Kate Chaney (Curtin, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

This is a speech prepared by Riyan Naveed for my Curtin Youth Advisory Group about his experience as a young Muslim man in Australia. He says:

I was 6 when I was physically assaulted because of my colour, not by another kid, but by an adult woman.

I was 11 when I heard strangers slander my mum behind her back, simply because she chose to cover her hair.

I was 13 when I was· first called a terrorist.

At that point, I accepted that I would always face the racist stereotypes that poison our society, no matter who I was.

It's become repetitive and I'm tired of being the victim. My silence allows hatred to grow and that's not a risk I'm willing to take.

Since October 7, reports of lslamophobia have more than doubled … with a 1300% surge in incidents.

¾ targeted the innocent Islamic Australian women and children whose freedom of religion our government has failed to protect.

Comedy is the sheath that conceals the blade of racism and as a Muslim voice in my generation, I believe it's my vocation to ensure that 'it's a joke' is no longer a valid excuse.

It's on the government to teach people by renewing the education system, introducing programs like NAIDOC week, ultimately extinguishing the flames of hate speech by embracing diversity.

Actions speak louder than words. It's time to break the stereotypes, because there is no room for racism in our country.

Thank you, Riyan, for sharing that with the parliament.

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