The Reality of Anti-Muslim Hate Speech

Today, this hateful letter addressed to me by name arrived at my office. I regularly receive such messages, but today I chose to share one to highlight the gravity in the rise of explicit anti-Muslim hatred.

Reading it, I was struck by how little of it was original. The outrage, moral panic, insults, the accusations, the fearmongering - all recycled from narratives that have become increasingly acceptable in public discourse. Most recently, yesterday at the National Press Club.

The vile letter also targets Senators Mehreen Faruqi and Fatima Payman with whom I stand in solidarity against the hatred and insults they endure.

And yet, Muslims across Australia, Imams, and Islamic institutions endure this abuse frequently.
They do so with dignity and resolve.

The Qur’an, the holy book of the Muslims, challenges believers to respond to ugliness, with beauty. These Muslims are targeted not for what they have done, but for who they are.

This is simply unacceptable.

I encourage all Muslims to report and document incidents of hate. I also expect politicians to stand against Islamophobia.

It isn’t merely a threat to Muslims, but it undermines our common bonds, trust, and sense of belonging.

Aftab Malik

Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia

Report to one of the five national organisations in Australia: Combating Islamophobia.