Islamophobic incidents surge in Australia, report finds

A new report reveals that Islamophobic incidents in Australia have more than doubled in two years, with Muslim women facing the majority of attacks. The study also notes a sharp rise in cases after the Israel-Gaza conflict and warns that many incidents go unreported.

More details in the following report l:

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Islamophobic incidents in Australia have more than doubled in the past two years, with Muslim women and girls disproportionately targeted, according to a new report by the Islamophobia Register in collaboration with Deakin and Monash universities.

The study recorded 309 in-person incidents between January 2023 and December 2024—more than 2.5 times the number in the previous reporting period. Verified online incidents also tripled to 366. The report highlighted that three-quarters of victims were female, who were also more likely to experience physical attacks than Muslim men.

Islamophobia Register Executive Director Dr. Nora Amath described the trend as a “gendered Islamophobia,” noting that most perpetrators were male. Incidents included verbal abuse, physical assaults, threats of sexual violence, and attacks on places of worship.

One mother reported being punched and knocked unconscious in front of her children at a shopping center. Another woman recalled being threatened with assault and rape while walking to a train station. In one case, a mosque was vandalized with faeces.

New South Wales, home to Australia’s largest Muslim population, accounted for nearly half of the incidents. Attacks commonly occurred in public places, workplaces, and schools. The report noted a surge in Islamophobic incidents following the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023, with a 1,300% increase in reports compared to the same period in 2022.

The authors warned that the actual number of incidents is likely higher due to underreporting. The findings come amid a rise in antisemitic incidents, with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry documenting over 2,000 cases of harassment, vandalism, and physical attacks in 2024.

Researchers called for further study on the long-term psychological effects of Islamophobia and urged action to address growing religious intolerance in Australia.