Australia's Prime Minister Takes Firm Stance After Muslim Woman's Assault; Suspect Arrested

Australia's Prime Minister Takes Firm Stance After Muslim Woman's Assault; Suspect Arrested

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected accusations that his government was slow to act on the attack against a Muslim woman. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he stated, "Any attack on a person based on their religious beliefs is reprehensible," and added, "I take any attack on people based on their faith seriously, and they should face the full force of the law."

The Prime Minister further noted, "We have appointed a special envoy to work against Islamophobia, which is an important step. I celebrate our diversity, and I respect people, no matter their faith."

These remarks came at a time when Muslim Australians, including international cricketer Usman Khawaja, have accused the government of not taking sufficient action against Islamophobia. On Tuesday, Khawaja said that the attacks would go unmentioned by Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton and would be "swept under the rug like all attacks against the Islamic community." However, on Wednesday, he praised both Albanese and Dutton for calling the assaults "disgraceful."

One of the victims, Ealaf al-Esawei, said, "I still can't believe what happened to me. I’m terrified, and the incident keeps replaying in my mind," she shared.

Melbourne police reported on Wednesday that they had arrested a 31-year-old woman and charged her with assault in connection with the suspected Islamophobic attack on February 13.

Rights groups in Australia have reported a rise in Islamophobic and anti-Semitic incidents since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel.