HREOC Website: Isma - Listen: National consultations on eliminating prejudice
against Arab and Muslim Australias
Consultations
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|| Meeting Notes: 5 June 2003
Consultation hosted by Multicultural
Community Services of Central Australia, Alice Springs, 5 June 2003
The meeting was facilitated
by Ms Marguerite Rooke from Multicultural Community Services of
Central Australia and attended by Ms Omeima Sukkarieh from HREOC (notes).
Some 27 invited participants attended from the Alice Springs community.
Following a welcome
from the chair, the Imam made the following introductory comments.
"On behalf of
the small Muslim community in Alice Springs, I would like to thank Omeima
for coming all the way to AS. Luckily in Alice Springs, since September
11, we haven't had many mishaps or much discrimination on our facilities.
There has been very little discrimination or racially motivated attacks
against facilities used by the local Muslim community, including the
mosque. [We have made it clear to the broader community that] the Muslim
community are not sympathizers with Osama Bin Laden nor with Al Qaeda
and that extremists are not representative of the Muslim community.
"We paid our
respects in the service for the victims of terrorist attacks in the
US. That was very good. And after that the Rotary Club in Alice Springs
invited us and we had a good chance to talk about our religion and terrorism
and people were understanding and could differentiate between both.
Many different schools are bringing their classes to mosques. So after
9/11 there were side effects but there were good effects, where people
wanted to learn more about our religion. I have been here in Alice Springs
for the last four and half years, and I have never given as many copies
of the Qur'an out as much as I have after September 11. People have
been asking for English translation and surprisingly, they're not just
taking it but they're bringing it back asking for more information.
"The other
thing we organised was on the last National Harmony Day, where we organised
an Open Day at the mosque. We invited people to come and learn more
about our religion and we displayed posters, especially about what is
Jihad, what is the Islamic point of view on terrorism, Islamic beliefs
and our daily practices. So that's what we've done in our fight against
terrorism."I believe
that this is the reason why there were no attacks on the mosques according
to my knowledge. So that's what we did to pass on that knowledge and
still people are ringing us asking us more questions with open minds
and we have people come and visit us all the time. After the Open Day
at the mosque you will be surprised to know that seven men and women
who are not Muslim now come to the mosque and have joined a class asking
me to teach them more about the religion. I've been doing this for the
last three months every Sunday. They are taking interest and they know
as well as I know that the purpose is not converting them, the purpose
is to understand the religion. They are also learning Arabic."So what more
could be done is at the government level? The government has to highlight
for example the Islamic celebrations and events in their calendar. For
example, the holy month of Ramadan comes when Muslims are fasting. [It
would be good] at that time if a Muslim scholar for 10 minutes on TV
or in the media can talk about the holy month of Ramadan explaining
that it's about sacrifice and helping other people. Or even in the HREOC
newsletter just as a short notice. We have food in our fridge but we
don't eat it because God wants us to realize that there are poor people
who don't have any food to eat. So it gives a good impression to those
people who don't know anything about Islam and it makes them question
what they have seen on TV about Muslims like killing people is Islam
or terrorism is Islam or suicide bombing is Islam. Instead they see
the good points. Good points such as how Muslims celebrate Eid Al Fetir,
how they give charity, Zakat and all these things. ... We should be given
a chance to say what it means and what we're going to be doing during
this period so a positive impression will go throughout the community
as Australian people are understanding and accept facts quickly. So
they will more strongly oppose those people who tell Muslims to get
out of this country. I hope these people are 1% and don't represent
all of the Australian community, even though these people are innocent
because they form their opinion on what they see or hear in the media.
So that's my suggestion for governments and even HREOC who should even
highlight these events in their newsletter."
The meeting then
opened to a general discussion on the issues raised by Isma.
1. What are your experiences
of discrimination and vilification?
It was generally
felt that the Alice Springs community in general is tolerant and accepting
of its diversity.
