The physical and emotional effect of these types of examples of discrimination, prejudices and inequalities suffered by Muslims has affected them in various ways. Many Muslims feel their basic human rights are violated as well as physical and emotional anguish caused as a result of the discrimination they face. Many have felt the need to defend their religion and faith because they feel that it is a way to deter or decrease incidents of discrimination, prejudices and inequalities in Australian society. This ‘defense’ of their religion has been done by Muslims engaging in radio debates, letters and articles to newspapers, talks and lectures to educate people about their religion and quash any misconceptions people may have about their faith. In schools, some young Muslims who suffer bullying and harassment based on their religion have fought back physically and verbally which is just another example of the sort of toll that this sort of discrimination is taking with some Muslims.
The extent that this prejudice and discrimination has gotten to be is far-reaching and is a result of various elements and happenings in society that have influenced non – Muslims to behave with prejudice and discrimination against Muslims based on their religion. Many Muslims also feel that the extensiveness of this discrimination and prejudice has also reached the Australian government and government related bodies such as the police.
b) Explain how this inequality as occurred. What historical, legal or political forces
have contributed to the current situation?
This inequality that Muslims have, and still continue to suffer has occurred as a result of many factors. These include:
- Problems with Asylum Seekers/boat people: between 2000 and 2001, numerous traditional politicians used the issue of boat people/ asylum seekers – many of whom were Muslim – to further their political affluences. Many of these Muslims were labeled/ implied by the politicians to be terrorists and ‘queue jumpers’ hence fuelling more hatred against Muslims.
- September 11, 2001: the terrorist attacks of the World Trade Centers in New York, America, proved to be one of the most difficult days for Muslims in Australia and other Western dominated societies. The perpetrators of the September 11 were labeled as Muslim fanatics and radicals who were against the western world and culture. It was because of these attacks that discrimination and hatred of Muslims increased as a result.
- Religion/ religious conflicts: Centuries of conflict, mainly between the Muslim and Christian worlds have built up long standing prejudices that have led each religious side to dismiss the others relevance in world affairs.
- The tortured relationship between Islam and the Western world: many people mistakenly believe that Muslims and Islam are incapable of living amongst Australian/ Western society. This is significantly so because people have a misconception that Islam and Muslims are against the western world and its values and modernization of people and time etc.
- Negative media portrayals of Muslim people and their religion: the media, which plays a major role in influencing the opinions, thoughts and beliefs of societies and people has done this same thing with people and groups in regards to Muslims and their religion. As events transpired in the world and in Australia e.g. Sept. 11, Sydney Gang rapes, asylum seekers etc, The media would always refer to these negative incidents with reference to Muslims and make generalizations and stereotype ALL of the Muslim community as being Anti – Western, terrorists, religious fanatics etc.
- Other reasons for this type of inequalities suffered by Muslims include ignorance and misconceptions by the non – Muslim society, lack of education about Muslims and their religion & beliefs, generalizations and stereotypes of Muslims, misunderstandings about Islamic/Muslim ideals and values.
Part Two:
- Examine the initiatives that have been introduced in an attempt to reduce the
inequalities faced by this group. Examples include legislation, affirmative action,
community action, and welfare programs.
Initiatives that have been introduced in an attempt to reduce the inequalities faced by Muslims specifically entail legislations put in place by the government. Anti discrimination was put in place to ensure the protection of groups, including Muslims, and also to provide groups with assistance if required. Australia has also ratified a number of treaties, which are meant to also protect the rights of all persons, and this also includes Muslims. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1966 (UN), Australia is also a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Australian Federal Government has also passed anti – discrimination legislation which includes the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1975 and Anti – Discrimination Act of 1977, Anti-Discrimination (Racial Vilification) Amendment Act 1989.
Community action has also been taken by Muslims/Islamic communities in order to reduce the inequalities that they faced. This community action includes Muslims becoming involved in talk back radio programs, educational talks to the wider communities who are not familiar with the Islamic community, also they’ve sent letters and articles in defense of their religion and beliefs and also to remind society that all religions, whether Christian, Hindu, Jewish, have groups who do bad things and hide behind their religion as justification and that society can’t generalize whole groups as a result of this.
- Evaluate these strategies, how successful have they been in reducing
inequality?
The legislations put in place by the government to protect Muslims and others alike from any forms of prejudice, discrimination and/or inequalities. It also ensures that Muslims are able to access legal rights if ever they feel they have been subjected to or victimized as a result of inequalities or discrimination.
Community action by Muslim communities has been effective in further educating people of the Western world and giving them further insights into the Islamic religion, their beliefs, culture and ways of life.
- Suggest at least one strategy that could be implemented by individuals or groups
in order to reduce or eliminate discrimination against this group.
Groups or individuals, in order to reduce or eliminate discrimination against Muslims, could implement numerous strategies. One strategy in particular is compulsory religious education by ALL schools – public and private – of all major religions of Australia including Islam.
If people are educated from a young age about various religions and their beliefs, ways of life, culture etc then they will learn to be more open and broad minded of other religions different from their own as well as being more acceptable and understanding of the fact that Australia is one of the most multicultural societies in the world with a huge array of different cultures, languages, customs, religions etc. This sort of education would ensure that people are more willing and able to accept the different and wide-spreading belief systems and cultural practices that are evident in Australia.
