A Statement

From The Australian Muslim Community

As a community, we are shattered by the recent act of terror in Christchurch.

For years, we have warned against the use of racist and discriminatory language in media and politics. We warned that this creates a culture of fear and hysteria that would inevitably result in exactly this type of attack.

We also acknowledge our brothers and sisters in the Indigenous community who have resisted white supremacist violence on this continent for over two centuries.

We owe it to the victims of this massacre to bear witness to the truth of why they died. Their deaths cannot be used to whitewash the reality of how this occurred.

While our political leaders have expressed sympathy over the deaths of our brothers and sisters, there has been little responsibility taken for their own role in creating a political climate that has demonised the Muslim community for decades.

Sadly, we remember the numerous times the Coalition have used the Muslim community as targets in vicious debates around immigration, multiculturalism and national security.

We remember when Liberal Party Senators lined up to kiss, hug and shake hands with Pauline Hanson – a woman who has referred to Islam as a ‘disease’ – following her openly Islamophobic return speech to Parliament.

We remember when Liberal Party Senators openly congratulated Fraser Anning after his explicit reference to a ‘final solution’ when discussing Muslim immigration.

We remember when Peter Dutton suggested that sections of our community should never have been allowed into this country in the first place.

We remember when elected Liberal Party representatives campaigned to remove Section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act under the guise of protecting ‘free speech.’

We remember when Liberal Party Senators joined One Nation to vote in favour of the white nationalist slogan ‘It’s OK to be white.’

This climate of hostility breeds discrimination, harassment and ultimately violence.

A truly safe society is one where no community should fear that they will be made scapegoats or demonised for the sake of cheap political point-scoring.

If our leaders are truly committed to building a society where our community can live in safety, they must make real assurances that they will not resort to this language of racism and division.

