Australian Muslims gaining confidence Phil Mercer, Foreign Correspondent June 14. 2008
SYDNEY // After years of discrimination and violence, a new generation of Muslims is standing up to challenge the country's suspicions and misconceptions about Islam. Educated and vocal, this group is determined to repair some of the damage inflicted on its faith since the attacks of September 11 and the bombings in Bali in 2002 in which 200 people died. Most of thom were Australian tourists. "Among young people there is less inclination to take on that victim complex and more willingness to embrace a powerful and dynamic identity as an Australian Muslim," said Randa Abdel Fattah, a 29-year- old Sydney-born lawyer and an author of children's books. "There are those who are defiantly rejecting the attempts by some people to make them feel alienated," she said. Muslim Australians have often been at the sharp end of racist remarks, as well as physical abuse. Graffiti written on walls outside a hotel in Sydney last year crystallised the misunderstandings about Islam and Muslims in Australia. Daubed in bright spray paint were the words "Islam is Evil", "Mohammed is the Antichrist" and "Muslims are devils". In 2005, race riots erupted at Cronulla Beach, a suburb of Sydney, as residents attacked anyone they thought looked Middle Eastern, believing Muslims were trying to take over their beach. Although such attitudes in broader Australian society do remain, the way that younger Muslims are responding to them is shifting. "There really is a growing sense of empowerment," said Ms Abdel Fattah, who has both Egyptian and Palestinian roots. "There are lots of creative ways that people have dealt with this negative image, which is happening through the arts. "Comedians are using television to try to dispel stereotypes about the Muslim community. I have used writing to try to build bridges. Rather than succumb to a victim mentality and say the world misunderstands us, we're allowing people into our world. It's an opportunity for us to learn more about each other." There are about 350,000 Muslims in Australia - about two per cent of the country's population. They are a culturally diverse group and have come from all corners of the globe - from Lebanon and Bosnia to Bangladesh and Turkey. One-third of the Muslim community is Australian-born. Kuranda Seyit, director of the Forum on Australia's Islamic Relations, believes this group is coming of age and its maturity is driving fundamental changes in the way Muslims and non-Muslims interact. "We are shredding the migrant mentality and all the baggage that goes with it and we are getting a more home-grown and refreshing attitude towards these issues." Younger Australian Muslims take great pride in their distinctive brand of Islam, which is helping them to build bridges with other parts of society. "The combination of education and upbringing in an open, liberal society works towards creating a unique Muslim who has the best of both worlds with the benefits of strong, moral and ethical guidance through their Islamic teachings. Islam puts a lot of emphasis on respect and tolerance so it's a unique blend," Mr Seyit said. Other community representatives have said the defeat of John Howard, Australia's right-wing former prime minister, in an election last year altered the mindset of Muslims, prompting a more optimistic view of the future. "It's not about recovering after 9/11, it is more about the collapse of John Howard's government," said Jamal Daoud, from the Sydney-based Social Justice Network. "Immediately after last November's election there was what I call a positive shock among the Muslim community that was victimised by John Howard and his government." Mr Howard urged Muslims to do more to fit into mainstream society and expressed concerns about their attitudes towards women. He was a popular and successful conservative politician, winning four elections over a 12-year period and presiding over a decade-and-a- half of unprecedented economic growth. The former leader strongly rejected accusations that he made Australia a meaner and less tolerant place. Others are not so sure. In May, an Australian council rejected plans for an Islamic school near Sydney. The issue stirred emotions in the town of Camden, where demonstrations were held by locals opposed to the project. Many residents insisted the presence of 1,200 Muslim students and their parents would cause traffic chaos in their sleepy corner of outer suburbia. The application was rejected by councillors on planning grounds. They, like the people of Camden, denied allegations of racism, although some members of the community have expressed far more uncompromising attitudes. "If I wore a hijab now I could have an M16 under my hijab and you wouldn't even know I had it there," roared one Camden resident at a public meeting. "They've got terrorists among them, OK? We can't say they haven't because they have," said another. Australians are proud of their egalitarian society and most abhor racism, although the cancerous roots of discrimination do run deep in certain quarters. Clearly there is much work for this new generation of young Australian Muslims to do, but they appear willing to fight hard for what they believe. "There are suburbs where people have never met Muslims and I've visited schools where I've been told by the students: `You are the first Muslim we've ever met in our lives.' So, we need to have more mixing of communities," Ms Abdel Fattah said.
