HREOC Website: Isma - Listen: National consultations on eliminating prejudice against Arab and Muslim Australias
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Notes: 30
June 2003
Consultation with Sikh community
members, Perth, 30 June 2003
The meeting was organised
by Mr Jasmit Singh and attended by Dr Bill Jonas, Acting Race Discrimination
Commissioner, Meredith Wilkie (notes) and Susanna Iuliano from HREOC.
The meeting was attended by eight invited participants from Western Australia's
Sikh community.
While Isma consultations
have focused on the experiences of Arab and Muslim Australians, members
of Western Australia's Sikh community asked to be included because they
have also experienced an increase in discrimination and vilification since
11 September 2001. It is unclear whether this increase is part of a ripple
effect of discrimination (where intolerance towards one religious group
fosters intolerance towards others) or whether Sikhs have been targeted
because they are wrongly assumed to be Muslims.
1. What are your experiences
of discrimination and vilification?
The following table
of recorded incidents was submitted to HREOC at the consultation (edited
slightly to remove identifying details).
Item |
Date |
Description of event |
1. | Post Sept 11 |
Incidents |
2. | Post Sept 11 |
Verbal abuse |
3. | Sept 01 |
Severed |
4. | Oct 01 |
A young |
5. | Oct 01 |
In High |
6. | Jan 02 |
During a |
7. | Mar 02 |
At B.P Petrol |
8. | Aug 02 |
A person |
9. | Aug 02 |
Severed |
10. | Aug 02 |
The Sikh |
11. | Sept 02 |
The noticed |
12. | Sep 02 |
"On behalf "After midnight "As I was "Providing |
13. | Nov 02 |
An exam |
14. | Jan 03 |
A young |
15. | Jan 03 |
There were |
16. | Apr 03 |
Following |
17. | Apr 03 |
In the middle |
18. | June 03 |
Some youths |
19. | Jun 03 |
Whilst walking |
Discrimination in the workforce
"In the employment
context, you can't tell whether it's discriminatory and you can't prove
it."
The difficulties
associated with having overseas qualifications recognised in Australia
were raised. "The control over entry to the professions and even to
university training involves a subjective element of discrimination."
The difficulty of
persuading employers to permit wearing of the turban and adapt health
and safety requirements re protective headgear - in the mining industry
and in the airforce, for example - was raised. "It is so difficult
to initiate an adaptive response on the run - especially for just one
individual or even the company when it is confronted with the situation.
Employers need guidelines and government should be proactive in this respect."
Vandalism
Several members of
the community have experienced vandalism at their homes.
"There is vandalism
everywhere. Does our community bear the brunt of it? Is it racism? When
it happens consistently, it's clearly racism. It makes people feel very
alienated."
Air travel
Ethnic profiling
has caught Sikhs in the Customs net at Australian airports. By way of
contrast, US Customs were educated about how to recognise Sikhs and about
the kirpan, (the small ceremonial sword Sikhs are required to carry
for religious reasons) so that they are not caught up by profiling.
Impacts on youth
It was noted that
young people are more likely to be out in public, especially late at night.
Therefore they are more likely to experience racist abuse.
2. What is being done to fight
anti-Sikh prejudice and discrimination?
The Sikh community
hosted six school visits at the Sikh temple during 2002 and are on track
to complete at least 15 in 2003. They would like to be able to print material
to provide handouts to support these instructional visits.
[Note: On 22 August
2003, the Sikh Association of WA was awarded an $18,000 Living in Harmony
Community Grant. The grant will facilitate school visits by a Sikh Youth
Group to explain the Sikh religion and culture to students, teachers and
community members.]
3. What more could be done
to fight anti-Sikh prejudice and discrimination?
"If Australia is
to run a migration program, then the institutions of the state have
to be prepared to accept, accommodate and service them."
It was felt that
there should be more information and education about other cultures provided
in schools and also more about the value of diversity.
"It is important
to distinguish the frame of mind of a migrant who chooses to relocate
to Australia from that of an extremist or terrorist. The choice to come
here involves valuing something about Australian egalitarianism. The
government should have and should express confidence in its own screening
procedures applying to all people who have come here."
It was argued that
a broad strategy is needed, encompassing many avenues such as:
- Education.
- Community discussions.
- Formation of a
body to whom the complaints can be made (as WA's Equal Opportunity Commission
cannot deal with racial and religious vilification complaints at present). - Reporting of hate
and vilification crimes in Parliament. - Discussions with
employer groups (EEO policies are insufficient; legislation is needed
to ensure employers accommodate the wearing of beards and turbans. Reference
was made to a recent US Supreme Court judgement on the value and need
for affirmative action). - Community interest
broadcasts by media at prime time.