List of signatories

Ahmed Abou-Zaid, President – Islamophobia Watch Australia Ghaith Krayem, Community Advocate, Former President – Islamic Council of Victoria Asad Ansari, Former Board Member – Islamic Council of Victoria Omar Abdo, Community Member, Former Board Member, Islamic Council of Victoria Muslim Legal Network (NSW) Inc Hajeh Maha Abdo, OAM, CEO Muslim Womens Association Maher Mughrabi, Features Editor, The Age Ramzy Alamudi, Managing Direction, Mercy Mission Media Ramesh Fernandez, Founder RISE (Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees) Waleed Mussa, Advisory Committee Director, RISE Dr Oishee Alam, Academic Ahmed Yussuf, Writer and Journalist Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Artist Nazeem Hussain, Comedian Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, Macquarie University Dr Shakira Hussein, Writer and Researcher Imran Lum, Co founder, Markaz Institute, AMIC Aamer Rahman, Writer/ Comedian William Scates Frances – Academic Aliya Ahmad, Democracy in Colour/ Essential Media Communications Sara Saleh, Writer and GetUp! Director Tasneem Chopra, Cross Cultural Consultant Dr Mehal Krayem, Academic Monique Toohey, Psychologist Eugenia Flynn, Writer, Arts Worker and Community Organiser Dr Susie Latham, Writer and Academic Aneesa Williams, Secretary General, PACSA Mohammad Ahmad Qashla, Academic, USYD Nasser Alkhateeb, Community organiser Zaahir Edries, Community Advocate Mohamed Taha, Journalist Mostafa Rachwani, Journalist Mohamed Ali, GetUp! Fahad Ali, Founder – Muslims for Marriage Equality Dr Sahar Ghumkhor, Academic Fatima Mawas, Filmmaker Naveen Krishnasamy, Community Advocate, Writer Dr Maria Bhatti, Legal Academic Asma Fahmi, Video Producer/ Volunteer, Islamophobia Register Kamran Khalid, Lawyer Munira Yusuf,Youth Worker Miran Hosny, Solicitor Khaled Abdu, IT Manager Osman Khelil, Public Servant Mouna Sawan, Academic Lina Daher, Child Protection Office /FACS / MWA Assistant Secretary Hanan Dover, Clinical Psychologist – Mission of Hope Sarah Kara-Ali, Dentist Naushad Ilahee Subeyr Mohamed Scott Fraser, CEO, Frasers GAMSAT May Fahmi, IT Consultant Gina Chowdhury, PhD Candidate, UNSW/ Secretary, Australian Muslim Women’s Association Ustadha Umm Jamaal ud-Din, Educator Fathima Khatree, Registered Nurse/ Community Events Volunteer Sabah Rind, Indigenous Community Engagement Advisor Nouha Hamdache, Legal Support Officer, Legal Aid Iman Abdulhai Cindy Rahal, Occupational Therapist Dr Zena Kassir, Scientist Dr Gary Dargan, Researcher Ms. Ayse Berk, Teacher/ Volunteer – Benevelonce Australia Hulya Tugcu, Project Manager Baha Yehia, Community Leader Sadia Sheikh, Solicitor Zahin Ilahee, General Practioner Dr. Lutfiye Ali, Research Fellow Sejla Sabanovic Mariam Albaf, Teacher Nina Trad Azam, Mental Health Social Worker Adeeba Hanif Mustafa Dogan Hana Assafiri, Restaurateur, Community Justice Advocate Rachma Pesuri Ahmad, Educator Mr. Yasar Berk, Electrical Fitter/ Kesborough Mosque, Melbourne Mrs. Mevludiye Berk, Keysborough Mosque, Melbourne Hodan Ismail Amyra Haan Sue Samad / NDIS Management Ataman Atlas, Solicitor Wafa Kazal, University Student Nemat Kharboutli Tuba Allahwala, Optometrist Farhan Khan, Project Manager Ms Aysenur Ljatif, Administrator Mariam Singh, Brand Protection Coordinator Mostafa Haroun, High School Teacher Sarah Hamdan, Pharmacist Dr Rasha Rahman, Consultant Psychiatrist Mrs Fatma Erciyas. Teacher Sarah Abdulhai, Pharmacist Haweya Ismail, Director, Mud & Musk Lina Albaf, Student Nasreen Hanifi, Psychologist, President – Mission of Hope Nancy Umm Rashid, Teacher Humeyra Yildiz Haluk Erciyas Lauren Thomas, Nurse Nora Thomas Meryem Aker, Student Sarah Thomas, Nuclear Medicine Technologist Rabea Khan, Barrister Ayse Sayan, Student Heba Elsaid Samar Hajj Obeid Lala Sheikh, Retired Volunteer, St Vinnies/ Red Cross Eman Taleb Mr Omer Koç, Building Designer. Zoha Ali Jonathan Farmer Mr Ace Aytas Maisa Chowk, Oral Health Therapist Adam Zanaty Afiq Abdul-Malek, Learning and Development Consultant Aisha Martino, Teacher Rania Abo-Elhoda, Project manager Mary Jeroff, Designer Sema Yilmaz Luqman Hakim, Engineer Sumaiya Suleman Mr Rayan Adasi Brice