New face of Islamophobia surfaces in Sydney

Sydney, June 2 : Islamophobia has acquired a new meaning in Sydney.

There was a time when angry young men draped in Australian flags and brandishing beer bottles rampaged through Cronulla terrorising anyone who looked Middle Eastern.

Now, Australians wear large Akubra hats plastered with Australian flag stickers and say Muslims are taking their welfare and don't live by rules, and therefore, are not welcome in Camden.

Different faces, but the message is the same -- They do not want Muslims on their beaches, in their streets, in their suburbs, reports the Courier Mail.

Experts say the Camden affair is the latest sign of worsening Islamophobia in Sydney, and will only add to intolerance.

University of Western Sydney human geography professor Kevin Dunn calls the steadily worsening intolerance to Muslims as cumulative Islamophobia.

The Qur'anic Society has already said it plans to appeal against the Camden decision.

Last year, New South Wales Police established a new position to look at the force's response to hate crimes.

ANI