Australia’s first female Muslim MP wants the Racial Discrimination Act expanded to better protect followers of Islam from an increasing number of hate crimes.
West Australian Labor MP Anne Aly told The Australian that there was “scope to reassess” the expansion of section 18C in the act, because the rise in anti-Islamic sentiment was “a new form of racism.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is attempting to change section 18C so that it’s illegal to “harass” or “intimidate” someone on the basis of their race, the colour of their skin, or their national or ethnic origin. This would change the wording of the key section, which at present makes it illegal to “offend”, “insult”, or “humiliate” someone on this basis.
There were complaints that the current wording of the section made it too easy to bring frivolous complaints to the Human Rights Commission. But there are also concerns that the term “harass” may be too vague a term for courts to act on.
But Aly, an academic who’s an expert on counter-terrorism and counter-radicalisation, said that she wanted the protections under section 18C extended to take in religion as well as race.
“I find it a little bit strange that someone can call you a ‘dirty Arab’ and that be covered under the bill, but if they called you a dirty Muslim, you’re not covered [under 18C],” the Labor MP told The Australian.“I think there’s scope there. I’d like to see that discussion happen because I think we have definitely seen an increase in anti-Islamic rhetoric.”
She cited cases of Muslim women were having their head-coverings pulled off and of people being abused in the street.
A Senate committee is currently examining Turnbull’s proposed changes to the act.