Islamophobia in Australia skyrockets: Muslims face harassment, attacks, and neglect

The independent report, prepared by Australia’s Special Representative and released on Friday, September 12, 2025, indicates that the normalization of Islamophobia in Australia has become so widespread that many incidents go unreported.

The 60-page report presents 54 recommendations to the government, parliament, and public agencies, including conducting research on religious discrimination and the impact of Islamophobia on social cohesion. It emphasizes that counter-terrorism laws should be reviewed and anti-racial discrimination legislation updated to better protect religious groups.

The report calls on the Australian government to treat Islamophobia with the same urgency as other forms of discrimination, provide equal rights, legal support, and resources, and implement key parts of the anti-racism framework proposed by the Human Rights Commission nine months ago.

It also urges Australia to formally recognize International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 15 (as designated by the UN General Assembly).

According to the report, between October 2023 and November 2024, Islamophobic incidents in Australia increased by 150%.

At a press conference alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Special Representative Aftab Malik said: “Islamophobia in Australia has been ongoing, sometimes ignored, sometimes denied, but never fully addressed.”

Malik added: “We have witnessed public abuse, graffiti, and attacks targeting Muslim women and children—not because of anything they did, but because of who they are and what they wear.”

He described the release of the report as a historic opportunity for Muslim communities to combat Islamophobia. “The issue is not lack of evidence, but lack of action,” he emphasized.

Malik also referenced a recent Islamophobic incident in which a fake bomb was left outside the Gold Coast Mosque, saying these are consequences of neglecting Islamophobia.

Malik was appointed last year to recommend measures to prevent anti-Muslim hatred, following a wave of Islamophobic incidents in Australia. This report is his first major work since assuming office in September 2024.

Prime Minister Albanese claimed at the joint press conference that the government would carefully review the report’s recommendations, asserting: “Australians must feel safe in any community. We must eradicate the hate, fear, and prejudice that fuel Islamophobia and social division.”

Muslim groups in Australia, including the National Imams Council, welcomed the report and called on the government to act on its findings rather than letting successive administrations ignore the problem.

For years, Australian Muslim communities have demanded official recognition of Islamophobia as a serious social issue.

Australia’s first Muslim woman in the federal cabinet said the Special Representative’s report “gave voice to Muslims who have long endured discrimination, racism, and sometimes overtly hateful acts, bringing their struggles to the world’s attention.”

The Executive Director of the Islamophobia Incident Register stressed that improving hate crime reporting requires collaboration with the Muslim community, noting a deep mistrust exists and that government-led initiatives may fail if people don’t feel safe reporting incidents.

The Muslim Advocacy Network of Australia expressed hope that the recommendations will lead to meaningful gains in equality.