In the heart of Western Sydney, over 300 women gathered for a powerful evening of connection, reflection, and purpose at Senator Dr Mehreen Faruqi’s 8th annual Women’s Community Iftar. Held in Granville on Wednesday 12 March 2025, the event brought together Muslim women and allies to share a meal—and a message.
Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Senator for NSW, used her platform to deliver a bold and unflinching message just days before the 6th anniversary of the Christchurch Mosque massacre—a tragedy that continues to shape the political consciousness of Muslim communities across the globe.
“We come together today, just a few days before March 15, the day that forever changed the lives of Muslims in this country,” she said. “It will be six years since the Christchurch Mosque massacre where an Australian white supremacist man killed 51 Muslims during Friday prayers, driven by an extreme right-wing Islamophobic ideology.”
Senator Faruqi criticised the inaction of political leaders, stating, “I wish I could say that Christchurch had prompted a reckoning with dangerous racist ideologies and spurred those in power to action in this country. It hasn’t.”
In a room filled with women from all walks of life—ranging from politically active, community leaders to first-time attendees—Senator Faruqi called out the ongoing hypocrisy in the way racism is addressed in public discourse.
“The double standards and one-sidedness used in calling out racism, in applying international law, in media reporting are staggering,” she said, noting how these biases shape policy and perception alike.
Despite the weight of the moment, Senator Faruqi offered a powerful message of hope and resistance. “What has changed though is that more and more of us are speaking out, and refusing to back down, because we have the courage and the morality to stand up for what is right.”
Her call to action was clear: it’s time to organise, and to hold political leaders accountable—especially in the lead-up to the federal election.
“We have to ramp up our campaigns for justice, for climate, to tackle the housing and cost of living crisis and to give the two big parties a loud and clear message that we will not be taken for granted.”
“We are not some hapless victims. We are mobilising and we are organising.”
She urged the crowd to make their voices heard where it matters most: the ballot box. “Our job this election is to keep Dutton and his Trump-like Liberals out and not give Albanese’s Labor a free pass.”
“That means supporting people who have been fighting for you every single day.”
The evening also featured speeches from Federal Greens candidates Manal Bhasa (Barton), Jocelyn Brewer (Watson), and Liz Tilly (Parramatta), who each shared their vision for fairer, more representative politics in their electorates. Award-winning author, artist, and advocate, Amani Hayder read a poignant passage from her book The Mother Wound. Her words resonated deeply with many in the room, touching on themes of loss, strength, and healing in the face of gendered and racialised violence.
But it was Senator Faruqi’s sharp and stirring words that remained the heartbeat of the night. In a political climate often marked by fear and fatigue, the Women’s Community Iftar reminded attendees that resistance can also be communal, compassionate, and deeply rooted in care.
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