Muslim groups reject push for new Islamophobia definition at Australian universities

MNTV News Desk 

CANBERRA, Australia (MNTV) – A coalition of Muslim and Palestinian organizations have rejected a push by Australian universities to adopt a new definition of Islamophobia, arguing it would “shield” the institutions from criticism of their contentious new antisemitism definition, and that a unified standard that rejects all racism is what is needed, The Guardian reports.

Last month, Australia’s universities confirmed they would unilaterally enforce a new definition of antisemitism on campuses after an inquiry recommended higher education providers “closely align” with the contentious International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition.

The eight organizations, which include the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network (Aman), the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN), Muslim Women Australia and the Muslim Legal Network, are urging universities to replace the antisemitism definition with a unified anti-racism standard that would apply to all communities – regardless of race and religion.

In a joint statement, they said adopting an antisemitism definition or any separate definitions for racism – including one for Islamophobia – would “perpetuate double standards” by leveraging groups against each other.

“The antisemitism definition, soon to be part of university education and complaint schemes, risks suppressing legitimate criticism of Israel,” they said.

“Developing such narrow definitions will result in gaps and a failure to protect all persons from racism, bigotry and discrimination.”

The definition adopted by universities states that criticism of the policies and practices of the Israeli government or state is “not in and of itself antisemitic” but “can be” when “grounded in harmful tropes, stereotypes or assumptions and when it calls for the elimination of the State of Israel or all Jews or when it holds Jewish individuals or communities responsible for Israel’s actions”.

Chief executive of the Group of Eight (Go8), Vicki Thomson, said the Go8 developed the new definition at the request of the special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal, following a rise in anti-Semitism on campuses after October 7, 2023. 

“This does not take away from the fact that our universities have been undertaking important work to address Islamophobia, as well as other forms of racism on our campuses,” she said.

“It is not a matter of either/or.”

Universities have been consulting with Muslim students and staff as to whether to develop a separate definition for Islamophobia as part of their antiracism commitments, as has been done at Monash University.

The University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney are seeking to do the same.

The Muslim and pro-Palestinian groups strongly opposed implementing a separate Islamophobia definition, arguing it would “shield” universities from criticism of the antisemitism definition, while also excluding Palestinian voices.

Legal advisor to Aman, Rita Jabri Markwell, said it would “make matters worse”.

“The antisemitism definition encroaches on Palestinian rights and freedom of expression, it’s unlikely any Islamophobia definition could remedy that problem,” she said.

“Allowing universities to adopt different standards for different groups is not the answer.

“If there is an institutional bias that already exists, universities will be able to use whichever definition they prefer. We need one unified standard that rejects dehumanization and promotes equality for all, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion.”