The recent wave of media hysteria and political posturing around Muslims in Australia — from a “fake mosque” proposal in Fairfield to a cynical burqa stunt in federal parliament — amounts to much more than mere sensationalism. It is a coordinated assault on truth, on Muslim dignity, and on social cohesion.
The “mosque scandal”: sloppy journalism, political opportunism, and dangerous consequences
On 19 November 2025, journalists Jan Fran & Antoinette Lattouf’s independent news platform Ette Media exposed what should have been obvious from the start: the “mosque proposal” that had set off a frenzy of headlines, outrage from politicians, including the mayor of Fairfield, Frank Carbone, and racially charged public commentary, was fake.
The so-called flyer circulated among residents, purporting to announce a new mosque – turned out to be entirely bogus.
The relevant Muslim group denied any such plan, the letter was unsigned by any legitimate representative, and apparently originated from unknown actors.
Yet in just a few hours, major news outlets and social media amplified the story as if it were real, with no verification, no attempt to contact the purported organisers, and no attempt to gauge the letter’s authenticity.
Media hysteria on a fake mosque.
A council official jumped in, politicians reacted, and the usual tropes about “mosques, high-density housing, immigrant crime” began to swirl.
ABC’s Media Watch rightly asked: would there have been such eagerness to publish, such breathless coverage, if the house of worship in question had been a church or synagogue?
The answer, painfully obvious to those who see how prejudice works – is no. This was not journalism.
It was a dirty tricks campaign, exploiting anti-Muslim sentiment for clicks, headlines and political grandstanding.
The moment those accusations hit social media and local news cycles, the safety and dignity of ordinary Muslim residents in Fairfield came under threat.
The burqa stunt: Parliament as a platform for hate
Not a week later, the far-right politician Pauline Hanson carried out a repeat of her 2017 burqa stunt — walking into the federal Senate cloaked in the full Islamic face-covering she seeks to ban.
The spectacle: calculated, provocative, and designed to provoke fear and disgust rather than reason.
Her stunt forced the Senate to suspend proceedings and triggered widespread condemnation, yet also mobilised the prejudices of thousands.
Muslim women, especially those who choose to wear hijab or niqab, were instantly made visible targets for harassment and abuse.
Those consequences are not hypothetical. The day after the stunt, reports emerged of verbal abuse directed at Muslim girls going to school, and of renewed online attacks.
That is the real outcome of “political theatre” like this: a green light for hate.
Media and politicians must own their part and be held accountable
This double blow – the mosque hoax and the burqa spectacle, reveals how ideology, fear, and laziness can combine to create a perfect storm of Islamophobia.
Journalists rushed to publish unverified material. Politicians rushed to condemn, inflame, and exploit. And mainstream media amplified both the deception and the hate.
Moreover, this is not isolated. It is part of a pattern.
In 2025, we have witnessed a spike in anti-Muslim rhetoric, a surge in hate incidents, and a creeping acceptance of bigotry disguised as “national security concerns,” “community safety,” or “cultural integration.”
We must ask: why do media outlets operate on a lower standard when it comes to Muslim-related stories? Why do politicians feel empowered to weaponise faith, even when there is no evidence?
Muslims in Australia are part of this nation’s fabric, contributing to its social, economic and cultural life, raising families, giving to charity, running businesses, building communities.
To those who spread fear and division: your headlines and your theatrics may dominate the screens today but they will not dominate our future.
Zia Ahmad is the Editor-in-Chief of the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST and is based in Sydney.
The hate is real! Thank you for putting this to word Mr Zia Ahmad. It helps in educating our young ones by sharing it through social media.
Nowadays, mainstream media often employs stenographers who act as journalists, simply repeating the directives from their superiors. In contrast, listening to podcasts featuring individuals who speak truth to power is a better alternative. Legacy media has become a propaganda machine that has outlived its usefulness.