Australia PM Condemns Attack on Muslim Women

Published FEB 19 2025

Story

Above: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ahead of an address to the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Jan. 24, 2025. Image credit: Alex Ellinghausen/Sydney Morning Herald/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

The Facts

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned a Feb. 13 attack on two Muslim women at a Melbourne shopping center, highlighting his government's appointment of a special envoy on Islamophobia.
ABC
Al Jazeera
Albanese's comments come amid allegations that his administration was too slow to address the attacks. He said he takes “all attacks on people on the basis of their faith seriously" and the attacker must face the full force of law.
The Straits Times
Al Jazeera
A 31-year-old woman was reportedly arrested on Wednesday and charged for the attacks at the Pacific Epping shopping center, with the police suspecting that the victims were targeted due to their head coverings.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Aa
The first victim, Kawthar Ali, who is 26 weeks pregnant, reported being choked with her hijab, while the second victim, Ealaf Al-Esawie, was allegedly hit in the face and pushed to the ground.
guardian
Australian
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions and reported increases in both Islamophobic and antisemitic incidents in Australia since Oct. 7, 2023, leading to recent passage of tougher hate crime laws.
Al Jazeera
BBC News

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The government's response to Islamophobic attacks has been inadequate and shows clear double standards compared to its swift and significant attention to antisemitic incidents, demonstrating a systemic bias in how different forms of religious discrimination are addressed in Australia.

Shepparton News

Narrative B

Australia takes all faith-based attacks equally seriously. It has appointed special envoys for both antisemitism and Islamophobia, and is actively working to protect all religious communities of the country through law enforcement and policy measures. There is no question of bias here.

The Straits Times