Islamophobia has surged since the Bondi attack. Australia's Muslim community should not have to endure this abuse | Aftab Malik

"Following the 14 December mass shooting, community registers that document Islamophobia have largely been reluctant to speak publicly about the spike in Islamophobia, out of concern of being perceived to trivialise the killing of Jewish Australians, their suffering, or vying for sympathy from the public. Nevertheless, the registers have recorded a surge in reports of Islamophobia. These include individuals receiving abusive and threatening calls, a spate of mosques and Islamic centres across Australia reporting vandalism,"

"The Islamophobia Register Australia, for example, has recorded a 740% increase in reports since the Bondi terror attack. Unsurprisingly, most reports received by the community registers are from Muslim women who have reported being spat at, abused, attacked and threatened. Many women who I spoke to over the past two weeks have actively adjusted their normal movements in public due to a heightened perceived risk of danger to them and their children."

"This increased wave of anxiety and unease that Muslims are now feeling is present in everyday community discussions around the nation. The Bondi terror attack demonstrates that some Australians struggle to distinguish between the jihadist group Islamic State (also known as Isis or Isil) and Islam, the religion of almost 2 billion people worldwide (despite the extremist group being denounced by Muslim religious leaders around the globe, and imams across Australia)."

Community registers documenting Islamophobia have largely been reluctant to speak publicly about the spike in anti‑Muslim incidents due to concerns about trivialising Jewish victims or vying for sympathy. The registers nonetheless recorded abusive and threatening calls, vandalism at mosques and Islamic centres, a desecrated Muslim cemetery in New South Wales, physical attacks and online hate. The Islamophobia Register Australia recorded a 740% increase in reports since the Bondi terror attack. Most reports come from Muslim women who report being spat at, abused, attacked and threatened. Many women have altered public movements because of heightened perceived risk to themselves and their children. Widespread anxiety reflects confusion between Islamic State extremists and Islam.

Read at www.theguardian.com