Tue Sep 17 06:02:11 UTC 2024: ## Government Under Fire for Delay in Appointing Islamophobia Envoy
**Canberra, Australia** – More than two months after the appointment of an anti-Semitism envoy, the promised Islamophobia envoy remains unfilled, prompting growing frustration and concerns within the Islamic community.
The Australian National Imams Council’s Bilal Rauf has called for an immediate appointment, urging the government to act within the next week or two. “Any longer than that, it almost does become farcical, and one begins to question: ‘what’s the point?'” he said.
Rauf expressed disappointment that the anti-Semitism envoy has already begun engaging with various organizations while no progress has been made on the Islamophobia counterpart. “We’re hearing of wonderful progress being made … and yet nothing has happened in the space of Islamophobia,” he stated.
The delay has led to skepticism within the community, with concerns about the government’s commitment to addressing Islamophobia. Ali Kadri, Chief Executive of the Islamic College of Brisbane, who was approached for the role but declined, echoed these concerns. He emphasized the need for the envoy to actively engage with the grassroots Muslim community.
While acknowledging the complexity of the Muslim community, Jamal Rifi, a Western Sydney general practitioner who initially put his name forward for the position, stressed the importance of the role in combating Islamophobia. “The envoy will have a role to play, providing facts and statistics, so the community and the government can respond in their own specific way,” he said.
Despite the delay, the government has maintained its commitment to addressing both Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, citing the recent conflict in Gaza as a catalyst for increased action.
A spokesperson for Multicultural Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that consultations for the Islamophobia envoy position are ongoing. However, no specific timeline for the appointment has been provided.
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