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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 consultations
2. 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 report
3. 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.