Unpopular Muslims, Superior Aussies
SYDNEY — The Muslim community is the most unpopular in Australia, a new 10-year study has revealed.
"There's stronger levels of social distance or fear of Islam or concern about Islam than of any other group at the moment," human geography and urban studies professor Kevin Dunn told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Sunday, September 28.
"They stand out at the moment as the group that people would be most concerned about."
The study of 12,500 people by Dunn showed that 40 percent of Australians believe some ethnic groups don't belong to Australia.
"The most often-mentioned groups were Muslims or people from the Middle East," he noted.
The study, "Challenging Racism: The Anti-Racism Research Project", found New South Wales to be the least tolerant state in the country.
Asked how they would feel if a close relative was to marry a Muslim, 54 percent of people in New South Wales would be concerned.
And some 47 percent of people from the same state indicated at least one group that didn't fit in Australia -- the highest percentage in the country.
"It means that in New South Wales there is more of a narrow idea of what constitutes Australian."
Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.5 percent of its 20-million population.
Hurt
Dunn said the anti-Muslim sentiments are strong across Australia.
"I don't think there's any doubt about that and that tells something about what needs to be done in terms of reconstructing images of some groups."
Australian Muslims have been haunted with suspicion and have had their patriotism questioned since the 9/11 attacks.
A recent governmental report revealed that Muslims are facing deep-seated Islamophobia and race-based treatment like never before.
"I love the Australian culture, the music and food," said Asma Yusra.
The 21-year-old Muslim from Lakemba has been the subject of racial prejudices.
In one incident, a man threw a newspaper at her face, opened at a story about a terrorist attack.
"I was deeply hurt by that experience. I feel just as Australian as everyone else. I was born and raised here," she told The Sydney Morning Herald.
The study also found that one in ten Australians believe that some races are superior than others.
"Only about one in ten people across the various states would hold those views nowadays," said Dunn.
"But one in ten is a lot. It means one person in every lunch room, one person in every locker room, five or ten people on a train."
SRC: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=12217203915...
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