"I think what
you've got to recognize is that this place, even as its pioneers, has
had Afghanis as part of this community right from the beginning. Though
there are people who are bigoted, [they have been] the basis of this
community. Sadadeen is one of our suburbs which was named after an Afghan
cameleer and the train that comes here is called the Ghan. There is
a history, a long history, in this place and any discrimination that
does exist I believe is a later import into the place.""Alice Springs
is in the geographical centre of Australia. That can be either a blessing
or it can be a disadvantage. Now in this instance it can be a blessing
because we are isolated from the main and people are more free thinkers.
Yes there's prejudice out there but they see people for what they are
and what they do. So their religion really isn't that important once
they know who you are.""We are a pretty
multicultural town and even though it's not perfect, it is very tolerant
of difference. A lot of that is to do with its history where also a
lot of Chinese came out and so too did the Italians, and the Jews, and
the Afghans. They have all come to build it, so you know all of that
brings upon a familiarity to people. Even when new people come in, it
brushes up on others as well and so they are more accepting."
Some incidents were
reported, nevertheless.
"After 9/11,
I was in a tyre company getting my tyres changed and a young Islamic
person dressed in full Islamic robes , who I think was an Imam traveling
through the town, he was having tyres changed and somebody driving past
in a truck yelled out all sorts of horrible things at that person."
"We have had
in town a very beautiful and lovely, and very confident Muslim optometrist
and we also have a very competent medical practitioner. They are both
female and some people would not go for the mere fact that they had
a scarf.""People would
go there and then instead of saying 'Dr S ... or Dr ...' they would say that
doctor wears things on her head. They brand them by what they wear,
not necessarily just by their names."
A young Muslim man
was asked whether he had experienced any incidents at school.
"I go to college
and I only experienced a few things. One of my bosses ... said something
rude about Africans but I just ignore it. It doesn't really upset me
because they just don't understand. We know that we are Muslims. When
Ramadan came they were pretty understanding. This happened two weeks
ago."
Two other students
present indicated they had not experienced discrimination or abuse at
school based on their religion or ethnicity.
One young participant
described how he had taken an opportunity to engage with two interested,
but potentially antagonistic, men at a local cinema.
"Three months
ago, me and friends were at the cinemas and we were watching a movie.
There was two blokes and they asked me 'Have you heard the news about
the Bali bombing trial?' And they asked us, 'What do you say about all
these things happening, like Bali bombing and September 11?' I said
'All that Osama Bin Laden, that's all they do, in any country. They
have a group like this that do something, bad or good. So I think that
not all the people are bad, or all the Muslims are bad. Some Christians
they are good and some they are bad. So all of them are doing right
or wrong things. They don't understand exactly but they heard what I
said. They kept asking me questions like 'Why in Afghanistan do they
wear this dress? Why they are living like this?' And I said that that's
their culture and every culture they have their own culture, even the
Americans."
What are the underlying causes?
The role of the media
was referred to.
"After 9/11,
I still remember the 'Today Show' in the morning on Channel 9. The cameramen
went into the street and asked 'What do you think?' and 'What do you
think?' And one lady commented angrily against Muslims and said 'I hate
all Muslims'. And that was on TV. So where are those editors and program
managers? Because everyone knows it's not every Muslim's fault what
happened in America. So that lady was on national TV saying she hates
Muslims and kids are watching this program also. So media if they are
not careful, or they don't want to give time for education of Islam
or show Muslims, then at least they need not to show negative things
all the time or don't show comments of negative things ...or anything
that racially disadvantages another group of people or incites hatred."
The role of the Middle
East conflict was mentioned in this context.
"I have been
introduced to a group of friends, a couple of them are Jewish people,
so we'd engage in the Israeli/Palestine position, very freely in fact.
The anger of these Jewish people against all the Arabs, all the Arabs,
I have never seen that and I wouldn't have thought that was possible,
here in Australia and here in Alice Springs. They were ready actually
to shoot if it was possible. And after that I asked them, 'Do you think
it's all right? Would you take a gun and kill somebody because he is
an Arab?' And that person said 'Yes, because they want to throw us in
the sea'. I said 'You are not in the sea. You are in central Australia'.
