2026-03-11
March 15 is the seventh anniversary of the Christchurch mosque massacre, where an Australian white supremacist killed 51 Muslims and it marks the International Day against Islamophobia. Today, in the wake of rising Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate in this country, Senator Faruqi attempted to to move a motion marking the day and calling for action on rising Islamophobia, but was shutdown by Labor and the Coalition
On the weekend, a man stormed an Iftar organised by the Ballarat Muslim community and threw abuse and punches. He was asked by police to move on. He was not charged. Just recently, a white supremacist was arrested in Western Australia for planning a terrorist attack on mosques in Perth, after allegedly stockpiling weapons and ammunition. Mosques and Islamic schools across this country are receiving violent threats and Muslim women continue to bear the brunt, as they are abused and assaulted.
Instead of supporting the motion, the Labor Government shut down debate and used it as another opportunity to attack the Greens, rather than take action.
Lines attributable to Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Greens and spokesperson for Anti-Racism:
“The Christchurch mosque massacre should have been a turning point that forced this country to confront its own racism, but the reckoning never came.
“The Labor Government couldn’t even bring themselves to support a motion that condemns Islamophobia and calls for action. Instead, they shut down debate while whitesplaining a Muslim woman and attacking the Greens.
“Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate has become more normalised, more emboldened, and more dangerous. Instead of confronting this hate, politicians and the media continue to inflame and legitimise it.
“The ideology that fuelled the Christchurch terrorist was built over decades of Islamophobia. Decades of Muslims being portrayed as dangerous. Decades of politicians and the media telling us that Muslims are a threat to the so-called ‘Australian way of life’.
“Instead of distorting, diminishing and dehumanising Muslims and our religion, the Labor government should stop their dog-whistle politics, stand unequivocally against Islamophobia and protect Muslims, but they couldn’t even find it in their hearts to support the Greens motion.”