Australian government refuses to support anti-Islamophobia motion
Greens Deputy Leader Senator Faruqi says Australian government shut down debate while 'whitesplaining' a Muslim woman
CANBERRA, Australia (MNTV) — The Australian government refused to support a motion by Greens calling for action to combat rising Islamophobia, says the opposition party.
“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,” said Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Greens, in a statement.
“Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate has become more normalized, more emboldened, and more dangerous. Instead of confronting this hate, politicians and the media continue to inflame and legitimize it,” said Faruqi.
“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’,” said the Pakistan-born politician.
“Instead of distorting, diminishing and dehumanizing 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.”
On the weekend, a man stormed an iftar (sunset meal) event organized by the Ballarat Muslim community and threw abuse and punches. He was asked by police to move on. He was not charged, said the Greens on its website.
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.
“The Christchurch mosque massacre should have been a turning point that forced this country to confront its own racism, but the reckoning never came.
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