Muslim Voices: Hopes & Aspirations of Muslim Australians
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Centre for Muslim Minorities & Islam Policy Studies School of Political and Social Inquiry Faculty of Arts Monash University 900 Dandenong Road Caulfield East Victoria 3145 AUSTRALIA © Copyright 2009 Report commissioned by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship The Department of Immigration and Citizenship provides funding to o rganisations under the National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security. The views expressed in this publication are those o f the funded author, researcher or organisation and are not an e ndorsement by the Commonwealth of this publication and not an i ndication of the Commonwealth’s commitment to any particular course of action. ! Muslim Voices: Hopes & Aspirations of Muslim Australians About the Centre The Centre for Muslim Minorities and Islam Policy Studies (CMMIPS) is dedicated to the promotion of civic harmony, social cohesion and enhanced global understanding. The CMMIPS is committed to the study of the Muslim experience in Australia and the contributions that Muslim Australians make to the future prosperity of this multicultural land. Research Team Associate Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh Director Professor Gary D. Bouma UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations – Asia Pacific Ms Rachel Woodlock Researcher Dr Rod Ling, Mr Aamer Rahman, Mr Zachary Russell Research Assistants Acknowledgements This research project is generously supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Many thanks to the participants who selflessly contributed their time to fill in questionnaires. Special thanks go to Ms Mahwish Hussain, Ms Fatima Malik, and Ms Sarah Malik for assisting with the gathering of data. Many thanks also to Imam Afroz Ali from the Al-Ghazzali Centre for Islamic Sciences and Human Development; Mr Chenor Bah; Ms Zainab Beydoun from Al-Emaan Australian Community; Ms Faten Dana from Muslim Women’s Welfare Australia; Mr Gary Dargan; Ms Hanan Dover from Mission of Hope; Mr David Drennan; Mr Mohammad Dukuly; Ms Yasmine Ibrahim; Ms Silma Ihram; Sheikh Ibrahim Ishafie from Al Amanah College; Dr Waleed Kadous; Dr Sayeed Laban; Dr Farah Magrabi; Mr Salem Naja from the Auburn Migrant Resource Centre; Mr Kuranda Seyfi Seyit from Forum on Australia’s Islamic Relations; Ms Jemima Shafei-Ongu; Ms Nada Roude from the Islamic Council of NSW; and Ms Lisa Worthington from the Australian New Muslims Association for their invaluable assistance in giving feedback on the project and assisting with soliciting participants. Thanks also to Mr Daniel Edwards; Dr Sayed Khatab and Mr John Woodlock for offering their technical expertise in statistical analysis, Arabic translation and IT services respectively. iii! Muslim Voices: Hopes & Aspirations of Muslim Australians Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................... 1! Introduction ...................................................................................................... 3! Demographic Picture ..................................................................................... 14! Muslim Australian Voices............................................................................... 18! Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 40! Recommendations ......................................................................................... 43! ! iv! Muslim Voices: Hopes & Aspirations of Muslim Australians Index of Figures Figure 1. Top ten responses to the question of ancestry................................. 6 Figure 2. Citizenship status of migrants........................................................... 6 Figure 3. Being Muslim Australian. .................................................................. 6 Figure 4. Ranking of values perceived by Muslims to exist in Australian society.............................................................................................................. 6 Figure 5. Gross annual income of employed participants by part/full-time status. .............................................................................................................. 6 Figure 6. Levels of happiness and security among working participants......... 6 Figure 7. Personal wellbeing of Muslim Australian participants compared to Australians from AUWI survey 17. ................................................................. 35 Figure 8. Comparing personal wellbeing among categories of Muslim Australians. .................................................................................................... 37 Figure 9. Rating quality of life for Muslim men and women in Australia over five years, and as compared to Muslim-majority countries............................ 39 ! v! Muslim Voices: Hopes & Aspirations of Muslim Australians Index of Tables Table 1. Types of organisations invited to participate in survey. .................. 14 Table 2. Age range of participants................................................................. 15 Table 3. Top ten birthplaces of participants' parents. .................................... 16 Table 4. Being a good Muslim and a good Australian. .................................. 18 Table 5. Importance of maintaining Australian, ethnic and Muslim identities. 19 Table 6. Maintaining Australian, ethnic and Muslim identities, by generation.20 Table 7. Strength of relationship to country of origin. .................................... 24 Table 8. Communicating with family and friends in country of origin............. 24 Table 9. Current marital status of participants, by age groups. ..................... 25 Table 10. Housing situation of participants.................................................... 26 Table 11. Employment status of participants, by sex..................................... 26 Table 12. Gross annual personal income of employed participants. ............. 26 Table 13. Education level of participants. ...................................................... 28 Table 14. Activities undertaken by participants by cumulating time intervals. 29 Table 15. Perceptions of rise/decline in racism and prejudice....................... 30 Table 16. Perceptions of a rise/decline in extremism. ................................... 33 Table 17. Personal wellbeing of Muslim Australian participants compared to Australians from AUWI survey 17. ................................................................. 35 Table 18. Comparing the wellbeing of Australian-born and migrant Muslims, by sex............................................................................................................. 37 Table 19. Rating quality of life for Muslim men and women in Australia over five years, and compared to Muslim-majority countries................................. 38 Table 20. Standard of living across generation, and income, compared to Australians generally...................................................................................... 39 vi! Muslim Voices: Hopes & Aspirations of Muslim Australians Executive Summary The nature of the settlement and integration of Muslims in Australia has been of interest to government, media and the general population for a number of years, and yet comparatively little evidence-based research has been conducted on the hopes, aspirations, concerns and worries of Muslim Australians themselves. This report is a first step in addressing this gap, with a nuanced account of the thoughts and opinions of Muslims living in the nation’s largest city. It is the result of a qualitative research project based on analysis of data arising from three focus groups and two hundred and ninety questionnaires covering a variety of questions in the following areas: wellbeing and happiness; living in Australia; relationship with country of origin for immigrants; values and characteristics; relationships and leisure; religion and spirituality; work and employment; education; and economics. The research found that religiously observant Muslims see themselves as good Muslims and good Australians and believe their religious practice positively influences their contributions to Australian society. Furthermore, they value their ethnic and Australian identities but their religious identity is most important. Life in Australia is considered better than in Muslim-majority countries, particularly for Muslim women although this was perceived to have degraded over the last five years. Muslims perceive Australian values positively including notions of freedom, a fair go, doing your best and compassion—attributes they hold in high esteem. However there is a strong sense that Australian society is influenced by a trend towards Americanisation, and where experiences of racism and discrimination occur, these are seen as a failure by some to live up to the high ideals Australia promotes. There was repeated mention of frustration with the negative stereotypes and rhetoric about Muslims coming from some sections of the government and media, particularly given overseas crisis events such as terrorist bombings involving Muslims, and Muslim Australians feel themselves to be under enormous scrutiny. Extremism, whether real or imagined, is rejected as un- ! 1 Muslim Voices: Hopes & Aspirations of Muslim Australians Islamic and religious Muslims feel a burden to emphasise their understanding of Islam as a religion of peace and kindness to others. Socialising and interacting with the wider society is