Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese holds a copy of the ºÃÉ«tv Response to Islamophobia report as he speaks to the media during a press conference at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Sydney, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP)
Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik watches as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media during a press conference at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Sydney, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Anti-Muslim incidents have “skyrocketed†across Australia since the Israel-Hamas war began nearly two years ago, the country’s special envoy to combat Islamophobia said. The envoy, Aftab Malik, handed his first report to the government on Friday.
The report’s 54 recommendations include a review of counterterrorism laws and procedures to investigate potential discrimination.
Malik also recommended a wide-ranging inquiry into Islamophobia to investigate its main drivers and potential discrimination in government policies.
“The reality is that Islamophobia in Australia has been persistent, at times ignored and other times denied, but never fully addressed,†Malik told reporters.
Islamophobia had intensified since the attacks on the United States on , and had become entrenched, he said.
Islamophobic incidents in person had increased by 150% — and by 250% online — since Hamas' attack on Israel in 2023, Malik said.
“Since Oct. 7, 2023, Islamophobic incidents have skyrocketed,†Malik said.
Prime Minister said his government would “carefully consider†Malik’s recommendations.
“The targeting of Australians based on their religious beliefs is not only an attack on them, but it’s an attack on our core values,†Albanese said.
“We must stamp out the hate, fear and prejudice that drives Islamophobia and division in our society,†he added.
The government has acknowledged steep rises in both Islamophobic and antisemitic incidents in Australia since the Israeli-Hamas war began.
was appointed envoy to combat antisemitism in July 2024 and Malik began his three-year role in October.
, in her first report two months ago, that Australian universities lose government funding unless they address attacks on Jewish students, and that potential immigrants be screened for political affiliations.
According to the 2021 Australian Census, 3.2% of the Australian population is Muslim.
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