Canberra: In an effort to address and mitigate prejudice against Muslims or Islam, especially politically, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has taken a proactive step in the fight against Islamophobia by appointing a special envoy.
Albanese announced on Monday night that Aftab Malik, a British-Australian recognised by the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations as a global expert on Muslim affairs, has been appointed as the government’s inaugural Islamophobia envoy. Malik will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role.
Xinhua news agency reported that Malik’s appointment came almost three months after Jillian Segal was appointed as the anti-semitism envoy in July.
Albanese said in a joint statement with Tony Burke, Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Multicultural Affairs that the special envoy will engage with members of the Muslim community, religious discrimination experts and governments on the best ways to combat Islamophobia.
Malik has been appointed on a three-year term starting October 14 and will report directly to Albanese and Burke.
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Malik was born in Britain to Pakistani parents and migrated to Australia in 2012, where he has worked in the state government of New South Wales, promoting cohesion and countering hate and extremism.
The government’s reported stand is that owing to the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, which continues to have a significant impact on communities around Australia, Malik’s appointment is a critical component of the (government) strategy to ensure all Australians feel safe and included, and it comes after considerable community input.
Earlier this year, the UN General Assembly endorsed a resolution designed to combat Islamophobia. The resolution called for the appointment of a UN special envoy to combat Islamophobia. In addition, it urged member states to take decisive action against religious intolerance, particularly targeting Islamophobia.
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–IANS
Photo: X/Anthony Albanese
