Islamophobia Register Australia: Celebrating a decade of dedication

Palestinian artist Ahmed Abunada from Gaza creates an artwork in real-time at the event. Photos by Think Studio.

Islamophobia Register Australia marked its 10th anniversary on Sunday 27 October 2024 at Waterview, Sydney Olympic Park to commemorate the organisation’s decade-long commitment to addressing Islamophobia and supporting affected individuals across Australia.

Founded as a Facebook page by the inspirational Ms Mariam Veiszadeh, the Register has grown into Australia’s leading organisation for recording, tracking and tackling Islamophobia.

With the invaluable contributions of Dr Derya Iner, who joined Mariam to lead and produce the highly-regarded four published academic reports, The Register continues to make significant contributions to the community at large.

The Register represents the diversity of the Australian Muslim community in its Board of Directors and staff, including Muslims from a wide variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

The event, filled with diverse voices, poignant stories, and artistic expressions, underscored the collective dedication needed to combat Islamophobia and the broader context of discrimination that many communities face.

The formal program commenced with a welcome by the MC, Dr Imran Lum, Head of Islamic Finance at the National Australia Bank (NAB) who expressed gratitude to the event’s sponsors, volunteers, and board members, followed by 10-year-old Shayaan Momin reciting verses from the Quran, a moment that set a reflective and reverent tone for the afternoon.

Safiah Rind, a Yamatji Badimaya woman based in Naarm (Melbourne) and has connections in Jambinu (Geraldton) and Mount Magnet region performed the Acknowledgement to Country.

Founder of The Register in 2014, Ms Mariam Veiszadeh, currently CEO of Media Diversity Australia then took the stage, sharing the Register’s early days and her personal journey of establishing an organisation that has since become a lifeline for many.

Ms Veiszadeh spoke of the emotional highs and lows, likening her work with The Register to raising a third child. She recounted early challenges, including using her personal phone number to receive calls from those reporting incidents, and reflected on the growing need for The Register’s services in recent years.

Acknowledging the contributions of individuals and organisations like ISRA, Dr Derya Iner,and Rachel McQuail, she emphasised the collective resilience required to support victims and expressed hope for a day when The Register would no longer be necessary.

Dr Susan Carland, academic, author, and social commentator highlighted the significant increase in Islamophobia reports, especially within the past year, and discussed the support networks established by the Register to assist victims.

She previewed the upcoming fifth report on Islamophobia in Australia, which will analyse 2023 data and reveal a troubling rise in incidents since recent events in Gaza.

Dr Carland also spoke on the impact of the Register’s work in media, government, and policy reform, underscoring the importance of accurate reporting to bring visibility to Islamophobia.

Mr Craig Foster, a Socceroo and a notable advocate for multiculturalism, spoke passionately, championing unity and condemning the mistreatment of First Nations communities.

He reflected on his own experience fasting during Ramadan in solidarity with Muslims, an act that received backlash.

Mr Foster emphasised the importance of building understanding across communities, urging for compassion and solidarity as pillars in fighting discrimination.

The event also featured a powerful live art performance by Palestinian artist Ahmed Abunada from Gaza.

Born in the Gaza Strip in 1996, Ahmed’s life has been marked by the ongoing conflict in the region. He and his family survived a bombing that heavily damaged their neighborhood and forced them to relocate to his grandmother’s home.

However, the relentless nature of the conflict meant they couldn’t stay there either and on 13 October 13, Ahmed’s birthday, they were forcibly displaced from the north to the south of Gaza.

For months, Ahmed and his family lived in a shelter, often volunteering to help others despite their own harrowing circumstances. Surrounded by the constant threat of violence, they managed to escape Gaza after 2.5 months of extreme hardship, terror, and loss.

Their journey took them through Egypt, where they stayed temporarily before obtaining a visa to Australia in May 2024.

Attendees like Abu Bakir Rafiq shared personal experiences of Islamophobia, from verbal abuse to physical assault, underscoring the Register’s role in providing support and raising awareness.

Rasha Abbas, CEO of In Touch reflected on her Palestinian identity and the convergence of Islamophobia with anti-Palestinian racism, calling for unity in addressing all forms of discrimination.

Associate Professor Mehmet Ozalp presented the concluding address reflecting on the development of Australian Muslim identity and future directions of the Australian Muslim community establishing their roots and loyalty to this land.

The event also showcased live artwork and auctions with highly popular Muslim auctioneer Husin Goss.
Awards were presented to a number of individuals and organisations associated with The Register as follows: