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TRANSCRIPT
Muslim Australians in western Sydney are marking Ramadan at time of increased tensions.
Bilal El-Hayek is the mayor of the Canterbury Bankstown Council area.
He says inflammatory remarks made by One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson earlier this week have not been productive, adding to a climate of fear and concern for safety felt by Muslim Australians.
"We are living in very difficult times. We know for a fact that post-Bondi, Islamophobia was up by 740 per cent almost. The numbers are scary. The community is very concerned. And we are doing everything we can to reassure the community. And we've been working hard with Campsie Police. There will be more police officers during the month of Ramadan, patrolling Lakemba Mosque and other mosques, as well as Lakemba Nights (festival) during Ramadan."
Senator Hanson has issued a partial apology for suggesting that there are no "good" Muslims in an interview on Sky News on Monday about the possible return of the wives and children of IS fighters.
Mr El-Hayek says he believes Ms Hanson should face charges under new hate speech laws, introduced federally and in New South Wales, following the Bondi terror attack in December.
The Australian Federal Police says they are aware of Ms Hanson's remarks on Sky News, adding it "has received reports of crime in relation to this matter".
It says no further comment will be made at this stage.
Mr El-Hayek says there is a very real concern about the impacts of divisive language on community safety.
Sydney's Lakemba Mosque has received its third threatening letter in a month, on the eve of Ramadan, which is being investigated by police.
Mr El-Hayek says safety is the priority.
"No matter which mosque, which church, which synagogue, or temple. We live in the most multicultural country on Earth. We do not take that for granted. And we should not take that for granted. So all these threats have to seriously stop because they are harmful. They are hurtful. We want to make sure that we bring people together. Not to divide the country. So we all have a responsibility to turn the temperature down and work together."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told the ABC, he believes there is a link between Ms Hanson's remarks and the threat of violence.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says the comments risk inflaming tensions.
"We have to accept that words have consequences and you can put hate in someone's heart with that kind of racist demagoguery of members of our community."
Speaking at a press conference in Melbourne, newly appointed Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says he won't get drawn into the legal side of things, even though he disagrees with the senator’s comments.
"I'm not into law enforcement - but what I'll say is that I don't agree with Pauline Hanson in what she said."
Speaking to Sky News, Nationals M-P Bridget McKenzie has also distanced herself from senator Hanson’s remarks.
"Ah I think every single Islamic terrorist is a Muslim but not every Muslim is in Islamic terrorist... and I very much believe that we need to ensure people that come here share our values love our flag love Liberal democracy don't want to bring Sharia law want to live under Australian law so if you can subscribe to that and build a prosperous safe and free society where men and women are equal Partners etc ...well then come on in."
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi says the negative impacts of Ms Hanson's words have been deeply felt.
"So the Muslim community is feeling under siege. We are feeling really scared and fearful. I was in an event just last week where a Muslim woman came over and hugged me and tears were rolling down her eyes. And she was telling me how scared she felt for her family, for her children and to be honest, I could not give her much comfort. I only hugged her tighter. That's the way the community has been feeling for the last two weeks."
Mr El-Hayek says Ms Hanson's words have been very damaging - and the culturally diverse communities in western Sydney want to move forward.
"Oh look, it won't be different. People will still come out to the mosque. People will still come out to Lakemba Nights* (festival) during Ramadan. But we're asking the community to be alert; and cautious of what is going on. Look, I am confident the police will be there throughout the month of Ramadan to ensure the safety of the community."
Ms Hanson has said she won't be responding to Mr El-Hayek's call for her to face charges under hate speech laws.
