The use of “religiously motivated violent extremism” (RMVE) in relation to counterterrorism raids in Sydney on Wednesday 24 April 2024 has unleashed online hatred and, based on past experience, will result in increased hate incidents against the Muslim community. Terrorism is politically motivated. ‘Politically motivated’ labelling is accurate language.
RMVE is not a neutral term but is designed to link community panic and fear about terrorism to a whole religion, rather than focusing the public on political motives.
White supremacist or Incel-inspired terrorism is “ideologically motivated”, yet where the offender is Muslim, a whole religion and community are demonised.
RMVE also glamorises violent acts as religious, playing directly into the hands of politically motivated groups like ISIS.
RMVE language used by public officials is then used by racist groups online to promote dehumanising conspiracy theories about Muslims, increasing the risk of another Christchurch massacre.
RMVE language is nothing short of reckless and irresponsible and must end now.
The past week has put the double standards of terrorism designation processes on full display. The Bondi attacker was ruled out of being a terrorist within a few hours because he was known to police as having mental health concerns. Even though mental health was also a factor in the Wakely attack, police took the same amount of time to designate it as terrorism.
The NSW Police Commissioner’s rushed designations lead to irreparable prejudice against young people who will be tried before the courts. All Commonwealth offences must be tried before a jury.
The ASIO Director Mike Burgess, who regularly issues cautions to politicians about inflammatory language has used both “religiously motivated” and “Sunni violent extremism” in a National Press Club address – associating the overwhelming majority of the Muslim world with violence and terrorism.
Not only does this show immense disrespect, but it misleads the public as the cause of terrorism, putting our whole community at risk and marginalising it.
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