Surge
in Anti-Muslim Hate Incidents in Australia Following Sydney Attack

The National Council
of Imams in Australia announced on Tuesday a significant increase in cases of
Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred following the shooting incident that took
place in the city of Sydney, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people.

In a statement, the
council noted that reported incidents targeting Muslims since December 14 have
risen by nearly 200 percent.

The council
explained that documented incidents included a couple tearing the hijab off a
Muslim employee who was assisting people with disabilities onto a bus, the
throwing of eggs at a hijab-wearing woman on her way to work, and spitting
attacks against other hijab-wearing women.

The statement
confirmed that the majority of the attacks targeted women and were particularly
concentrated in areas of the city of Sydney.

According to the
same statement, several mosques and Islamic centers were also subjected to
vandalism or serious security incidents.

For its part, the
Australian police stated that there is no evidence linking the perpetrators of
the Sydney attack to a “large terrorist cell.”

It is worth noting
that the armed attack occurred on December 14 during celebrations of the Jewish
holiday of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach in the state of New South Wales. The attack
was carried out by a father and his son, resulting in the deaths of 15 people,
including one of the attackers.

Jews commemorate the
holiday of Hanukkah to mark the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid
Empire in 165 BC.

(Source:
Agencies)

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