All Muslims Should not be Blamed for Actions of Select Few, Canberra Artist Says

Canberra, 22 Rajab 1437/01 Mei 2016 (MINA) – Blaming and shaming all Muslims for the misdeeds of a few is damaging community relations in Australia, Canberra artist Fatima Killeen says.

Like many Australian Muslims, the Moroccan-born artist is worried about Islamophobia aimed at ordinary Muslims who were blamed for the crimes of others, particularly the so-called Islamic State and other radical groups based overseas.

She pointed to an attack on three Muslim girls in Geelong in March, because they were wearing headscarves, as an example, abc.net was quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“They are young little girls who’ve been playing in park [and] have been targeted simply for having scarves on, I think it’s very hurtful to see that,” she said.

“I think if there was education on all of the subjects of tolerance and respect of other religions and ethnic backgrounds [and if it was] targeted at schools for example, I think there’ll be better outcomes.”

Kileen said there was no excuse for terrorism.

“I don’t support terrorism whatsoever,” she said.

“Any type of killing is a crime … usually it is people who are innocent out there in a cafe or whatever who get targeted [in terrorist attacks].”

She said she was also concerned about the radicalisation of young Muslims.

“The way to reach the young kids and the way to reach the youth is to actually have a good education. Somewhere like a museum can achieve that given the chance and the opportunity,” Killeen said.

“But I think there is a desperate need to target ignorance.”

Art used to educate, highlight injustice

Killeen said she was not afraid to be political in her work.

One of her pieces, called Looted, hangs in the Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA) in Melbourne. It depicts a crime scene and a finger print.

“I wanted to tell the world that Iraq has not only been targeted for its oil resource, [but] also the National Museum of Baghdad has been targeted,” Killeen said of the allied invasion of Iraq in 2003.

She said the IMA was an important institution for Australian Muslims.

“It’s giving a chance and an opportunity for so many people to come together and to understand more about the culture and the community living in Australia,” she said.

“I think art is important. It does contribute to social change at so many levels because a lot of people don’t understand [there are] many cultures in Islam and it [shows] many aspects about Islamic culture,”

In March Malcolm Turnbull became the first Prime Minister to pay a visit to the museum, with former treasurer Joe Hockey and other state MPs visiting previously.

“You see a lot of politicians during electioneering time around Muslim communities or other communities,” she said.

“But I think they really have to commit themselves fully to understanding and [expressing] tolerance towards various communities.

“Because politicians have the power to make positive changes, not necessarily [just] during election times.” (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

Agency (MINA)