As-Salammu Alaikum. When translated, the Arabic greeting used by almost 2 billion Muslims out of 8 billion global citizens around the world simply means “peace be upon you.” But, can I be honest, trying to keep the peace is getting pretty exhausting as of late.
Despite Islam’s purpose and message of peace, Muslims in multicultural Australia continue to be met with unprovoked hostility to this day. According to the 2021 Social Cohesion Report conducted by the Scanlon Institute, 32% of Australians indicate negative views towards Muslims in 2019. That’s almost 9 million people, let’s unpack that, shall we?
Technically, a developed society like Australia, is one that grows and adapts to changes and patterns over time. Hence, a developed society should be progressive, for lack of a better word. But riddle me this, would a developed society really create a Facebook page dedicated to boycotting an entire religion’s beliefs about diet and food consumption? Would a developed society gather to violently riot against the mere existence and settling of a people?
Whilst Australia is a multicultural society, it clearly doesn’t mean it is an accepting one. The two should not be mutually exclusive, but sadly, it appears that way.
In 2019, an Australian Christian man shot and killed Muslim worshippers at a mosque in Christchurch, NZ. At the time, media and news outlets claimed the Christchurch shooter was a “troubled young man,” and – get this – a “model fitness instructor.” In fact, an entire biographical article was dedicated to Tarrant’s life before the shooting. Without sufficient context, anyone would assume he was the victim.
In 2021, an Australian Muslim man crashed into several pedestrians. Despite the man’s faith, ethnicity and political beliefs being irrelevant to the crime, all three were scrutinised by the media. The man was investigated for links to terrorism and terrorist motives even though his actions were a result of mental illness and drug abuse.
Now, in no way am I defending this man, or his horrendous actions! But there is something to be said when the police – the very people meant to protect us – automatically peg Muslims as terrorists and yet do any other groups hold this label? I think we all know the answer to that and that’s where we diminish from a ‘progressive society of inclusion’ that falls short of ‘all for one and one for all.’
You want to hear something ironic? After the Christchurch massacre, with over 51 victims, 40% of online posts included threats to kill Muslims, 55% of which were threatening mass killing according to the Islamophobia Register Australia. Evidently, no action was taken to hold these people accountable. As alarming as it is, it doesn’t come as a surprise to me, and I’m sure for many of you.
Alas, it seems the rest of society are allowed to devalue Muslims. The Islamophobia Register Australia, Scanlon Foundation Research Institute (SFRI) and countless institutions have found that the vilification of Muslims is at an all-time high.
Of course, we must consider that hate crimes are severely underreported due to both a lack of understanding what constitutes a hate crime, and fear. Hence, the Islamophobia Register highlighted that this is merely the “tip of the iceberg.” If that is the case, does that mean Muslims are tolerating this behaviour to be accepted? Is this progression?
We get it…one Muslim taints an entire community. Now we are all terrorists. When plainly we all know there is always a black sheep in each community. So why can’t the same understanding be given to Muslims. Muslims are the largest minority in Australia, making up 3.2% of the population, and we have worked tirelessly to “earn” our place in the Australian society.
But why must we prove ourselves in order to be simply acknowledged? We are held to a higher standard. What would happen if the rest of the population were held to the same standards. If they were, could this lead us all down the golden path of acceptance?
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