The Albanese government has announced British Australian public servant Aftab Malik as the special envoy to combat Islamophobia in Australia after months of delays.
But it has also sparked criticism, with some people within the Muslim community calling into question the thinking behind the appointment.
Anthony Albanese said in early July that two envoys would be established: one to tackle antisemitism and another to look at Islamophobia during the war in Gaza.
Lawyer Jillian Segal was announced as the antisemitism envoy shortly afterwards but Labor delayed announcing the Islamophobia envoy amid reports people had turned down the role.
On Monday, the government announced Malik would be taking up the role, which they say will serve to listen to and engage the Muslim community, religious discrimination experts and all levels of government on how to combat Islamophobia.
Earlier on Monday sources confirmed to Guardian Australia that Malik was to be appointed, with the news announced at a Muslim community event later in the evening.
Malik has been working in the New South Wales premier’s department for almost a decade. He has previously held roles at the Lebanese Muslim Association, and has run programs aimed at countering violent extremism (CVE).
He is a former executive director of the Zaytuna Institute, a college in Berkeley, California, and has been designated a “global expert” on Muslim affairs for the UN’s Alliance of Civilizations.
He has been appointed on a three-year term that begins on 14 October, and will report directly to the prime minister and the minister for home affairs.
Malik said in a statement: “Promoting social cohesion and fighting against hate in Australia is more important today than it’s ever been.
“I look forward to engaging with my counterpart, Jillian Segal, to share insights and exchange ideas on how we can fortify social cohesion, and bring our communities together on a common ground, rooted in dignity for all.”
But Dr Yassir Morsi, an author and academic whose work has focused on Islamophobia and CVE programs, said the appointment raised some important questions. CVE programs have been criticised previously by academics and community leaders for being divisive, criminalising the community and for silencing community discussion.
“There seems to be a lot of uncertainty about what his role was with CVE, which for some in the community raises significant concern, since much of the Islamophobia we had to navigate was done in the pretext of treating Muslims as a security risk.”
Morsi also said Malik’s British roots posed an issue for a role that was intended to reflect the Muslim community’s experiences with Islamophobia in Australia and unite the community.
“Some in the community are questioning why a British-born Muslim who wasn’t here for 9/11, the Cronulla riots, the 2012 protests, key events in shaping the localisation of Islamophobia has been given this role, especially when there has been longstanding Muslim organisations leading this fight.”
A prominent community leader, Hanan Dover, posted to Facebook to say Malik “should not be the Islamophobia special envoy representative” because he had been too closely involved with the “government’s agenda”.
after newsletter promotion
Malik has been contacted for comment.
Others welcomed the announcement, with executive director of the Islamophobia Register, Dr Nora Amath, praising the creation of the role.
“We firmly hope that the establishment of this new position will serve as a crucial platform for addressing the distinct challenges faced by Muslim communities in Australia and for tackling the key drivers underpinning Islamophobia,” she said in a statement.
Guardian Australia understands up to four others were considered for the role including school principal Ali Kadri and community leader Jamal Rifi.
Previous talks stalled over concerns regarding how such a role could represent diverse Muslim communities and if the envoy would be able to criticise government policy, sources say.
Tony Burke, the minister for home affairs, said in the statement that “bigotry is always wrong.”
“You should be able to live safely and freely in Australia, regardless of who you are or what you believe.”