But the whole conflict was very much engraved in their psyche you can
say."
Ignorance of Islam
was also mentioned, although the point was made that ignorance does not
necessarily give rise to hostility.
"The first
question that they asked me when I came to Australia is 'Why are you
covering your hair?'. That was years back and until now they still ask
me the same question. It's not because they are against it, but because
they don't understand why. Maybe if they understand what's Islam and
what's the positive side of Islam, maybe they will not ask this question
anymore. But even if these people will not ask anymore, there will be
new people who will, because there's no one talking about why Muslims
do this except Muslims in a positive light. So I think it's good to
get one of these programs and to talk about all the different religions
and the similarities, because there are lot of similar things in Christianity,
Judaism and Islam because we all believe in one God. It's just that
everyone has their own way of worshipping and just like different countries,
has their own culture. Religion is just part of the many cultures we
live in today and it is part of the person. People should understand
that diversity does exist everywhere in Australia."
Others made the point
the discrimination against outsiders is not confined to Australia.
"When I was
in Egypt - I am African - they ask me 'What are you doing here?' People
discriminate others based on what country you are from also. And people
here do the same thing. I have been questioned and abused also because
I don't drink."
The point was made
that abuse of tea-totallers is common in Australia regardless of ethnicity.
"I have been
in a place where a Muslim refused to take a glass of wine or beer and
people would look at that person as if ...oh "what's wrong with you, why
don't you drink". I've been in parties where somebody who is Muslim
was ridiculed because they don't drink alcohol which I don't think this
should happen.""There are
also people who are not Muslim and also don't drink and you get picked
on because it's the macho thing to do."
The influence of
government policy was also mentioned.
"[For immigration
detention] to give this impression that that's what we ought to be doing
with anyone who's different, to me is a powerful unfortunate message
that is contrary to what Islam believes, what Christianity believes,
what all sorts of religions and cultural humanitarians believe.""This has been
our history in this country. Remember we did it to indigenous peoples.
We did it to people with disabilities for years and continue to do it.
Any group that is marginalized or that is different or seen as different
fits into the same category. And it doesn't matter what government is
in power or what leadership is there, they are responding to the voice
of the people."
2. What is being done to fight
anti-Arab and anti-Muslim prejudice and discrimination?
The interfaith network
and its involvement with the Town Council.
"One good thing
that we've done in Alice Springs is that we have the interfaith network
which includes all religious leaders from all faiths. We get together
once a month to talk about each other's issues as well as what we've
done and what we're going to do. Last month at the monthly meeting of
Alice Springs Town Council, I opened the meeting with a recital from
the Q'uran. It's a bit strange that it's the first time in this district
that a Town Council meeting or any meeting is opened up with Islamic
prayers.""Since the
interfaith network, the Town Council has invited the religious leaders
from whatever faith on a roster basis to begin the Council meeting with
words from the scripture and so the Imam was the first non-Christian
leader to do that. Coming up there will be the leader of the Buddhist
monks and the leader of the Baha'i Community to lead the prayers. We
have formed this interfaith network to make a positive response in this
community. The other thing that we've done is that all the religious
leaders with the co-operation of Multicultural Community Services, all
signed a statement about living in harmony and peace together. It's
in calligraphy and all the leaders signed it and it will be framed and
presented to the Mayor and Town Council and living in the Town Council
as an indication of our living in harmony and peace together. ... I believe
it is a dreadful thing happening in Iraq but let us be an example and
turn discrimination and hatred on its head and be an example to the
rest of Australia from the heart of Australia that is, the heart of
being an Australian is living together in harmony and peace."One of the
things that the interfaith network has on its books to do is to publish
an interfaith calendar that has every religious festival of all the
different religions represented in Alice Springs available to everybody
so that everybody will know when Catholic Easter is, when Orthodox Easter
is, when Ramadan is."
