Islamophobic abuse rises in South Australia
South Australian Islamic Society report shows 2026 is on track to exceed 2025's record level of Islamophobic incidents
ADELAIDE, Australia (MNTV) – South Australia’s Muslim community is experiencing its highest recorded number of Islamophobic incidents, ranging from hate speech to physical assault, with Muslim women disproportionately targeted, a new report has revealed.
The report released by the South Australian Islamic Society demonstrates that 2026 is tracking to surpass 2025’s record levels of Islamophobic violence and harassment.
“It is deeply concerning that our community, particularly women and young people, feels unsafe because of their faith or appearance,” said Ahmed Zreika, president of the Islamic Society of SA.
The escalation is stark. In 2022, authorities recorded just two Islamophobic incidents. By 2025, that number had climbed to 41, according to the report, which documented incidents including “egging of a young woman departing a bus stop; spitting and screaming at an Arab man outside a barbershop” and attempted intimidation driving. The figures do not indicate how many incidents were formally reported to SA Police, reports the InDaily.
One woman, who requested anonymity, told InDaily she and her husband felt “terrified” for their children amid the surge in hateful incidents. She described ceasing to wear her niqab, an Islamic face-covering veil, in public spaces “because of the amount of aggression that was displayed towards me while wearing it”—including a physical attack.
“I figured [the attack] was a once-off, but now I’ve been told to go back to my country, I’ve been called a monster and a terrorist and a dog,” she recounted.
She explained that even routine errands such as purchasing formula for her newborn required accompaniment by her husband or father for “protection.” Despite these threats, she affirmed that her decision to convert to Islam remained one she would “never regret.”
“Islam gave my life structure, it gave it routine, and it gave it a purpose that I had lacked for most of my life, and I will withstand any kind of hate directed towards me for the sake of my religion,” she stated.
The report found that women wearing hijab—a head covering that covers the hair but not the face—were more frequently targeted because they were more visibly identifiable as Muslim.
Most incidents occurred in high-traffic areas including city streets, shopping centers, schools, public transport and near places of worship, while 24% occurred online. The Adelaide CBD emerged as the largest hotspot, accounting for 23% of all incidents, followed by the northern suburbs corridor, which represented more than 20% of reports.
In the northern suburbs, residents reported anti-mosque messaging and materials distributed in letterboxes throughout 2024 and 2025.
Zreika emphasized that when incidents occurred, victims frequently struggled to “regain trust in public systems after experiencing anti-Muslim hate.” Without proper support pathways, he noted, “these experiences can lead to isolation, fear, and long-term emotional trauma.”
He attributed the increase in anti-Muslim incidents to multiple contributing factors, including international events such as the genocide in Gaza. The surge has placed considerable strain on Islamic organizations and community leaders, according to Zreika, who stressed that no current dedicated state or national programs exist to support Islamophobia victims.
While federal legislation addressing hate crimes exists, South Australia currently lacks specific “hate crime” legislation. The report recommended that the state government and police “establish a dedicated anti-Muslim hate-crime reporting and response protocol,” provide dedicated funding for a state-wide Islamophobia register, and fund community safety measures around hotspots including the Adelaide CBD.
Zreika disclosed that he had raised the issue with SA Police and was advised that government-level policy direction would be necessary for reports to include specific categories relating to Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate.
“While we continue encouraging the community to report incidents, many victims feel the current system does not adequately recognize their experiences,” Zreika said. “At the same time, many within the community continue trying to respond positively by strengthening engagement with wider society, supporting interfaith initiatives, and encouraging people to speak up rather than remain silent.”
No hate crime legislation
In a statement to InDaily, SA Police affirmed it “maintains regular liaison with community groups, community leaders and representatives.” This liaison, the statement continued, “encourages concerns to be raised, and incidents to be reported in a timely manner to enable an appropriate policing response.”
SA Police explained that while “South Australia does not have ‘defined’ hate crime legislation, the Racial Vilification Act 1996 (SA) treats hate motivations as aggravating factors during sentencing under the Sentencing Act 2017 (SA).”
The statement further noted that “the Racial Vilification Act addresses inciting hatred, ridicule, or contempt towards a race (by threatening physical harm/damage to property to a person or group or inciting others to threaten physical harm/damage to property), whilst the Sentencing Act allows judges to impose harsher penalties if any substantive criminal offence is motivated by prejudice against protected characteristics.”
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