A 16-year-old boy from Western Australia has been charged with making an alleged threat towards a mosque in southwest Sydney.
The threat, which was posted on the mosque’s Instagram account, has been widely condemned as hateful and Islamophobic.
What Happened?
The comment, which referred to the Christchurch mosque attacks, sparked instant alarm within the community.
Worshippers at the Australian Islamic House mosque in Edmonson Park were met with a heavy police presence as authorities investigated the alleged online threat.
The comment read, “I’m about to Christchurch 2.0 this joint,” referencing the devastating mass attack in New Zealand that killed 51 people.
Community Reacts with Fear and Concern
The social media comment has left the community shaken, with many expressing concerns about the rise of Islamophobia in Australia.
“I think it’s very worrying, in regards to what’s happening and the threats that we’ve received for the mosque,” said one community member. “Especially when it’s newly opened. It’s weird for someone having so much hate toward the Muslim community.”
Leaders Condemn the Threat
The alleged threat has been broadly condemned by leaders, including Prime Minister and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.
“It’s never been okay under any law or any provision to make that kind of threat,” said Premier Minns. “We won’t tolerate it or stand for it.
No matter where hate is directed, to any member in our community, you have a right to feel protected and safe in New South Wales.”
A Growing Concern
The threat is just one of many reported Islamophobic incidents in recent years, and communities like Edmonson Park fear that the worst is still to come.
“All it takes is one person,” said Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun. “Here we are, we have a young adolescent person who is easily influenced by extremism and hate.
We need to look at ‘Why did that person go out there and feel he can go out there and say this? Who was around him and what groups is he involved in? Because it’s potentially the tip of the iceberg.”
Calls for Action
Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, has released a statement saying, “It should not take a replay of the Christchurch massacre in Australia to awaken people to the present threat of Islamophobia.”
The alleged online threat comes during the first week of the holy month of Ramadan, and many are calling for more to be done to address the rise of Islamophobia in Australia.
What’s Next?
The 16-year-old has been bailed and will appear before the Bunbury Children’s Court on April 4.
Police say there is no ongoing threat to the community, but some, like the mosque’s president Mazhar Hadid, and New South Wales member for Holsworthy, Tina Ayyad, fear that authorities aren’t doing enough.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb says the rapid police response is proof that they are taking the matter very seriously.
“We take every threat seriously and the fact that we had this matter reported to us at midday and a young person was arrested eight hours later, shows that we all take it seriously.”