SYDNEY: Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday condemned a “reprehensible” assault on two Muslim women at a shopping centre, rejecting criticism that Islamophobia was treated less seriously than anti-Semitism.

Victoria Police said on Wednesday a female suspect would appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court over the alleged assault.

Two Muslim women — a 30-year-old and a 26-year-old — allegedly sustained non life-threatening injuries.

The country’s Islamic community, joined by Test cricketer Usman Khawaja, have pointed to the Feb 13 incident in Melbourne as an example of the insufficient government response to threats against Muslims.

Asked if the government would have reacted more swiftly if the incident had been anti-Semitic, Albanese told journalists that an attack on anyone because of their faith was “reprehensible”.

“I take all attacks on people on the basis of their faith seriously, and they should all face the full force of the law.” Albanese faced criticism earlier this week for not condemning the attack sooner. Australian leaders have been vocal in condemning a series of anti-Semitic incidents over recent months in which vandals have torched a Sydney childcare centre, firebombed a Melbourne synagogue and scrawled anti-Semitic graffiti in Jewish neighbourhoods.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2025