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INTERVIEW: Anti-Islamophobia envoy says Islamophobia 'normalised' and 'under-reported' in Australia

Aftab Malik, Islamophobia envoy.

Islamophobia envoy Aftab Malik has called for the NSW premier to apologise to the Muslim community after police were depicted disrupting a group praying at a Sydney protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit. Credit: SBS

Recent reports of a rise in antisemitic attacks in Australia has coincided with a sharp increase in reports of Islamophobia, following the October 7 attacks and the start of the intensified war in Gaza. The federal government established two Special Envoy roles to tackle these issues. Last month, SBS spoke with Special envoy to combat Anti-semitism Jilian Segal ...who called for a tougher response to crack down on antisemitism, including tighter restrictions on protests against the war in Gaza. Special envoy to combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, says Islamophobia has been normalised in Australia and is under-reported in the media. He spoke to SBS reporter Alexandra Jones in his first extended interview since assuming the role.


Published

Updated

By Alexandra Jones

Presented by Catriona Stirrat

Source: SBS News



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Recent reports of a rise in antisemitic attacks in Australia has coincided with a sharp increase in reports of Islamophobia, following the October 7 attacks and the start of the intensified war in Gaza. The federal government established two Special Envoy roles to tackle these issues. Last month, SBS spoke with Special envoy to combat Anti-semitism Jilian Segal ...who called for a tougher response to crack down on antisemitism, including tighter restrictions on protests against the war in Gaza. Special envoy to combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, says Islamophobia has been normalised in Australia and is under-reported in the media. He spoke to SBS reporter Alexandra Jones in his first extended interview since assuming the role.


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