Islamophobia surges in Australia after Sydney attack
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- Islamophobic attacks rise sharply in Australia following Sydney shooting that killed 15.
- Most incidents target Muslim women and include harassment, assault, and vandalism of Islamic centers.
The National Imams Council in Australia reported a sharp rise in Islamophobic incidents following the December 14 shooting in Sydney, which left 15 people dead. The council said reported hate incidents against Muslims have increased by nearly 200 percent since the attack.
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Among the incidents, a Muslim woman assisting people with disabilities on a bus had her hijab torn by a couple, another was humiliated when eggs were thrown at her on her way to work, and a third was spat on. Most attacks targeted women and occurred predominantly in Sydney.
Several mosques and Islamic centers also suffered vandalism or serious security breaches, the council added.
Police investigation
Australian authorities stated that there is no evidence linking the Sydney shooters to a larger terrorist cell.
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The attack, carried out by a father and son during Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach in New South Wales, left 15 people dead along with one of the attackers. Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabees’ victory over the Seleucid Empire in 165 BCE.
