Islamophobic incidents since 2014, though it existed long before this. After the 2019 Christchurch terror attack, where 51 Muslims were massacred at two mosques in New Zealand, the register reported a four-fold increase in Islamophobic incidents in Australia.

At that time, if you asked Muslims how they felt, they would have said that they were scared, anxious about attending mosques and schools, and concerned about their visible markers, identifying them as Muslims.

In the year since Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack in Israel and the continued escalations of violence across the Middle East, Islamophobic incidents reported to the register have skyrocketed. The reported incidents include death threats, physical attacks, and Muslims being sent videos inciting violence against them. The number of reported incidents has increased from an average of 2.52 per week to 17.92 during this time.

For context, following the October 7 attack, the register recorded 932 reports of Islamophobia – more than the previous eight years combined. These statistics capture only what has been reported.

The response to October 7 has unleashed a tsunami of misinformation and disinformation about Islam and Muslims, and a surge in anti-Muslim sentiment and anti-Palestinian racism. It has done the same for Jewish communities. This “cause and effect” increase in racism because of a trigger event is not unique. Take, for example, the increase in anti-Asian racism during the height of the pandemic.

There is clearly a problem in Australia that needs to be addressed.

I assumed the role of special envoy to combat Islamophobia just under a month ago. My appointment emerged against a backdrop of a nation exhausted by ongoing stresses from rising cost-of-living pressures, and expanding global conflicts. Despite the very real challenges, the appointment is recognition that Islamophobia is also real and an ongoing challenge here, as it is across the world.

Since then, I have been undertaking intensive workshops across Australia with diverse Muslim stakeholders to hear how they have been challenged by Islamophobia, and provide them an opportunity to contribute to the shaping of my priorities. In January, I will meet with global experts on this issue so I can incorporate a best-practice approach to my own efforts here.

In this job, it will be vital to continue to engage with my counterpart, Jillian Segal, Australia’s recently appointed special envoy to combat antisemitism, not only to have robust conversations, but also to share insights and exchange ideas about how we can fortify social cohesion and bring our communities together on a common ground, rooted in respect and understanding.

Some people believe that the concept of Islamophobia is an affront to freedom of speech, existing only to shut down or deter criticism or interrogation of Muslims or Islam – it should not. People are free to dislike Islam, or any other faith, for that matter. However, when speech results in the harassment, abuse or intimidation, that should be a concern for all.

The reality is that in Australia, there are actual victims who have been discriminated against without provocation simply because they are Muslim. Women have had their hijabs ripped off and have been spat on. There have been death threats and videos inciting violence. That is Islamophobia. Evidence shows that it can be interpersonal, structural and systemic, obvious and subtle. It needs to stop.

The cumulative effects of these experiences is emotional, physical and mental distress, individually and collectively as a community. This distress does not pass once the incident is over, either. It lingers indefinitely.

Addressing Islamophobia in Australia is an immense challenge that will certainly not be solved by the Muslim community alone. As individuals, we can each play a part in making sure that violence and hatred have no place in our communities. We can do this by questioning the assumptions and stereotypes we hold, by valuing our similarities and our differences, by calling out discrimination and by being allies to those who experience it.

The quickest way to divide a country, is to “other” those we know little about.

For my part, I hold onto optimism, believing Australia can become a safer place for people of all faiths and none, to live freely and without fear. I will do everything I can in this role to bring us closer to that possibility.

Aftab Malik is serving as special envoy to combat Islamophobia.