Anti-Muslim incidents in Australia have surged to unprecedented levels since Israel launched its military operations in Gaza nearly two years ago, the country’s special envoy to combat Islamophobia said Friday, delivering a landmark report with 54 recommendations to the government.
Aftab Malik, who assumed the newly created three-year role in October, said Islamophobia in Australia has long been persistent, at times ignored or denied, but never fully addressed. “Since Oct. 7, 2023, Islamophobic incidents have skyrocketed,” Malik told reporters in Sydney. “We have seen public abuse, graffiti, and attacks on Muslim women and children – not for what they have done, but for who they are and what they wear.”
The report proposes a wide-ranging inquiry into Islamophobia, including potential discrimination in government policies and counterterrorism procedures, and examines its impact on social cohesion and democracy.
Malik also called for a review of laws and procedures to better investigate discrimination, highlighting the normalization of anti-Muslim sentiment across Australian society.
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, Sydney, Australia, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo)
