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Australia's first Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia released a comprehensive framework Tuesday calling for sweeping government action to address what the report describes as "unprecedented levels" of anti-Muslim hatred following the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.
The 54 recommendations span multiple federal departments and call for establishing commissions of inquiry into both Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, according to the 47-page report titled "A National Response to Islamophobia: A Strategic Framework for Inclusion, Safety and Prosperity."
Special Envoy Aftab Malik conducted consultations with more than 100 Muslim community members across Australia between November and December 2024, documenting experiences of discrimination, violence and harassment that have intensified over the past year.
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"The Islamophobia Register Australia records in its most recent report that 92% of victims of Islamophobic incidents reported one or more long-term impacts on their own lives or that of their family or community," the report states.
The document, which includes a foreword by Australian cricket star Usman Khawaja, presents what officials describe as the most comprehensive government response to anti-Muslim discrimination in Australian history.
"Islamophobia has reached unprecedented levels according to rigorous research and anecdotal incidents," Malik wrote in the report, citing the October 7 attacks as "the most recent turning point."
Rising Anti-Muslim Sentiment Documented
The report cites polling data showing more than one in three Australians express negative attitudes toward Muslims, an increase from 27% the previous year. Additional data referenced in the document shows only a quarter of Australians hold positive views about Muslims, according to the 2023 Australian Cohesion Index.
Historical polling cited in the report found 50% of Australians self-identified as being anti-Muslim in a 10-year study published in 2011.
"Muslim women, who comprise the majority of targets of reported incidents of everyday Islamophobia, have had their hijabs pulled and ripped off," the report states. "They have been subjected to foul, disgusting and degrading behaviour."
Khawaja, who wrote the report's foreword, detailed a personal incident involving his mother at the Boxing Day Test match, where two men "decided to walk behind my mum and scream obscenities in both ears, simply because she was wearing a hijab."
"She was terrified. My mum was distraught; she didn't know what to do and she was extremely frightened, shocked and upset by the incident," Khawaja wrote.
Commissions of Inquiry Proposed
The report's most significant recommendation calls for the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights to establish a commission of inquiry into Islamophobia with broad terms of reference examining institutional discrimination, media coverage, mental health impacts and economic costs.
A separate commission of inquiry into anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab racism is also recommended, acknowledging what the report describes as intersecting forms of discrimination that have intensified since October 7.
"I urge the Australian Government to take a clear and public stand against the dehumanisation, hate, racism, and silencing directed at Palestinian and Arab Australian, as well as their supporters," Malik wrote.
The report proposes examining "existing policies within key government agencies to identify and address any discriminatory practices" and investigating "the current extent of Islamophobia in Australia, including identifying the main drivers and causes."
Whole-of-Government Response Outlined
Recommendations span 11 federal departments and agencies, with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet proposed to lead coordination efforts. The report calls for establishing an oversight mechanism chaired by the Secretary of Prime Minister and Cabinet to monitor implementation.
Key proposals include:
Funding programs to enhance security at mosques and Islamic community facilities
Mandatory religious sensitivity training for Australian Federal Police officers
Development of anti-racism frameworks for education sectors
Review of counter-terrorism laws for potential discriminatory impacts
Establishment of an educational center affirming Muslim Australian contributions
The Department of Education faces recommendations to develop comprehensive anti-racism frameworks for both higher education and schools, including mandatory training programs on Islamophobia for parliamentarians and staff.
"These recommendations should be acknowledged as having national significance," the report states, proposing formal inclusion in the National Cabinet agenda to coordinate across federal, state and territory governments.
Community Consultation Findings
Malik's consultations revealed widespread under-reporting of incidents, with many Muslims avoiding certain public spaces due to fear and experiencing what the report describes as "persistent psychological strain, resulting in anxiety, depression and suicide ideation for many victims."
"Many told me that they were called 'terrorists', 'murderers' and 'killers' by strangers in everyday settings and spaces," Malik wrote.
The report documents incidents ranging from verbal abuse to physical assault, property damage at mosques, and online harassment campaigns targeting Muslim individuals and organizations.
"The evidence documenting anti-Muslim hate is overwhelming," the report states, attributing the phenomenon to Muslims being "perceived as a national security threat and the perpetuation of negative stereotypes about Islam and Muslims by sections of the media and, regrettably, some of our parliamentarians."
Educational and Media Reforms Proposed
Significant attention focuses on educational curricula, with recommendations to review national curriculum content about Islam and Muslim history "to ensure content is accurate and to make inclusions of and acknowledge Muslim contributions to Australia, Western civilisation and the development of universal values."
The report calls for supporting Islamic Studies programs in higher education and developing materials examining commonalities between Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Media-related recommendations include expanding research into how reporting influences perceptions of Muslim communities and funding initiatives supporting diverse voices in media and arts.
Legislative and Policy Changes
The Attorney-General's Department faces recommendations to implement religious discrimination protections at the federal level and clarify that the ethno-religious category within the Racial Discrimination Act includes Muslims.
Migration Act provisions would be reviewed to strengthen the Minister's ability to refuse visas for visitors promoting hate speech, including those with histories of promoting Islamophobic hatred.
The report proposes establishing hate crime scrutiny panels at district levels, similar to United Kingdom models, and implementing statutory hate aggravation provisions for existing crimes.
Support Services and Mental Health
Health-related recommendations include providing funding for targeted mental health support services for Islamophobia victims and creating trauma protocols within mental health services.
The Department of Social Services would review existing hate crime support services and address barriers to reporting and accessing resources.
Implementation Timeline Uncertain
The report does not specify implementation timelines but emphasizes urgency, stating that "Islamophobia cannot be addressed by Muslims alone and necessitates urgent government intervention to achieve lasting change."
Government response to the recommendations remains pending. The report's release follows similar initiatives in other countries, including the United States' first National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate released in 2024.
The Special Envoy position was established following years of advocacy by Muslim community organizations documenting rising anti-Muslim incidents across Australia.
Full report here
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