BY ALISON DELLIT
Since September 11, the Australian Muslim Public Affairs Committee has documented more than 300 incidents of abuse or harassment of Muslims in Australia, including:
A pregnant Muslim women having her head smashed against a metal pole at a tram stop in Melbourne; petrol bombings of numerous mosques; a boy attending a Muslim school was beaten by thugs; a Brisbane mosque was burnt to the ground; a school bus pelted with stones; and woman was chased by men in a car who were screaming abuse and threats out the window.
In every Australian state, women reported having their hijabs forcibly removed. Death and bomb threats have been received by most Muslim organisations.
Other incidents reported include: a national Muslim organisation had a business relationship terminated because of the terrorist attacks; Muslim women have been denied service in banks; two schoolgirls wearing the hijab were ordered to leave a tram after being labelled "terrorists"; and Muslims being denied permission to pray at work.
One man was told by a co-worker that if he prayed at work he would be doused with petrol and set alight.
A discussion board run by the Ninemsn web site included messages such as, "stay in your camel infested country with the Sunday table cloth on your head ..., cause when the eagle strikes it won't be carpets you'll be kissing it'll be your arseholes. See you in the next life!!!". There are frequent calls on the site for "Muslim savages" to be interned.
Incidents can be reported at <http://www.muslimaffairs.com.au/Incident/incident.htm> or emailed to <info@muslimaffairs.com.au> in English, Arabic, Indonesian, Malay or Turkish. Further information can be obtained from <http://www.muslimaffairs.com.au>.