Islamophobia Factsheets
Recognising the significance of the problem of Islamophobia in Australia, and globally, the Challenging Racism Project has worked in collaboration with the Bridge Initiative at Georgetown University, to publish factsheets on individuals, organisations, policies, and events as it relates to Islamophobia in Australia.
The collaboration has so far produced 7 Islamophobia factsheets:
Christchurch Terror Attacks on Mosques
In March 2019, a white supremacist opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand, killing 51 people and live streaming the entire attack on Facebook. The perpetrator published a manifesto outlining his racist, Islamophobic, and xenophobic views. Following the attack, the Royal Commission of Inquiry highlighted the lack of official resources devoted to countering far-right extremism. In the aftermath, ongoing dialogues between the Muslim community and the government were established, significant changes made to the firearms licensing system, and a global initiative launched to eliminate violent extremist content online.
Read the complete article here
The Murdochs and News Corp Australia
News Corp Australia is an Australian media conglomerate of newspapers, magazines, websites, and the cable television channel Sky News. Each month, nearly two out of three Australians consume its media. Headed by Rupert Murdoch, News Corp Australia has strong links to conservative politicians and regularly promotes anti-Muslim views. Institutionally linked to Fox News in the U.S., News Corp Australia media content is readily shared on white nationalist Facebook groups, including those that the Ōtautahi/Christchurch mass killer frequented.
Read the complete article here
Operation Sovereign Borders
‘Operation Sovereign Borders’ is a military-led border security operation established by the Australian Liberal government in 2013 to deter asylum seekers and refugees from arriving by boat in mainland Australia and its territories. OSB also reopened detention centers in Nauru and Papua New Guinea, where many detained asylum seekers have waited years for their cases to be processed, amid poor living conditions, untreated physical and mental illnesses, physical and sexual abuse, and deaths.
Read the complete article here
Anti-halal Campaigns
Anti-Halal campaigns in Australia have sought to remove or restrict Halal certification of food products in Australia, leading to public boycotting of Halal-certified brands and even a Senate Inquiry into third party food certification. Opponents of Halal certification claim that certification fees fund terrorism and supports the “Islamization” of Australia.
Read the complete article here
Cronulla Riots
The Cronulla riots in December 2005 marked one of the most significant race riots in Australian history. Anglo-Australian youth targeted individuals of Middle Eastern background while displaying and voicing racist, anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Read the complete article here
Stormfront Downunder
Stormfront Downunder is a sub-forum of the global white supremacist online community Stormfront.org, which deals with “issues and pro-white activism for white nationalists in Australia and New Zealand.”
Read the complete article here
Pauline Hanson
Pauline Hanson is an Australian Senator who promotes anti-Islam and anti-immigrant views. She has called for a ban on Muslim immigration to Australia as well as the burqa, and has linked Islamic schools, mosques, and Halal certification with terrorism. She blames Islam, in addition to immigration more broadly, for the demise of “white Australia.”
Read the complete article here
You can read all of the Bridge Initiatives Islamophobia factsheets here
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