Elham Asaad Buaras
A coalition of Muslim and Palestinian organisations in Australia has rejected a push by universities to adopt a new definition of Islamophobia, arguing that it would shield institutions from criticism of their controversial new antisemitism definition. Instead, the groups are advocating for a unified anti-racism standard that would apply to all communities, regardless of race or religion.
Last month, Australian universities confirmed they would unilaterally enforce a new definition of antisemitism, following an inquiry that recommended higher education providers “closely align” with the contentious International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition. This move came after a rise in antisemitism on campuses, particularly following the events of October 7, 2023.
The eight organisations, including the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network (Aman), the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN), Muslim Women Australia, and the Muslim Legal Network, have called on universities to replace the antisemitism definition with a single anti-racism standard that would address all forms of discrimination, regardless of race or religion. They argue that a separate definition for Islamophobia would only perpetuate division and double standards between communities.
In a joint statement, the groups said adopting individual definitions for antisemitism and Islamophobia would “perpetuate double standards” and risk “suppressing legitimate criticism of Israel.” They warned that narrow definitions could create gaps, leaving some individuals unprotected from racism and discrimination. The definition adopted by universities states that criticism of Israeli government policies is not inherently antisemitic, but it could be if grounded in harmful stereotypes or if it calls for the elimination of Israel or all Jews, or if it holds Jewish individuals or communities responsible for Israel’s actions.
Vicki Thomson, Chief Executive of the Group of Eight (Go8), which represents Australia’s leading universities, stated that the new definition was developed at the request of Jillian Segal, the special envoy to combat antisemitism. She pointed out that universities have long been committed to addressing Islamophobia alongside other forms of racism. “This does not take away from the fact that our universities have been undertaking important work to address Islamophobia, as well as other forms of racism on our campuses,” she said. “It is not a matter of either/or.”
Some universities, including Monash University, have been consulting with Muslim students and staff about the possibility of developing a separate definition for Islamophobia as part of their broader anti-racism commitments. The University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney are also considering this approach.
However, the Muslim and pro-Palestinian groups strongly oppose the implementation of a separate Islamophobia definition. They argue that such a move would shield universities from criticism of the antisemitism definition, while also excluding Palestinian voices. Rita Jabri Markwell, legal adviser to Aman, said the new definition would “make matters worse.” She explained that while the antisemitism definition encroaches on Palestinian rights and freedom of expression, “it’s unlikely any Islamophobia definition could remedy that problem.”
Markwell further argued, “Allowing universities to adopt different standards for different groups is not the answer. If there is an institutional bias that already exists, universities will be able to use whichever definition they prefer. We need one unified standard that rejects dehumanisation and promotes equality for all, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion.”
The coalition of groups has supported the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network’s definition of dehumanisation, which has been in use since the Christchurch massacre in 2019. This definition challenges hate speech and harmful stereotypes directed at any group based on race, religion, or ethnicity. It defines dehumanisation as “material produced or published, which an ordinary person would conclude, portrays the class of persons identified on the basis of a protected characteristic as not deserving to be treated equally to other humans because they lack qualities intrinsic to humans.”
Nasser Mashni, President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, criticised the proposed separate definitions, saying they would only address part of the problem. “It’s Palestinian racism,” he said. “You can experience it as a Muslim, also as a teacher who’s scared to teach a class because of the antisemitism definition, or a student who decides to self-censor.” He added, “We don’t want any separate definitions, there should not be this hierarchy of hate.”
Luke Sheehy, CEO of Universities Australia, acknowledged the prevalence of racism on campuses and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to addressing all forms of discrimination. “Sadly, university campuses are not immune to racism in all forms, including antisemitism, Islamophobia and the experience of First Nations people,” he said. Sheehy added that Universities Australia had written to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) to seek their support in harmonising efforts to combat racism and ensure consistent approaches to discrimination.
Some Jewish groups that initially supported the IHRA definition remain uncertain about its effectiveness. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which represents over 200 Jewish groups nationwide, expressed hope that the new definition would lead to better identification of antisemitic conduct and more effective complaint handling on university campuses. However, they noted that they would await the practical implementation of the new definition.
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