Action Against Islamophobia (AAI) held a pivotal forum dedicated to addressing the impacts of racism and anti-Muslim hate that has been directed at our communities, particularly over the past 10 months.
The event was attended by over 60 sisters aged 16+, which resulted in an informative discussion on the prevalence of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment in communities and what more needs to be done to combat the recent rise in hate incidents across the country.
We created a safe space supported by trained mental health professionals where sisters felt confident sharing their lived experiences of bias, prejudice, and discrimination simply for being Muslim.
The forum addressed the following points:
Islamophobia and racism affect people of colour in different ways, and this needs to be recognised.
The importance of knowing your rights and where and how to seek justice for victims.
The impact of Islamophobia and faith-based discrimination on mental health and well-being and how to seek help.
As part of ANIC’s overarching “Action Against Islamophobia” project, we will continue to hold similar community engagement activities with other valued stakeholders and community members, including women and youth, over the next few months.
This initiative is designed with the primary objectives of justice, empowerment, and advocacy. We believe the valuable insights and experiences of the community are essential to making this an effective and powerful tool against hate.
If you experience or witness an Islamophobic or anti-Muslim hate incident, please call (02) 8377 4199 for assistance or support or report the incident online here.
Read the full story here: https://www.anic.org.au/…/action-against-islamophobia…/