“The perpetrators should be held fully to account and face the full force of the law.”

Fatima Payman’s criticism of Anthony Albanese

“Where is the outrage?”

Independent senator Fatima Payman has questioned why Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not done more to publicly condemn the alleged Islamophobic attacks on two women in Melbourne. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Echoing Payman’s comments, the Islamic Council of Victoria’s Adel Salman said Australian leaders should be treating anti-Muslim hatred as seriously as they have antisemitism and other hate-based crimes.

“When compared to the swift and significant attention given to less-severe incidents affecting other communities, the disparity in response is not only apparent but also unacceptable,” he said.

Anthony Albanese says race and faith-based attacks ‘an outrage’

The victims of the Epping attack, one of who is pregnant, were taken to hospital with bruises, scratches and potentially long-term physical injuries, the Australian National Imams Council said.

Comissioner says Australia has ‘a problem with racism’

Race discrimination commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman said the incidents showed Islamophobia was a significant concern in Australia and that it often manifested in violence towards visibly Muslim women.

Australia’s race discrimination commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, says social cohesion comes with acknowledging that racism exists. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

“It was shocking to hear about these attacks — they were violent, unprovoked, distressing,” Sivaraman told SBS News.

— With additional reporting from the Australian Associated Press.