Islam in Australia: A National Survey of Muslim Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents

Halim Rane,Riyad H Rahimullah,Paul Mitchell,Adis Duderija,Shane Satterley,Jessica Mamone

doi:10.3390/rel11080419

Abstract

This article presents the findings of a national survey on Islam in Australia based on responses of 1034 Muslim Australian citizens and permanent residents. Knowing what Muslim Australians think about Islam in relation to Australian society is essential for a more informed understanding about Islam and Muslims needed to address misinformation, Islamophobia, and extremism. The findings presented in this article include typologies of Muslims; sources of influence concerning Islam; interpretations of the Qur’an; perspectives on ethical, social, and theological issues; issues of concern; social connections and sense of belonging; views on various Muslim-majority countries; and perspectives concerning political Islam, including jihad, caliphate, and shariah. While respondents’ understandings, interpretations, and expressions of Islam overall align with values and principles of equality, human rights, social cohesion, and social justice, a minority were found to understand and interpret Islam in ways that reflect the influence of late 20th and early 21st century ideas associated with Islamist political ideology, and a smaller sub-group were found to have views that could be considered extreme. This article discusses these findings in relation to the early 21st century time-period factors and the Australian social context.

Highlights

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 and the ‘War on Terror’, Islam and Muslims have been a constant focus of media, political and public attention.The faith and its adherents have been routinely framed within the context of conflict, violence, and terrorism (Rane et al 2014)
The intention in asking these questions was to enable the voices of Muslim Australians to contribute to these debates so as to provide wider Australian society with a resource to better understand Islam and Muslims from the perspective of those who live it
The findings of this research suggest that stereotypical constructions of Islam and Muslims that have proliferated in mass media and political discourse over the past two decades are not consistent with the beliefs and lived realities of the vast majority of Muslim Australians

Summary

Introduction

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 and the ‘War on Terror’, Islam and Muslims have been a constant focus of media, political and public attention.The faith and its adherents have been routinely framed within the context of conflict, violence, and terrorism (Rane et al 2014). In Australia, a number of factors have contributed to a perception that Islam and Muslims threaten peace and security, including: (i) Australia’s National Terrorism Threat Level assessment. Between 1986 and 1991, Australia’s Muslim population experienced a growth rate of 35 percent primarily due to immigration. During this period, nearly 100,000 Muslims arrived in Australia, mostly from the Middle East (Bouma 1995). Nearly 100,000 Muslims arrived in Australia, mostly from the Middle East (Bouma 1995) This was followed by a further doubling of the Muslim population by 2011.

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Discussion

Conclusion