Commemorating one year since the Christchurch mosque attack
Race Discrimination
Published:
Topic(s): Race Discrimination
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan and Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow have commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attack.
In a joint statement, they said: “The Christchurch massacre was deeply traumatic for New Zealand’s Muslim community. That trauma has echoed throughout the Muslim community in Australia and internationally.”
“One year on, we bear witness to the suffering inflicted on so many innocent people, and we pay tribute to the strength and resilience of a community that has endured terrible pain with great compassion.”
“Following the tragedy we met with leaders of the Muslim community, and with other religious leaders. We listened to the serious harms people of faith too frequently experience as a result of discrimination, and are developing an action plan in response. The Commission also initiated the ‘Sharing the Stories of Australian Muslims’ project, which examines the experiences of Australian Muslims.”
“We are extremely concerned at data from last year’s Islamophobia Report, which showed an increase in incidents of severe racism towards Australian Muslims.”
“The growing presence of far-right extremism in Australia and internationally is also of great concern because it threatens community safety, and because it shows we still have much work to do in eliminating racism and xenophobia.”
“Far-right extremism thrives in societies that fail to say ‘No’ to racism and to discrimination against people on the basis of religion. That’s why it is the responsibility of all Australians to stand up to racism and xenophobia wherever they appear.”
“We stand in solidarity with the Muslim community at this time of mourning. We reflect on the extreme hurt the Christchurch massacre caused, and we recommit to working with the Australian public to eliminate racism and xenophobia.”
ENDS
For more information contact Mark Franklin at the Australian Human Rights Commission on 0437 133 671 or at Mark.Franklin@humanrights.gov.au