Consultations Homepage || Meeting Notes; 13 November 2003
Consultation with members of the Horn of Africa Senior Women's Program, Melbourne, 13 November 2003
The consultation was organised by the Islamic Women's Welfare Centre as part of its research into racial violence against Muslim women living in Victoria. It was facilitated by Ms Joumanah El Matrah, Manager of the Islamic Women's Welfare Council of Victoria, and attended by Ms Omeima Sukkarieh, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Amna Malkin acted as group leader and interpreter. The consultation was attended by 11 members of the program all of whom were Eritrean Muslim refugee women over the age of 60 who have been in Australia between two and13 years.
Experiences of discrimination
In public places
Most of the women in the group had experienced racism and discrimination since arriving to Australia, with the majority of racially motivated abuse and violence taking place in public spaces, in particular on the street and in public transport. None of the women felt safe enough to walk in the street alone. When asked what does feeling safe mean to them in the community, they responded:
"In general there are some problems facing us in the streets, like not feeling safe in the streets especially if you walk alone. [We are] not feeling safe, [just] fear."
"Yesterday while waiting for transport, someone driving his car spat on me. I was very angry but he drove off before I could do anything."
"Sometimes it is hard to walk in the street because some people they look at you differently; especially us wearing the scarf."
"One day I was walking when I was approached by an old lady who said Muslim Bin Laden Osama. I kept walking and I didn't answer her because my English is not good."
In public housing
Notable incidents of racially motivated abuse and violence also took place in and around the public housing complexes, in which all participants reside. One of the women recalled an incident that she said was not uncommon: an old Australian woman called her 'Bin Laden' and swore at her religion.
When asked what it was that would make them feel safe, the overwhelming response was their need for more and better security at the public housing highrise flats they live in, especially for a few of the women whose only option is to use the external laundry to wash their clothes. The women particularly felt a sense of anxiety for their children's safety, particular with the large extent of drug use and abuse by other residents in the complex.
" ...we are concerned about housing as Muslim women. We can't feel free going out to do some activities because some people use drugs where we live. My daughter can't wash clothes if her husband is not home. Living conditions are not good living in high rises. Generally living in public housing is not safe anymore."
One woman commented " ... my children are afraid to go out sometimes by themselves."
They feel even less safe since September 11, for themselves and for their families.
"We don't feel any safer because some people, they started to blame Muslims for the events of September 11."
"We are worried about our children who work at night or go to school."
When asked if they are aware of any services that they might access if they face violence or discrimination, all of the women said that they were unaware of any services. One woman summed up their response:
"We don't know any thing or anywhere. We can't even know where to go."
Impacts of discrimination
When asked about how these experiences have impacted on their behaviour and whether or not they have taken any action to protect themselves, the women all believed that their trust in God was their ultimate protection. However several women would not go out alone.
"Yes before we used to go out feeling safe. Even early in the mornings we used to go for our daily walk. But nowadays we are afraid to go alone so we walk as groups. We used to walk anywhere, even under bridges, but now we walk where a lot of people are present."
"I personally feel different. Before we used to walk at night, for example from North Melbourne to Flemington during Ramadan. But now it is hard because few times people are making comments to us; we don't know what they are saying. However, I feel unsafe to walk at night or alone during the day."
"Yesterday after Trawih [i.e. late prayer during Ramadan] someone used to put papers saying we don't want noise, [so] before we went out for our walk at night in groups but nowadays we are afraid maybe someone will harm us while praying at the Mosque."
When asked to what extent racially or religiously motivated violence against Muslim woman is an issue in the community, and whether or not they think it is increasing or decreasing, participants responded:
"Yes there is violence. There are good and bad people and yes we are afraid but we have to keep walking in the streets alone because we have no options. We go out even if we are worried but we don't go places where there are no people especially at night. Some people are rude but there are others who are good."
"Until now we have not seen any thing, may Allah protect us, some drug dealers is seen around [but] there is no respect for woman who wear the scarf; if [a Muslim woman] asked for directions she is directed to the wrong direction or no good response; [she is] misdirected."
Accessibility and knowledge of existing agencies and services
None of the women had heard of the Equal Opportunity Commission.
"We have never heard of any information [about] this organisation."
Police
There was also a complete lack of trust for police, with one woman recalling an experience she had:
"I personally don't trust the police in this country because they don't come when you need them. My friend had a person broke into her flat and they did not attend fast. Also they help young people to find places to live outside the family home instead of saying go back to your family and solve your family problems. They come fast when there is a fire."
Do you feel welcome in Australia?
In comparison to the tensions they left behind in their homelands, participants were reluctant to criticise even the worst experiences of discrimination. However generally speaking they did not feel completely welcome in Australia.
"We don't feel always welcome. There are people who make us feel welcome and there are those who don't, especially those that don't understand."
"Most of the time we feel welcome but other times we face different difficulties because of the way we look or dress. Once I was going out and a [white] woman she made fun of me saying 'why do you dress that way? It is not nice, [it's] long and doesn't look nice'."
"Also there is some harassment even for us old women. Besides that there is no major violence."
What more could be done?
None of the women were aware of any organisations which emerged to protect Muslims against violence after the events of September 11. Most of them just wanted police to take their complaints seriously or at the very least attend to calls of help on or near time or in fact, at all. Asked what actions they would like to see the government take to make them feel safer, one woman replied:
"It is the government's responsibility to make us feel safe in the community. Therefore it should educate people about us and our religion."
As to the role of religious leaders in assisting the family resolve conflict, one woman commented:
"Individually we go back to family problems to be solved within the family."
