Australian PM Defends Response to Islamophobia Concerns After Alleged Assault
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pushed back against criticisms that his government has been slow to condemn Islamophobia in the wake of an alleged assault on two Muslim women at a Melbourne shopping center, Al Jazeera reports.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Albanese affirmed his condemnation of attacks based on religious grounds, calling them “reprehensible” and stating that perpetrators should face the full force of the law.
“I take all attacks on people on the basis of their faith seriously, and they should all face the full force of the law,” he said. “We’ve appointed a special envoy on Islamophobia. That’s an important step forward. And I’m someone who celebrates our diversity and who respects people, regardless of their faith.”
Albanese’s comments follow accusations from some Muslim Australians, including international cricket player Usman Khawaja, that the government has not done enough to address Islamophobia.
On Tuesday, Khawaja, the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia, expressed concern that the alleged attacks would be ignored by Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton and “swept under the rug like all attacks against the Islamic community.” However, Khawaja later acknowledged and appreciated Albanese and Dutton for “speaking up,” after Dutton branded the alleged assaults a “disgrace” this week.
Victoria Police announced on Wednesday that they have arrested a 31-year-old woman and charged her with assault in connection to the alleged Islamophobic attacks, which occurred on February 13.
Advocacy groups have reported a significant increase in both Islamophobic and anti-Semitic incidents in Australia since October 7, 2023, the date of the Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent outbreak of the war in Gaza.
