| Arab Council Australia Raises Concerns Over National Response to Racism and Civil Liberties |
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Arab Council Australia Raises Concerns Over National Response to Racism and Civil Liberties
Earlier this week Arab Council Australia sent a letter to Mr Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, calling for principled leadership, social cohesion, and a consistent national approach to combating racism.
In the letter, we expressed deep sorrow following the antisemitic attack in Bondi and affirmed our solidarity with the Jewish community and all those affected. We made clear that violence diminishes our shared humanity and must never be allowed to fracture the social fabric of our nation.
While unequivocally condemning antisemitism, the letter raises serious concerns about the current framing of the national response, particularly in relation to the Anti-Semitism Envoy’s recommendations. It cautions against conflating antisemitism with legitimate criticism of Israeli state policies, warning that this risks fuelling anti-Arab racism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian discrimination, while undermining democratic freedoms and genuine efforts to address hatred.
The correspondence also highlights the emergence of fear-based narratives following the Bondi attack and warns against the instrumentalisation of antisemitic incidents to suppress peaceful protest or link acts of violence to unrelated political advocacy without evidence. Such approaches, we noted, retraumatise communities and place already vulnerable groups at increased risk.
The letter urges a broad, principled, and inclusive national strategy to address all forms of racism, explicitly endorsing the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Anti-Racism Framework. It emphasises that true leadership in moments of national tragedy is measured not by the curtailment of freedoms or the assignment of blame, but by the ability to protect the vulnerable, uphold democratic principles, and strengthen social cohesion.
The correspondence concludes by reaffirming a commitment to compassion, truth, and unity, and by requesting urgent engagement with government leaders. Arab Australians have been directly affected by recent government decisions, and these concerns remain unaddressed.
We release this statement in the interest of transparency and social cohesion. Grief must never be weaponised, human rights advocacy must not be misrepresented, and combating racism requires courage, care, and consistency.
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