Ankara: Australia has experienced a significant increase in Islamophobic incidents since the cross-border attacks by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. These attacks ignited the ongoing Gaza war, with women and girls disproportionately affected, as reported by local broadcaster SBS News.
According to Anadolu Agency, the report highlights comments from Nora Amath, the executive director of the Islamophobia Register Australia. Amath stated that approximately 75% of the victims of these incidents are women and girls, while most of the perpetrators are identified as non-Muslim men. Amath emphasized that geopolitical events can act as catalysts for Islamophobia in Australia, although they are not the sole contributors. She stressed the importance of political rhetoric in influencing the rise or decline of reported incidents. Amath noted the pervasive nature of these incidents, stating that for many Muslim females who wear the headscarf, experiencing Islamophobia has become a defining aspect of being a Muslim in Australia.
A report released in March on Islamophobia in Australia highlighted a sharp increase in assaults, abuse, and threats, based on records from the Islamophobia Register between January 2023 and November 2024. Research conducted by Monash and Deakin Universities analyzed over 600 incidents, both in-person and online, revealing that Muslim women were overwhelmingly the targets.
The report also provided context on the broader conflict, indicating that at least 59,821 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's war on the Gaza Strip since the onset of hostilities in October 2023. The Israeli army resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip on March 18, resulting in the deaths of 8,657 people and injuries to 32,810 others, breaking a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas from January.
Additionally, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its actions in the enclave.