About the Ismaع project - Media Pack
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About the Ismaع project
Dr William Jonas AM, the Acting Race Discrimination Commissioner
of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, launched the Ismaع
project in March 2003.
The project was set up in response to increasing concerns expressed
by Arab and Muslim organisations about the rise in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim
prejudice in Australia, set against the backdrop of the September 11 2001
attacks in the United States and the Bali bombings of October 2002, as
well as other national and local events.
Ismaع means listen in Arabic. Accordingly the aim of the project
was to listen to Arab and Muslim Australians to better understand the
nature and impact of the prejudice that many said they were experiencing.
The Commission was also interested in finding out what was currently being
done to address prejudice towards Arab and Muslim Australians, as well
as what else Arab and Muslim Australians thought should be done in this
area.
The project involved three main components:
1. National consultations with Arab and Muslim Australians. A total of 1,423 people participated in 69 consultations in all states
and territories around Australia between April and November 2003. Consultations
involved group discussions on the following broad questions:
- Have you (or the community group you represent) experienced
discrimination and vilification? If so, what are those experiences?- What is being done to fight anti-Arab and anti-Muslim
prejudice and discrimination?- What more could be done to fight anti-Arab and anti-Muslim
prejudice and discrimination?Click here to
access Reports of all consultations2. Empirical and qualitative research conducted
by the University of Western Sydney using questionnaires and follow-up
interviews to learn more about Arab and Muslim Australians' responses
to racism and abuse and their experiences and understanding of complaints
processes. A total of 1,475 questionnaires were distributed in NSW and
Victoria between August and November 2003.Click here to access
the UWS research report3. An audit of strategies and initiatives that address
anti-Arab and anti-Muslim prejudice, discrimination and vilification. The Commission contacted over 100 local, state and federal government
agencies and community groups and had over 50 meetings with representatives
from these organisations to map existing strategies and identify gaps.Click here to access
information received from these organisations
It is important to note that the summary report of the Ismaع
project presents a wide variety of experiences and perspectives that reflects
the diversity of Arab and Muslim Australians.
While some participants used terms like 'discrimination' and
'vilification' to describe their experiences, this does not necessarily
amount to unlawful discrimination or vilification as defined in federal
or state and territory anti-discrimination legislation. It was also not
the purpose of the project to verify every allegation of violence, discrimination
or vilification.
Rather, as the name suggests, the purpose of the Ismaع project
was to listen to Arab and Muslim Australians to better understand the
nature, causes and solutions to anti-Arab and anti-Muslim prejudice.
The Ismaع Reference Group
The Ismaع project was advised by a reference group of 17 people,
which included representatives from government agencies and religious
and community organisations from across Australia.
The role of the reference group was to provide support and
advice to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission on the project
objectives, the scope and conduct of community consultations and the project's
findings and recommendations.
- Father Geoffrey Abdallah, Episcopal Vicar
for Youth and Dean of St Maroun's Cathedral, Maronite Catholic Diocese
of Australia - Mrs Aziza Abdel-Halim AM, President, Muslim
Women's National Network of Australia - Ms Rawan Abdul-Nabi, independent youth
representative - Dr Leela de Mel, Director, Office of Multicultural
Interests Western Australia; alternate Ms Anne Rida - Assistant Commissioner Garry Dobson, Commander
Education Services, NSW Police; alternate Commander Alan Clarke - Mr John Doyle, broadcaster and writer
- Ms Joumanah El Matrah, Coordinator, Islamic
Women's Welfare Council of Victoria - Mr George Green, Assistant Director General,
Schools, NSW Department of Education and Training - Mrs Fatima Hamdan, Chairperson, Al Zahra
Islamic Council - Mr Roland Jabbour, Chairperson, Australian
Arabic Council; alternate Mr Laurence Abou-Khater - Ms Randa Kattan, Executive Director, Australian
Arabic Communities Council - Mrs Maha Krayem Abdo, President, United
Muslim Women's Association - Mr Christopher Kremmer, author and journalist
- Mr Stephen Maguire, Director, Multicultural
Affairs Queensland, Department of Premier and Cabinet; alternate Mr
Warren McMillan - Ms Linda Matthews, Commissioner, South
Australian Equal Opportunity Commission; alternate Ms Anne Burgess - Mr Amjad Mehboob, Chief Executive Officer,
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils - Mr Hasan Sowaid, Manager, Multicultural
Affairs and Settlement, Department of Immigration and Multicultural
and Indigenous Affairs
Last updated 16 June 2004.
