In response to the Australian Government’s response to the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia’s report, Amnesty International Australia welcomes the Albanese Government’s decision to adopt 35 of the report’s 54 recommendations.
However, we caution that any measures introduced, including those concerning counter-terrorism laws, must not have disproportionate impacts on Muslim communities across Australia.
Amnesty International Australia is deeply concerned by the significant rise in hate, including Islamophobia and antisemitism, across Australia.
Everyone has the right to practise their faith or belief without fear or discrimination, harassment or violence. Islamophobia, antisemitism and all forms of racism are abhorrent and must be confronted through effective, rights-respecting measures.
Everyone has the right to practise their faith or belief without fear or discrimination, harassment or violence.
The Islamophobia Register Australia Report (2023-2024) found that anti-Muslim incidents in Australia have more than doubled in recent years, with significant spikes linked to geopolitical events. The report identified a 150% increase in in-person hate incidents and a 250% increase in online incidents, with visibly Muslim women experiencing a disproportionate level of physical and verbal abuse. These findings highlight the urgent need for the Australian Government to address racism and hate crimes through comprehensive measures that tackle both individual incidents and the broader conditions that enable discrimination.
International human rights law imposes the duty upon states to protect all communities from discrimination, including discriminatory violence, while ensuring that responses uphold fundamental rights and freedoms.
Counter-terrorism laws should not rely on religious beliefs or identities as a basis for defining terrorist acts. Doing so risks conflating religion with terrorism and may contribute to the overreach of these laws in ways that disproportionately affect Muslim and other religious minorities. While governments have a responsibility to protect communities from violence and threats to public safety, such measures must be evidence-based and consistent with human rights obligations.
The Government’s commitment to addressing Islamophobia through education and awareness, protection and support, accountability measures, and the establishment of a dedicated taskforce are important steps. However, these initiatives must form part of a broader, comprehensive national anti-racism framework, as proposed by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Ahead of Labor’s National Conference in Adelaide, Amnesty International Australia urges the Government to seize this opportunity to adopt a comprehensive national anti-racism framework that addresses the root causes of discrimination and establishes lasting measures to promote the safety, rights and dignity of everyone in Australia, ensuring that no group is disproportionately targeted.
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