A Muslim community is reeling after police chose not to immediately arrest a man accused of barging into an Iftar dinner and uttering racist slurs.
The 37-year-old man, described as partially naked, forced his way into an Iftar dinner at a community hall in the Victoria suburb of Alfredton on Sunday.
Muslims observe Iftar at sunset in Ramadan, a holy month of fasting in Islam.
After allegedly threatening children outside the venue, the man allegedly directed racist and hateful language towards those inside and shouted slogans against Allah.
They called the police and discovered the man detained.
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“Police questioned a 37-year-old man at the scene and then instructed him to proceed,” Victoria Police said. “The investigation into the incident is ongoing.”
A petition to local federal MP Catherine King, Ballarat Mayor Tracey Hargreaves and regional city police demanded a thorough investigation and appropriate legal action, including charging the trespasser.
It has attracted more than 1,000 signatories as of Wednesday morning.
“Behavior involving threats, intimidation and racist abuse should not be tolerated, especially in the presence of children,” the petition said.
It comes after Victoria Police came under fire for their handling of an alleged assault on a woman walking along the Goldfields Track from Bendigo to Ballarat in late December, declaring no foul play was detected after a “thorough investigation”.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke will discuss the incident in a meeting with Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett on Wednesday.
“People who come in shouting insults, intimidating people and using dehumanizing language against people for observing their faith, don’t pretend to be patriotic,” he told reporters in Canberra. “That’s the opposite of who we are as Australians.
“A lot of this, as I understand it, is caught on video, and just because there wasn’t an immediate arrest doesn’t mean the police won’t be watching it very closely.”
King described the incident as incredibly distressing and a “violent, racist attack.”
“Every Australian Muslim has the right to feel safe, just like every other Australian has the right to be safe and feel safe,” he wrote on social media. “At a community Iftar, at home and in the community.
“Leaders and elected officials who care about social cohesion have a responsibility to tone down their rhetoric and denounce behavior like this. We must all do our part to lower the temperature.”
In a statement, Ballarat City Council said it was deeply saddened and strongly condemned racial discrimination and intimidation.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said: “I have reached out to Ballarat’s Muslim community to offer my support following this horrific and violent incident.
“The rise of right-wing anti-Muslim rhetoric online and in parliament has serious consequences – ordinary Australians are being harmed.
“I’m tackling Islamophobia with strong leadership and tough laws because every Victorian deserves to feel safe.”
– Additional reporting by Benita Kolovos