Hamack, Solicitor/Barrister Ms. Sophia Haq, Instructional Designer Adalya Nash Hussein, Online Editor, The Lifted Brow Wasima Islam, Public servant Dr Safdar Ahmed, Artist, Community Art and Cultural Development worker Anika Moeen, Senior Analyst Tim Dunlea, Retail Manager Fay Massoud Reyhan Unal Owais Saeed Fariha Kayes Sanah Wahid Banihali April Pertev Nadia Aguilera Sumaira Siddiqui Husan Ruzehaji (Student Support Advisor) Nina Hodza Fatma Nouredine, Telephone Crisis Supporter Karima Baadilla Tam Rind Naz Allam, Medical Liaison Amal El-Khub Adem Kolar, High School Teacher Kenan Kolar, Labourer Amani Haydar, Lawyer, Advocate Against Gender Based Violence Ozair Siddiqui Ahmad Shah Idil Broderic Indranada Fazal Ilahee, Teacher Mr. Mohamad Raad, Engineer Tarek Elgammal Ms Arwa Abousamra, Professional Interpreter/ Author Sonia Bilal, Teacher Rozanna Zoobi, Pharmacist Kylie Liddle Magan Magan, Writer Hector Kemp Abdul Hadi Shah-Idil, Teaching Academic Fayez Moussa Oula Balli Janel Yau Shazeea Mohamed Ali Linda Abdelqader Dr Mahrita Harahap, Statistician Sami Khan Syazwina Saw Ovais Khan, Consulatant Hosai Saidi, Teacher Ayah Meri, University Student Asif Miah, Medical Sonographer Bilal Khan Adnan Pal, Risk Manager Salik Hameed Khawaja, Writer Fatemeh Abdi Safdar Iqbal Fatemeh Abdi, Podiatrist Iman Omar, Primary School Principal Rose Arkin, Advocate Zafar Mohamed Rizvi Inaz Janif, Educator Saffiah El Attar, Mental Health Worker Rafi Sheikh, Engineer Samir Mohammad Mustavi, Student Hamdy Amrizal, Optometrist Samin Kazemzade, Student Omar Bensaidi Assad Abdi Jehan Youssef Palwesha Yusaf, Social Impact Consultant Fahad Akhand, UX designer, University of Canberra Tuba Ozak, Teacher Samantha Choudhury, Urban Planner and Community Engagement Specialist Anna Tate, Community Rehabilitation and Support Worker Sareh Salarzadeh. Education Advisor & Consultant Chloë Green. Company Director Faz Shukhrat Ali Hasnat, Accountant Kishwar Chowdhury, Business owner Nadia Ricardo, Administration Manager Sue Najjarine, Health and Wellness Consultant Lina Ayad, Accountant Rabia Sonvadi Salam Eljendi, Business Owner Abdul Rahman Reijerink, Teacher Unmy Amin Qamar Ali, Educator Mrs Sana Abdi Emine Soylu Munira Ali, Student Saba Khan Hala El Husseini Yoanita Marselia, Teacher Md Rahman, Treasurer, SWMA Maria Osman, Diversity and Gender Consultant Sabeeh Hussain, Financial Analyst Adeeb Chowdhury, Mechanical Engineer Tanvir Uddin Tamim Rahman, Lawyer Kevin James Simpson, Waiter Abrar Chowdhury F. Rifka Naufal Sameh Abdelhamid, IT manager Syar Hosseini, Social Worker Lisa Hart. Student Sabeen Mohamed Elmasri, Manufacturing Nayyar Ghaznavi, Chief Information Officer Mahereen Muneer, Consultant, PwC Emily Ilyas, Merchandise Coordinator Tariq Abdur-Rahman, Community Organiser Iman Mansour, Educator Beenash Chattha, Social Worker Momina Naveed, PhD Student Shakira Ali Patrick Taliauli, Personal Trainer Ms. Faddela Khoder, Teacher Yaseen Hussain, Project Coordinator Nazley Khan Nada Elzohbi, Teacher and Volunteer Mrs. Azizah Anasril, Registered Midwife and Nurse Ushna Bashir, Student Nourhane El-Ashrafi Adnan Nayeem Ahmed Dr MI Bhatti, Professor Mohammad Awad, Mental Health Peer Worker Veronika Elkady, Student Yusuf Mohamud, Lawyer Ms Samah Elomari, Physiotherapist Aisha Saed Larissa Dulat, Mums 4 Refugees Sydney Convener Amona Hassab, Community Development Officer Saaro Omar, Student Rubia Shafi, Accountant Mahiuddin Huq, Community Social Worker Mouna Zaylah, Community Development Worker Dilek Kanli Dr Shumaila Panhwar Nahida Haoui Ayman Saleh Moussa, Student at UNSW Amani Haoui, Speech Pathologist Alif Darwis Amina Ahmed, Forensic Psychologist Aya Sukkarieh, Social Worker Afifa Najmi Merve Sevgi Tanvir Chowdhury, Senior Manager, Deloitte Australia Sultan Shafi Noura Hijasi, Student Rasheed Khan, Dean Fig Tree Hall, UNSW Sydney Zumrut Ozyurek Manaya Chaouk Nazia Tarafdar Shameema Kolia Zuwairah Baba Hussein Zahr Ebru Yagci Nawal Ali Nisho Sadeque, Accountant Rehan Altaf, Project Manager Tony Zoobi, Director Ahmed Azhar, Student Dr Elia Mohamed, General Practitioner Fatimah Sheikh Fuad Ibrahim Annous, Senior Accountant Nasser Mashni Taariq, Lawyer