'Degrade Muslim Australians': Islamophobia envoy condemns verbal rant at 13yo - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Aftab Malik says victims of Islamophobia are getting younger.

Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia has condemned an alleged racist attack against a 13-year-old girl on a Sydney bus.

The Islamophobia Register Australia has reported a 612 per cent jump in reported attacks in the last three years.

A 50-year-old man has been arrested and charged over the incident, and is expected to appear before court on Wednesday. 

The Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia has condemned alleged verbal abuse hurled at a 13-year-old girl, who was called an "immigrant mutt" and a "terrorist" on a Sydney bus last week.

The 50-year-old man, who was charged on Tuesday, appeared in videos of the incident obtained by the ABC allegedly telling another girl, "I can't wait until they kill all of you".

His comments appeared to be directed to Muslim women on the bus last Thursday.

According to the 13-year-old, Janna, the incident began when she stood up for another girl in a hijab who the man was allegedly taking photos of without her knowledge.

NSW Police said he was arrested at a Greenacre home about 2:20pm on Tuesday.

He was taken to Bankstown Police Station and charged with stalking and intimidation intending fear or physical harm.

Australia's special envoy, Aftab Malik, said the alleged abuse was not unheard of.

"Islamophobia does not require spectacular violence to cause serious harm to people.

"The spread of hateful stereotypes, the normalisation of online abuse, the offline threats, and physical attacks to individuals and institutions, all degrade Muslim Australians."

Mr Malik said he invited Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to work directly with his office to take active steps to ensure the safety of Muslim school children wearing the hijab.

TfNSW said it was aware of the incident which was reported by the bus driver after the fact.

A spokesperson for the department said it was serious about improving safety across the network.

"We welcome engagement with the Office of the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia and are willing to meet to discuss any concerns raised," they said.

"Everyone has the right to feel safe when travelling on the public transport network, and Transport for NSW works closely with operators, police and community stakeholders to support customer safety and respond to incidents when they occur."

Premier Chris Minns says Muslim women and children deserve to feel safe while using public transport. (ABC News: Adam Kennedy)

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was deeply concerned by the increase in Islamophobia.

"Muslim women and girls have every right to wear a hijab, catch a bus, go to school, or walk down the street without being abused or intimidated," he said.

"What happened to this young girl was disgusting, and she should never have had to defend her right to belong in her own country.

"Everyone, no matter your background or religion, deserves to feel safe and respected in New South Wales."

Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure described the incident as "deeply distressing".

There has been a 612 per cent jump in reported Islamophobic attacks across Australia in the last three years, according to Islamophobia Register Australia.

The figure is based on an increase of average weekly reported incidents, which has risen from 2.5 reports per week to 18.

The organisation has a backlog of 400 cases like Janna's.

Janna said she was subjected to Islamophobic abuse last week. (ABC News)

Executive director Aishah Ali said government funding had dried up.

"We've increased our volunteer team, but it's unsustainable for the breadth and the severity of the work to being encapsulated in a volunteer capacity, and nor should it be, because we have a right to equal safety, protection, remedy and recourse."

The register received some funding from Multicultural NSW for youth education initiatives, which Ms Ali said did not cover their core operational work.

The department has also delivered $15 million to support safety and security at places of worship, including mosques, since February 2023.

Janna's mother Roula said some politicians were to blame for the unprecedented levels of Islamophobia.

"I think some of the politicians have … a lot to do with this," she said.

"They have views about Islam, that we're oppressed … us women, but we're not. 

"The biggest example is me not being a hijabi, and my daughter is. And it's a choice."

Sydney student Janna with her mother Roula (right). (ABC News: Patrick Thomas)

Roula said the government should support what women want to wear.

"It's their choice. You want to walk out naked or want to walk out dressed up, your choice," she said.

The man charged over the incident was refused bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday.