Muslims in Australia: Immigration, Race Relations and Cultural History

Abstract

In Muslims in Australia, Nahid Kabir seeks to understand the basis of mainstream Australians fear by tracing Muslim history since the Afghan settlement in 1860. In social, economic and political contexts, the author compares the Muslim experience with that of other racial and religious minorities in Australia. In the Colonial and 'White Australia' periods, she evaluates their position with that of the Aborigines, Chinese, Japanese, Irish and Germans. In the 'Multicultural' period, Muslims are compared with the Buddhists and Vietnamese people to present a comprehensive picture of Australian race relations history. She explores whether race or religion has kept these people underprivileged in the past and if these factors are still operative in a period when discrimination on the basis of race, colour, culture or religion has been officially declared unacceptable." "As stereotypes often do prevail, regardless of policy, the author investigates how events such as September 11 and Bali terrorist attacks reinforce suspicion and fear. This book gives an insight into what it means to be a Muslim in contemporary Australia, and how and why the actions of militant Islamic groups have impacted upon Muslims in general in Western society."--BOOK JACKET.