AUSTRALIA DELIBERATES
MUSLIMS AND NON-MUSLIMS IN AUSTRALIA
FINAL REPORT MEDIA SUMMARY
A matter of education
The Weekend Australian
Mike Steketee
September 15, 2007
URL:http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,22419791-28737,00.html?from=public_rss
Myths about Muslims widen religious gulf
The Weekend Australian
Mike Steketee
September 15, 2007
URL:Not available
Article Text: A DOWNWARD spiral of frustration and alienation among young Australian Muslim men is pushing them towards more aggressive attitudes, according to new research. And some women are reacting against negative comments and behaviour with an act of defiance wearing the hijab to make a statement about their Muslim faith, even though they have never covered their heads before. "Young Muslims are constantly being questioned about their Australian-ness," political psychologist Pamela Ryan told The Weekend Australian. "Particularly if they are in their late teens or early 20s and they are "My concern is that the messages that they will hear are more radical and they start to feel that this country is not where they belong. It is in Australia's interests to tackle this and work out ways we can engage Muslims who are second-generation Australians to feel Australian." She urged Muslim and non-Muslim communities to make a joint effort to bridge the divide and said public awareness campaigns should be conducted in Muslim and non-Muslim communities as well as jointly. Dr Ryan heads Issues Deliberation Australia, a non-profit organisation that next week will release some of the most comprehensive research conducted on focus group discussions, it has found that antagonism towards Muslims in Australia runs deep, particularly among Coalition supporters. Almost half of Australians believe Muslims have a negative effect on social harmony and national security and 35 per cent believe they threaten to change the Australian way of life. But the study finds such beliefs are often based on misunderstanding, with only 20 per cent of people having regular contact with Muslims and most thinking there are far more Muslims in Australia than the 340,000 or 1.7 per cent of the population identified in the 2006 census.
ABC Radio National – Religion Report
Compere: Stephen Crittenden
Transcript – 3rd paragraph down
September 19, 2007
Muslim Integration still a simmering discontent
The Australian
Mike Steketee
September 20, 2007
Drive
ABC Radio Adelaide
Compere: Grant Cameron (interview with Dr. Pamela Ryan)
September 20, 2007
URL: Not available
Duration: 9:03
Summary:Cameron says an extensive 18 month survey on the Muslim-non Muslim divide in Australia revealed racism is alive and well. He says almost half of those surveyed showed that 50% of Australians felt that Muslim culture impacted negatively on the community. Ryan says Issues Deliberation works around the world and found evidence of a widening divide in the last few years. She says Cronulla was more than a racial divide and included socio-economic and other issues. Cameron says the survey was the most comprehensive of its kind. Ryan says they met with academic and community leaders who have done work in the area and they did focus group research on the topic as well. Ryan says some Muslim Australians attribute some comments and behaviours as racist unnecessarily. Cameron says the political leaders say the main threat as far as terrorism is concerned could come from a home grown terrorist cell. Ryan says this is a concern as young Australian Muslims are being constantly questioned about how Australian they are. She says most Muslim first generation Australians feel fortunate to live here. © Media Monitors 2007.
17:00 News
SBS Ethnic Radio (National Australia)
Compere: Newsreader
September 20, 2007
URL: Not available
Duration: 0:46
Summary: A national study by Issues Deliberation Aust found that 2/3 of Aust Muslims felt discriminated against. © Media Monitors 2007
Breaking down racism 101
Sydney Morning Herald
Connie Levett
September 21, 2007
Racism fuels social divide
The Advertiser
Nadine Williams
September 21, 2007
URL: Not available
Article text: RACISM is rife in Australia and fuelling a "growing divide" between Muslims and non-Muslims which could erupt into riots unless addressed, an independent study has found. Almost half of the Australians interviewed believed Muslims had a negative impact on Australia's social harmony and national security, according to Issues Deliberation Australia-America, an international research organisation. It found 83 per cent of 1700 respondents in the 18-month study felt incompatibility between Islamic and Western values was a contributor to terrorism. The research, which included a national random survey by Newspoll of 1401 voters and a national survey of Australian Muslims showed two-thirds of Australian Muslims in the study felt discriminated against. IDA's managing director, political psychologist Dr Pamela Ryan, and former Prime Minister Bob Hawke will be at a screening of the documentary Behind Beliefs after a panel discussion led by Ray Martin at the Adelaide Town Hall at 5.30pm.© Media Monitors 2007
ABC Radio Adelaide - Breakfast program
September 21, 2007
URL: Not available
Sunday program with Ray Martin
September 30, 2007
