Muslim communities in Australia are taking extraordinary steps to protect their places of worship after a sharp surge in Islamophobic threats and attacks, following the antisemitic terror attack in Bondi.
In south-west Sydney, members of the Minto Mosque have begun staying overnight inside the mosque as part of heightened security measures. Community representatives say the decision reflects growing fear among worshippers, many of whom are anxious about further attacks or vandalism.
Internal correspondence and incident reports reviewed by Australian media show a marked increase in anti Muslim abuse, threats, and damage to mosques and Islamic organisations since mid-December.
The Australian National Imams Council confirmed that its Action Against Islamophobia initiative recorded nearly a 200% rise in reported incidents following the Bondi attack. At least nine mosques and Islamic centres across the country have reported vandalism or serious threats requiring police intervention.
Support lines linked to Muslim organisations have received distress calls from parents, workers, and community members reporting online abuse, intimidation, and escalating concerns for personal safety.
Attacks Spread Beyond New South Wales
Islamophobic targeting has not been limited to NSW. In Melbourne, an Albanian mosque in Carlton was targeted for the first time in years after receiving a hostile email containing hate speech and calls for Muslims to leave Australian society. Community leaders believe the message was a reaction to the Bondi attack and warned that such rhetoric can rapidly escalate into physical violence.
Muslim leaders have expressed deep concern that rising hostility could lead to attacks similar to the Christchurch mosque massacre in 2019, a reminder that online hate can translate into real-world violence.
Despite this climate, Muslim organisations across Australia have publicly condemned the antisemitic attack and affirmed solidarity with the Jewish community. Religious leaders have also reiterated that extremist groups such as ISIS or Daesh have no connection to Islam, stressing that their ideology directly contradicts Islamic teachings.
Hate Incidents Escalate Nationwide
The Islamophobia Register Australia reported a dramatic jump in incidents, from one or two daily cases to nearly 18 per day after the attack. These incidents include Nazi symbols painted on mosques, abusive graffiti, vandalism at Islamic schools, and the desecration of Muslim cemeteries, including the dumping of pig heads in New South Wales.
Islamic organisations have also faced waves of threatening phone calls and online harassment, forcing some to disable social media comments due to the volume of abuse.
Community leaders warn that language linking Islam with terrorism continues to fuel fear and collective punishment, unfairly placing blame on an entire faith community for the actions of individuals.
Calls for Education, Not Retribution
Muslim advocates argue that policing alone is not enough. They are calling for national education initiatives to address Islamophobia, similar to existing programs tackling antisemitism. Recent federal frameworks aimed at combating Islamophobia include recommendations focused on education, anti racism training, and community engagement, which the government has said it will review.
Community leaders stress that Muslims are ordinary Australians who want to live, worship, and contribute without fear. They warn that selective outrage and unequal responses to racism only deepen social divisions and undermine national cohesion.
Australia’s long-term security, they argue, depends on rejecting all forms of hatred and ensuring dignity, safety, and justice for every community.
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