The Islamophobia Register Australia officially launched its latest report, Islamophobia in Australia Report 5, on 13 March in Sydney to mark the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
The event was hosted by the Register’s executive director, Dr Nora Amath, with lead researcher Dr Susan Carland presenting key findings, insights and recommendations while Dr Naser Alziyadat highlighted the report’s new section on anti-Palestinian hate, noting that many incidents were fuelled by geopolitical tensions and the growing normalisation of Islamophobia.
A Q&A session concluded the launch.
The launch was attended by key community leaders, stakeholders and media, both in person in Sydney and online.
The report unveils a sharp rise in Islamophobic incidents, with attacks on Australian Muslims more than doubling in recent years.
Documenting 309 verified in-person incidents and 366 online cases between January 2023 and November 2024, researchers from Monash and Deakin universities found an alarming surge in violence, abuse, and discrimination.
Shocking findings highlight escalating hate
Dr Susan Carland emphasised the disproportionate targeting of Muslim women, who accounted for 75% of all victims. The data reveals that 95% of incidents on public transport were directed at Muslim women and girls, and 100% of spitting cases targeted them.
Schools have also emerged as hotspots, with Muslim boys experiencing 63% of reported Islamophobic incidents in educational settings.
The report notes a 1300% spike in incidents in the three weeks following 7 October 2023, many targeting individuals displaying pro-Palestinian symbols, which accounted for 25% of all cases in 2024.
“The evidence is irrefutable – Islamophobia is not only real but has reached crisis levels in Australia,” said Dr Amath. “Yet, some politicians have dismissed it as ‘fictitious’ or ‘not an issue.’”
Victims speak out
The report includes harrowing firsthand accounts from victims:
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- A mother in a shopping mall was spat on and told, “because you are Muslim”.
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- A man armed with gas canisters and a wine bottle attempted to attack a woman and her children while shouting racist slurs.
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- A Palestinian flag displayed on private property led to a petrol bomb threat with a note reading: “ENOUGH! TAKE DOWN FLAG! ONE CHANCE!!!”
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- A woman wearing a hijab was punched in the head in front of her five children, breaking her nose and hospitalising her.
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- A train station incident saw a man threaten a Muslim woman, saying, “I’ll rip that scarf off your head and smash your head and rape you.”
The report demands immediate action, including:
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- Recognition of Islamophobia as a form of gender-based abuse.
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- Mandatory Islamophobia awareness training in schools.
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- Specialised police training for handling Islamophobic incidents.
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- Media guidelines for responsible reporting on Muslim communities.
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- Bystander intervention programs in public spaces.
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- Dedicated mental health support for victims.
“The unity of Australia depends on addressing Islamophobia as the serious, documented phenomenon it is,” Dr Amath concluded. “Political leaders must move beyond denial to meaningful action. The costs of inaction are not just the continued suffering of Muslim Australians, but the erosion of Australia’s social fabric and its promise of a fair, inclusive society.”
