Nadine Osman
Australian Muslim leaders have called for a more coordinated approach to political advocacy, Islamophobia and community development, with plans to strengthen engagement with governments and the media ahead of upcoming state elections.
Representatives from Muslim organisations across Australia met in Sydney on August 9 for the ninth Australian Muslim Community Leaders Summit, where discussions ranged from Islamophobia and religious freedom to Palestine, political engagement and the future of Muslim institutions.
The six-hour meeting at Waterview in Sydney Olympic Park was organised by the Alliance of Australian Muslims (AAM) and the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC).
One of the main themes was the need for Muslim organisations to move away from fragmented responses and develop a more coordinated national approach.
AAM board Chairman Sheikh Shadi Alsuleiman said Muslim organisations needed to work more closely together and build institutions capable of sustaining long-term advocacy.
“We can’t continue relying on volunteers. We’re not going to progress on volunteers,” he said.
AAM, which says it represents more than 260 grassroots Muslim organisations, plans to expand its government relations work, employ full-time staff, establish a national register of Muslim spokespeople and increase media monitoring.
It also plans to prepare for the upcoming Victorian and New South Wales elections by developing policy positions and coordinating engagement with political parties and candidates.
A proposed Government Relations and Engagement Group would coordinate federal and state delegations and help develop evidence-based positions while maintaining political neutrality.
The leaders also discussed how Muslim organisations could present governments with coordinated community priorities rather than approaching them separately.
Islamophobia and political engagement
Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, told the summit that anti-Muslim hatred remained a growing concern, particularly online.
“There’s so much online hate… It’s out of control,” he said.
Malik outlined initiatives including an Australian Muslim Poll and an Australian Islamophobia Index, as well as programmes involving the education and public sectors.
The summit backed the federal government’s adoption of several recommendations from the Special Envoy’s report, while calling for the remaining proposals to be implemented with funding, measurable targets and accountability.
Leaders also urged Muslims to report incidents of Islamophobia, arguing that better data was needed to inform advocacy and possible law reform.
Delegates rejected attempts to hold Muslims, Islamic institutions or community leaders collectively responsible for crimes committed by individuals. They called instead for equal protection under the law and more accurate reporting of Islam involving Muslim communities.
Political participation was also highlighted, with leaders encouraged to establish relationships with candidates before elections and agree on shared priorities.
Gaza remains a major focus
The war in Gaza featured prominently in discussions, with former New South Wales premier and Australian foreign minister Bob Carr addressing the summit on Palestinian advocacy.
Carr urged Australian Muslims to strengthen grassroots political organising.
“Stories win arguments,” he said, calling for greater efforts to ensure Palestinian experiences were heard.
The summit backed Palestinian freedom, dignity, justice, self-determination and the right of return, while calling for stronger Australian diplomatic, economic, humanitarian and legal action.
Delegates also expressed solidarity with communities affected by conflict and persecution in Sudan, as well as Rohingya and Uyghur communities.
Focus on institutions and younger Muslims
The summit also examined concerns about the ability of Muslim institutions to meet the needs of a younger generation.
Imam Ahmed Abdo said disengagement from religion could reflect a lack of connection to community rather than simply a lack of theological understanding.
“What is it that causes some people to leave religion… is not necessarily a lack of theological arguments, but it’s a lack of connection, a lack of community,” he said.
Leaders called for greater investment in Islamic education and youth and women’s leadership, alongside training for local imams, female Islamic scholars, chaplains and educators.
They also raised domestic and family violence, child protection and the exploitation of migrants and international students.
A joint AAM-ANIC initiative, the Muslim Community Fund, is intended to provide longer-term funding for political and media advocacy, community development and Islamic education.
The summit also stressed that Australian Muslims should participate fully in civic life while maintaining their religious identity.
Its discussions ultimately focused on building stronger institutions and replacing isolated responses with sustained national coordination.
(Photo credit: The Muslim News/AI)
