Islamophobic crimes are on the rise in Australia
In Australia, the number of Islamophobic verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, violence and physical violence has increased 39-fold since October 7. There are also threats against non-Muslim citizens who support Palestinian independence.
In Melbourne, Australia, 53-year-old Rita Manessis went out to dispose of waste in the evening when she saw the sign "Death to Palestine" on her road . The non-Muslim mother of four told ABC TV that she was shocked at the time and immediately called the police, Yeni Şafak reported.
He stated that he did not know the reason for such behavior, but it could be related to the posters and stickers with the inscription "Free Palestine" on his car.
According to Islamophobia Register Australia, the country's leading organization for monitoring Islamophobia, the crime occurred at a time when incidents of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hatred have increased across the country in recent months.
According to Islamophobia Register Australia, the number of Islamophobic attacks, including on university campuses, has increased sharply since October 7.
"Since October 7, we've seen a 39-fold increase in reported incidents, particularly on college campuses across the country," the organization said in a press release.
Reported incidents include verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, violence and physical abuse.
Several pro-Palestinian protesters who spoke to the ABC said they were also verbally abused and attacked. Wearing a black and white scarf with a Palestinian pattern, the kufia, which has become a popular symbol of the pro-Palestinian movement, felt unsafe.
Islamophobia Register Australia CEO Nora Amat said reporting and public discussion of the war between Israel and Gaza needed more context and thought.
"It would be useful if the mass media would refer to the international laws on human rights and provide a broader context to the events happening in Gaza," said Amat.
In May, hundreds of public servants across Australia, as well as state and federal agencies, signed an open letter calling on the government to "immediately end all military exports to Israel".
Australia is an arms exporter to Israel, but the government denies this.
