Media Release by AAM and ANIC, 17 Dec 2024: The Alliance of Australian Muslims (AAM) and the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) are troubled and deeply concerned following
the lack of reporting from specific media organisations that have displayed following the Islamophobic attacks in western Sydney’s Chester Hill on Sunday, 15th of December 2024.
It was shocking not only to see graphic words inciting hatred towards Muslims vandalise one of the suburbs with the highest Muslim population in Sydney, but also to
witness the lack of reporting and, to a certain extent, silence on the issue, which could only be understood as being complicit in Islamophobia and hurting the community.
This silence is a glaring example of the double standards in the media that often see specific attacks or instances of hatred being amplified whilst others—particularly those targeting Muslims—are downplayed or ignored. Such selective coverage reinforces harmful narratives and perpetuates the cycle of discrimination against the Australian Muslim community.
To purposefully ignore and downplay this Islamophobic attack reinforces the systemic racism and hatred for Muslims that continues to plague our society.
We urge media agencies to be fair and balanced while reporting, particularly on matters affecting our society’s social cohesion.
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