Letter dated 16/08/2021
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Dear Australia,
There are some things you need to understand.
We know that some media portray Muslim people in ways that brain washes the rest of the world. There are so many horrible stereotypes about Islam even 20 years after the September 11 terror attacks in the United States where 19 violent men deliberately crashed two planes into New York's Twin Towers, another plane into the Pentagon and they tried to target Washington DC but this plane crash into the field.
Almost 3000 people from more than 90 nations were killed and 10,000 treated for injuries.
The people who conducted these terrorist attacks were apparently Muslim people but actually are they were extremists as the Islamic faith is all about peace.
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There any many negative stereotypes around Islam.
Often people assume that woman are treated poorly, don't have a voice or that are made to wear hijabs but for many actually it's a choice to wear their headdress because it's part of their religion and some women want to maintain privacy and to feel closer to their god.
People think that Muslim people who either wear a hijab, niqab or burka are hiding something because most people don't understand the Islamic religion and choose to believe everything the media portrays on the news.
People often assume that Muslim people are involved in the terrorist attacks around the world when actually they are the most targeted group of people.
Australia is a country rich in diversity and everyone, no matter their religion and beliefs, has the right to feel safe and included.
In order to stamp out racism we need to never make assumptions based on religion or skin colour.
It is very important that we know that if we are unsure of something we ask questions and learn from what people share with us.
To embrace diversity, we need to think about the language we are using and how words can affect a person.
We need to educate not only kids in schools but our community, our country and the whole world.
I believe that Muslim people shouldn't have to live under these stereotypes.
We need to have harsher penalties to stop racism or we will never be able to reduce its impact. There needs to be huge on the spot fines and jail time, and we need to call out and stand up to racism in every setting.
It's time for the world to come together, and fight this together, so we can embrace diversity.
Yours sincerely,
Jayde Birse
- Jayde Birse writes for The Courier's youth platform SHOUT