Last month, a second report on Islamophobia was released in Australia, coinciding with the widespread circulation of a video clip on social media, showing a pregnant Muslim woman being beaten and trampled.
Earlier in October, another video emerged showing two New South Wales police officers verbally assaulting two Muslim women, and threatening them to fabricate false charges that they were involved in committing a murder.
In this regard, the writers Derya Ener and Mohamed Ozalb discussed in the report of the Australian "Confidence" website the results of this report and how to deal with such attacks as a witness or a victim.
A video clip showing a 43-year-old Australian man brutally assaulting a pregnant Muslim inside a restaurant. |
The authors stated that most of the victims are Muslim women who wear the hijab, and the aggressors are men of white race, as the results of this report showed that 71% of the aggressors are male, while 72% of the victims are female.
The alarming thing is that most of the attacks of Islamophobia occurred in public places, yet only 14% of passers-by intervene. The report added that one out of three of the respondents defended the victim, while most witnesses passed without paying attention to the attack.
Incidents of Islamophobia
The authors pointed out that the second report on Islamophobia in Australia, which is issued every two years, revealed the recording of 349 incidents reported in the Islamophobia Register in Australia between 2016 and 2017. In addition to the previous report, 592 cases have been recorded on the Internet and outside during the past four years, but this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Both reports unquestionably show the spread of Islamophobia in Australia, as it has become an ongoing social issue targeting women largely, given that wearing the veil clearly reveals a woman's religious affiliation. It is also of concern that incidents in public places are still continuing and have increased since the previous report was issued.
It should be noted that guarded places - like shopping centers, train stations and other crowded areas - witnessed 60% of harassment cases, compared to places not guarded, an increase of 30% since the previous report. It is reported that the phenomenon of Islamophobia was more common in shopping centers, where it reached 25% of the reported incidents.
The reason for this is that public places provide more opportunities for patients with Islamophobia to meet Muslims, yet it does not appear that the presence of a crowd of citizens, and the development of surveillance cameras and the presence of guards in these places are able to deter aggressors.
What do you do?
The Australian authors reported that it is rare to prosecute hate crimes in Australia, in light of the lack of intervention by passers-by and the presence of negative stereotypes of Muslims that have contributed to making aggressors more aggressive in committing such attacks.
But public opinion is the place where the most important opportunity to prevent the spread of Islamophobia lies. If witnesses decide to intervene to prevent such incidents, this would discourage the aggressors and others who have similar feelings.
So, if you are witnessing an Islamophobia incident in a guarded public place like a shopping center, the first thing you can do is to inform the security guards directly who can remove the assailant from the place. Moreover, witnesses should report such incidents in police stations and the Islamophobia registry, and witnesses have - in fact - 41% of all cases recorded in the report.
Secondly, you can comfort the victims of these attacks and alleviate the bitter experience on them, as they often feel deep psychological trauma and disappointment, and they are ridiculed, which makes them enter a tearful cry and grief. For example, a smile or saying a phrase like "Don't worry, this is your country too" can ease the feeling of unacceptability.
Third, witnesses should intervene. In one of the cases reported, a Muslim mother, accompanied by her three children, was severely assaulted; the support she received from those around her discouraged the perpetrator from being subjected to her, and soon he left.
On the other hand, the presence of policemen and their behavior towards the aggressor is another important factor. The victims reported feeling comfortable and confident with the state institutions in Australia when the police showed a clear understanding of what they had gone through, even if the perpetrators were not criminally charged.
However, the police forces were present only in a few incidents that they received a report about, and in some cases the police assured the victims that Australia guaranteed and could not violate the freedom of expression of citizens.
not your fault
The authors emphasized that if you encounter an assault because of Islamophobia, you should first remember that you did not make any mistake just because you were a Muslim. Therefore, maintain your strength and be courageous to seek help from passers-by. In addition, victims should also report the attacks against the police and followers, such as the Islamophobia Register in Australia.
Even if this incident was not classified as a crime, it would be beneficial for the police to monitor the aggressor, while recording the incident could increase public awareness of the case.
Victims should seek advice from organizations in each state and territory that aim to assist victims, such as victim services in New South Wales, southeastern Australia.
The Australian Human Rights Commission receives complaints and provides prosecution services throughout Australia, in addition mosques and Islamic organizations can provide a safe space for victims to talk about their experiences. Even if you do not need advice, discussing the experience can help you understand all of this in a meaningful way.
The authors concluded by saying that Islamophobia in Australia is a social problem that affects a large part of society, yet recognition of Islamophobia does not diminish the achievements of Australian society and the success of the experience of cultural diversity in it.