2025-12-08
The Greens stand in solidarity and compassion with the community of the Virgin Mary Mosque in Hoppers Crossing after they were targeted with Anti-Muslim vandalism on Thursday night.
Everyone should be able to practice their faith in community in peace and with respect from the wider community. But politicians like Pauline Hanson are spreading anti-muslim and anti-migrant rhetoric and emboldening people to carry out racist actions like the vandalism at Virgin Mary Mosque.
The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) has reported a terrifying increase in Anti-Muslim attacks with an increase of 1313% in reported harassment, verbal abuse, vandalism and online threats since October 2023 and 229% increase alone in the last year.
The Greens will always stand alongside our community and ICV calls for meaningful investment in anti racism initiatives and say it starts with the full implementation of the recommendations from the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the rise of the far right.
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens Multicultural spokesperson, Anasina Gray-Barberio:
“All Victorians should be able to gather with their community to practice their faith in peace and with the respect from the wider community. But politicians like Pauline Hanson are emboldening social hostility against our muslim communities”.
“The vandalism at Virgin Mary Mosque is a targeted message of exclusion and intimidation on communities of faith. The Greens will continue to advocate for strengthened support for these targeted communities”.
“We can have a community where everyone is free to worship in peace with respect. But that starts with addressing the problem. Labor needs to urgently implement all of the recommendations from the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the rise of the far right ”.
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