AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) has strongly condemned a hate-filled threat against the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney and, while expressing full solidarity with the Lebanese Muslim Association, described the incident as a sign of a growing trend of anti-Muslim hostility in the country.
In a statement, the federation said that in recent weeks, Muslim individuals, institutions, and communities across Australia have faced an increasing wave of threats and hostile rhetoric. According to AFIC, views that were once confined to the margins are now being expressed more openly, a development it attributed in part to a permissive political and media climate and the normalization of hateful speech.
The president of the federation stressed that the threat against the Lakemba Mosque was not an isolated incident, but the product of years of inflammatory language, unchecked racism, and the failure of successive governments to effectively confront anti-Muslim hatred. He called for decisive action, including tangible legal guarantees and serious accountability from political leaders.
AFIC also voiced support for the Lebanese Muslim Association’s demand for the immediate passage of protective laws, legislation that would safeguard all citizens, regardless of religion or background, against defamation, incitement, and abuse. The federation criticized politicization, suggestive media messaging, and selective condemnations that prioritize the security of some communities over others.
The federation warned that silence from political leaders, or reliance on general slogans about “unity” without practical measures, is no longer acceptable, and that continued tolerance of hate speech leaves Muslim communities increasingly vulnerable.
Emphasizing that Australian Muslims are not seeking special privileges but equal legal protection, the statement referred to recent incidents, including an attack on an imam in Victoria and threats against mosques and schools, and underscored that symbolic actions alone are insufficient to address the current situation.
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