AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Islamophobia Register Australia has released alarming figures showing that in the two weeks following the Bondi terrorist attack, reported incidents of anti-Muslim hatred increased by more than 740 percent and have remained at an elevated level of 453 percent.
Describing the situation as a “serious Islamophobia crisis,” the organization called for a national response to confront the growing wave of hate. According to the report, Muslim communities, businesses, places of worship, and even children have been subjected to threats, vandalism, and abuse, even though acts of violence were attributed to only two individuals.
The statement stressed that a double standard is often applied to Muslims compared with followers of other faiths. In similar cases, critics said, entire Muslim communities are targeted, while in incidents involving other religions, responsibility is usually limited to the individual perpetrator.
Recent examples cited include death threats sent to staff at Lakemba Mosque on January 22, vandalism at a Brisbane mosque, desecration of a Muslim cemetery by placing a pig’s head on the site, and repeated threatening calls and messages against mosques and Islamic centers across New South Wales.
The report noted that nearly one million Muslims consider Australia their home, yet the rise in hate-driven crimes has intensified fear and anxiety within the community.
Meanwhile, Aftab Malik, the Labor government’s Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, submitted a report on September 12, 2025, titled “A National Response to Islamophobia,” outlining 54 recommendations, including legal reforms and security measures. More than four months later, no concrete action has been reported, and activists are urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government to act immediately to curb the trend and strengthen social cohesion.
**************
End/ 345E
