Hear Me Out: Fear, ignorance and Islam in Australia

Updated

Kerrie and Mobinah have very different views on Islam in Australia. What happens when they sit down to talk?

Australia's national conversation about Islam is often heated, sometimes abusive.

Kerrie and Mobinah were both born in Australia but they have very different backgrounds — and contrasting perspectives on Islam.

Kerrie fears the spread of Islamic terrorism in Australia. Mobinah thinks a lot of the fear is driven by ignorance. They've promised to hear each other out.

You get to play director: choose from each set of questions to carve your own path through their conversation.

What do you want to watch?

Kerrie says her biggest fears are related to Islamic terrorism.

"We're all on tenterhooks because we're waiting for that moment to happen, when that sort of devastation and carnage is going to happen in our country — and we know it's going to come from someone who is of Muslim descent."

Mobinah challenges that, saying terrorists have a warped view of Islam and there's a double standard in the way the media reports events like mass shootings.

"What we find in America is whenever a young kid shoots up a whole bunch of people ... he's mentally ill. But whenever it's a Muslim person who does anything like that they're immediately a terrorist."

However, Mobinah concedes: "If I wasn't Muslim and I was viewing the news, I would be scared too. I totally understand that these are legitimate fears from looking at the media."

Mobinah says she feels anxious, afraid, even paranoid after an Islamic terrorist attack.

"Islam has been hijacked by terrorists, by people who are terrible. When a terrorist does something terrible, you get fearful — so do we. We get so fearful for our families, for our boys, for our girls.

"Anyone who questions that I would be upset over someone dying, of course I would be."

But Kerrie would like to see the Muslim community do more in the wake of attacks.

"We do not see that you are arm in arm with us, heartbroken over what's happening. I want to hear more love from you people."

In a passionate exchange, the pair then tackle ignorance, misunderstanding and political correctness.

Mobinah: "When you don't know about [National Mosque Open Day], maybe you're ignorant of something that you just don't know about it and the responsibility is on you to research it..." Kerrie: "See, there's that word, there's that word..." Mobinah: "That you don't like?" Kerrie: "That all Australians don't like." Mobinah: "Ignorant?" Kerrie: "Yes." Mobinah: "But look, I think that there is a lot of ignorance in this country." Kerrie: "That's being judgemental." Mobinah: "But it's true." Kerrie: "We just take it now as being a bit of a weapon to keep us in our place, and to keep us quiet, and to not speak our fears." Mobinah: "I think it's absolutely totally fine to speak your fears but there is a responsibility to accept what you don't know."

What the next question?

Mobinah says Western societies have gender roles, and so too does Islam.

Mobinah: "I feel like I have equal opportunity to a Muslim man. Explain to me why you think I wouldn't." Kerrie: "Not you personally ... but there are many Muslim women that practise their Muslim faith differently, yes?" Mobinah: "That's a good point. But I just want to say that I don't represent the entire Muslim community. I don't represent oppressed women as well as liberated women. I'm just me." Kerrie: "I see sometimes on TV little bits here and there of males but I think from a woman's point of view there doesn't seem to be a voice for the women." Mobinah: "There are so many incredible females Muslim leaders within our country but you don't hear about them because the media don't want to promote them."

Kerrie says no, she doesn't think Muslim immigration should be stopped — but she does want to feel safe.

"I don't think immigration should be stopped, period, whether it's Muslims, Asians, whoever.

"If people are in need and they come from war-torn countries and they've lost their homes and they've lost everything then I think that we're obliged to provide home and shelter.

"If I can feel safe in offering a home to people of Muslim background, then absolutely fantastic."

What's next?

Mobinah says she feels like Islamic practices such as eating Halal meat and wearing headscarves are part of Australian culture.

"It's my Australian culture and living the way I want to in Australia.

"What is Australian culture? Is it just what Anglo people do, and anything against that is the other? Or is multicultural culture what Italian Australians do, what the Indigenous people do, all their little subcultures create this huge multicultural culture."

Kerrie presses the question again, asking whether Muslim Australians are accepting of the way non-Muslims might choose to live their lives.

Kerrie: "For example, a lot of Australians don't practise a religion, they might wear a bikini to the beach, they might eat food through Ramadan..." Mobinah: "Oh yeah, of course, it's Australia. If you're a Muslim and living in this country you're going to have to accept seeing people on the beach, and having non-Halal meat at certain places or seeing people drink. That's part of the culture here, so absolutely." Kerrie: "And you think that's accepted by most of the..." Mobinah: "Absolutely!" Kerrie: "Really?" Mobinah: "Absolutely. Obviously any community is complex, they're not going to have the same views. But I'm telling you now, I've never met any Muslim that's come up to me and been like, I don't like the culture in Australia, people shouldn't be drinking in Australia. I've never heard that."

Kerrie begins by explaining what she thinks are some key Australian values: a fair go, respect for others and the value of human life.

But Mobinah challenges her, saying those are all universal human values and suggesting that the idea of 'Australian values' is often used as a loaded term to ostracise people who are from other places.

Kerrie: "I don't seem to see it from that perspective. I guess I just seem to see it from the perspective that we have certain expectations of people that come to our country that you're going to respect our country, you're going to respect our way of life, you're going to appreciate what we've done to build the country to be what it is today ... I guess that's what the Australian values to me really means. It's not saying that we don't think you have any of that." Mobinah: "That's exactly what I want. I want anyone who is coming to my country to be able to love and appreciate everything it has to offer."

How did the conversation end?

In short, yes, there was common ground — and some mutual respect too.

Kerrie: "It's been very encouraging to sit across the table from another woman that has a different background to myself, even though we're both Australian, and see that there is genuine concern and genuine love, and genuineness about wanting to see these issues resolved and wanting to see us be able to live together in the community side by side." Mobinah: "That's why it's so important for people just to talk to one another. All we've had is a conversation." Kerrie: "But hearing your voice tonight has meant a lot to me, because I've never heard a voice like yours before." Mobinah: "You're very sincere, you want to go and have a talk with a Muslim — and that does represent the majority of Australians. And I have the hope that your mainstream, everyday Australian community will be able to look past the negative and see the positives, they'll be able to hear more of our voices." Kerrie: "That's what's needed."



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Credits

Reporter, photography, filming, video editing: Margaret Burin

Designer: Ben Spraggon

Developer: Colin Gourlay

Additional video editing: Loretta Florance

Additional filming: Kathryn Ward

Editor: Matt Liddy

Topics: islam, community-and-society, government-and-politics, australia

First posted