Shazia S. Choudhry, Policy Advisor Iftikhar Ahmad Ali Kadhim, Filmmaker and Physical Movement Coach Munazza Khan Gayatri Nair, Human Rights Advocate Syeda Khadijah Ahmed, Trainee Surgeon Palwasha Kashif Shafaat Rahman, Engineer Kehkashan Tabassum Yahya Ali Ahmed Uzma Ibrahim M. Asif Juita Ramli Monema Yawar Abeer Naeem Osman Sarwari Dr Ibrahim Al-Salti, Dentist Mohammad Qashlan, Designer Sawsan shiyab Tahira Sabeen, Social Worker Abdul Abdullah, Artist Sarah Mahri, Community worker Mr Raed Malas Stella Alexopoulos, Secondary teacher MariamVeiszadeh, President of Islamophobia Register Kinza Abbas University student Leila Khaled Reseacher. Member of iCAN (Islamic Community Academics Network) Ilma Ansareen Counsellor Amal Elsabrouty Dr Michael Mohammed Ahmad Author and Director of Sweatshop: Western Sydney Literacy Movement Nisreen Akolawala Marketing Coordinator Amne Alrifai Director, The Unveiled Institute Ghulam Badar Member Muslim Community Mahmoud Sammak Teacher Tasnim Sammak PhD Candidate, Monash University Fe Roza Teacher, Activist, Volunteer Nabeel Alkhalidy Educator Monique Hameed trainer Sara Cheikh Husain PhD scholar AHMET TORGAY Self employed Walla Idris Town planner Narges Attai Lawyer Rayan Adasi Abdelhay Abdelhay Imam Mussallah Homestead and Quran teacher at Ibn Masood Institute Usama Iftikhar Sarah Daher Law student Rony Ahmad Iftikhars’ Son Ahmad Zahlan Professional Services Manager Sana Karanouh Heba Ibrahim PhD candidate Idil Abdullahi Artist Humaira Hamimi Psychologist Jawad Ahmad Technical Specialist Irfan Yusuf Lawyer/Author Bilal Cleland retired teacher Mehar Ahmad President of Seena Incorporated Zia Ahmad Editor-in-Chief of AMUST Zaid Jubran Business & IT Support Officer Sadiq Hamidy Secretary- Islamic Shia Council of Victoria Shazil Rehman Strategic Development at Muslim Aid Australia Ahmad Hassan Lecturer and Finance consultant Salmaan Parkar Head of Arabic Language – Australian Islamic College Thornlie Campus Mona Samman Islamic Teacher Samir Mourad Justice of the peace,Arabic Society of Victoria Muhammad Uzair Electrical Engineer Jennifer Waleed Jessica Swann Media and Public Affairs Manager Benevolence Australia Khaled Abdu IT Professional Emel Tesceli Educator Rabiya Altin Ilyasi Siraj Secondary Teacher Muradiye Payir Project Officer Akeel Faridee Software Engineer Fawaz Chawk Journalist Yasser Soliman Past President; Islamic Council of Victoria Selcan Kurnali Mubareq Risilia Pensioner Mahmut Eren Radio presenter Esat Kaya Bussiness owner Omar Sakr Poet, Doctoral Candidate at Western Sydney University Haneen Martin Artist, Writer N Shahidullah Abdurrahman Karaata Pensioner Alyssa Khan Student Armaan Khan Apprentice Yasmin Karaata NGO Community Programs Coordinator/ activist Tuba Altinors Najla Chatila Nurse/Law student Hamidah Buang Hijabi Triathlete Aysha Karaata Claims Officer Aliyyah Cornish-Ward Tutor/Activist Abderazzaq Noor Communications Manager Rumeysa Cerrah School Liaison Manager, Muslim Legal Network Asad Kasim-Khan Policy Officer, Muslim Legal Network Redwan Hamed Huda Waraich Committee Member, Muslim Legal Network Jazeer Nijamudeen President, Muslim Legal Network (VIC) Mohammad Yousef Engineer Lyeba Khan Actor Abdelghani Abdelhay Carpenter/father Ceyda Guney Derya Bilmbas Patient liaison officer Hacer Bademoglu Optometrist Souha Korbatieh Masters of Law student, Macquarie University Marziya Mohammedali Photographer, writer, designer, artist, educator Reuben Street Film maker Donald Winsor Operational Officer Sameer Mitra Software Engineer Hanifa Deen author Khaled Elomar Proud Australian Muslim / Humanitarian Abdul Waheed Test Automation Engineer Radhiah Chowdhury Book Editor/Audiobook Producer Ima Hassen Cyber Security Professional Roxanne Rollinson Hospitality Shafiq Flynn Editor Kemal Omar Secretary Australian Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN) Mahree-Dee White Case Manager Nooreen Harris Community Development worker, Advocate social justice for CALD communities Fariba Moslih Pakdel Madinah Watkin Retiree John Ford Pensioner

Media enquiries: Zaahir Edries – contact@communitystatement.com.au

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