Multicultural Community
Services
"The establishment
of what used to be the MRC [Migrant Resource Centre] and what is now
know as the MCSCA: I think we play an invaluable role in creating some
of this harmony and getting events together and getting people together,
because they come to us as a focal point. So we can be facilitators
and help to address some of the issues before they become major problems.
I think that can be under-estimated because we do our job quietly and
it's not always seen."
The Friendship Caravan
project was also mentioned. It is a US event in response to 11 September
and the Iraq War. It is detailed on a website: http://www.friendshipcaravan.org
The 'mission' of the Caravan is described as:
- "To promote grass
roots people-to-people friendship and mutual respect, through events
designed to attract local, national, and international media attention. - "To instill positive,
optimistic feelings into this period of fear and uncertainty."
The major event is
to be a caravan across America in 2004-05 with exhibits about the Arab
World. One consultation participant is working with the project and hoping
for Australian involvement, such as from Alice Springs camel farmers.
The World Council
of Churches initiative 'Decade to Overcome Violence 2001-2010' was also
mentioned. There is a website for further information: http://www2.wcc-coe.org/dov
3. What more could be done
to fight anti-Arab and anti-Muslim prejudice and discrimination?
The following suggestions
were made for strategies in community and school education and with respect
to the media.
Public education
"Australian
people today are very good at knowing what is political correctness.
We had political correctness for indigenous people, on how to refer
to people. We have political correctness for disability, and we have
political correctness for everything. So a lot of people, even in very
good positions, know out loud and in public that you don't say things
against Muslim, Arabs or a marginalized group. But within their own
circle, they do. So they need to be educated at a different level."
"I think one
of the strategies that you need to employ is the use of the arts for
bringing around tolerance and harmony, and music and dance and all of
those things. I think we really under-estimate the value they have in
bringing people together and for people to know who people are because
there are no barriers that appear within the art world. It lowers the
barriers and people are seen for their artistic value. So ... maybe the
festivals could be a combination of education and the creative arts.
So it's not just the arts; it's like 'this is why we dance'. It's telling
a story. Because we love to watch it but we don't know what the Indian
hand movements are, etc. So it's actually a way of educating people
... a really good medium for educating the community in a nice way.""Cross cultural
education should be encompassing of all cultures. It is the responsibility
not just at a national level but it should also be the responsibility
of each state and territory to take that on and do it in their own ways
through their government bodies. They should show leadership and that
is a good way to start."
School education
"Studies
of culture and religion should be embedded in the curriculum. It's not
just Islam really, it should be other things as well, because if you
just segregate and isolate, you're creating your own prejudice.""It's important
to go into schools and tell entertaining stories in a gentle way ... it's
introducing the children to more variety of learning at the same time
as highlighting the contributions that Muslims and Arabs have made to
this country."
Media
"I think
they [the media] should not report all the negative things about Muslim
countries because what's happened is that there's a lot of good stuff,
a lot of good activities, ceremonies, etc. If it's not blood and guts
and shootings and disaster, they won't show you. They just want to show
the very bad disasters about Muslims and if it's not about Muslims they
will associate it with Muslims. I think they should show more positive
things about what the community is doing. They report all negative things.
They should be more balanced in the way they report things. I am not
a Muslim and I get very upset by the media.""I think they
also should be showing Muslim Australians and Arab Australians doing
what every Australian does and I think they need to be showing people
leading ordinary lives, contributing to Australian society like the
average Joe Blow. There's a lot of people doing what everybody else
is doing, but they just happen to be Muslims or Arabs or Italian or
someone else, because we just happen to be multicultural. I think the
other thing I would be asking the media, is that they should not just
be leaving it to SBS to do that. A lot of people don't watch SBS even
though it has a very important role to play. I think it's to also show
two sides of the story. Our reporting now is general, it does not show
two sides of the story, or the two points of view. Instead we get a
point of view that's been taken by the media and that's what the lot
of us get. I think if there's one side being shown and then there's
the other side then let's look at it and then say to say to people 'you
make up your mind based on fact, not on stereotypes, not fiction'."
