53-Year-Old Woman Arrested for Islamophobic Graffiti Spree

Women listen to a local Imam during National Mosque open day at the Werribee Islamic Centre in the suburb of Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne, Australia on October 25, 2014. Luis Ascui/Getty Images

New South Wales (NSW) Police arrested a 53-year-old woman on Feb. 15, for carrying out an anti-Arab graffiti spree over a six month period.

The woman, who scrawled messages like “Arabs are all terrorists,” was charged with nine counts of damaging property including the toilets at the Hornsby Westfield Shopping Centre and CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.

She was granted bail in Parramatta Local Court on Feb. 16.

The court heard she allegedly committed the offences between July last year and this weekend at both locations.

According to a police statement, the alleged acts were caught on CCTV.

Repeated Incidents and Offensive Graffiti

The woman is alleged to have used black texta to write her messages at Westfield Hornsby in July.

On Aug. 17 at the same shopping centre, she is accused of writing, “Islam is not a religion, it is a satanic cult. Muslims [expletive] off to Palestine.”

The message continued, “Muslims are terrorists and need to [expletive] off from our country.”

Over the next several months, she allegedly returned to the same shopping centre to write variations of anti-Arab and anti-Islamic comments, including, “Go to Palestine if you want to support the dogs there.”

She also scrawled similar style messages at CommBank Stadium on Feb. 15 on a public toilet door in black texta.

Condemnation and Call for Action

The Islamophobia Register Australia expressed outrage over the incidents.

“The language in this graffiti is filled with unfounded stereotypes, racial slurs, and inflammatory statements designed to sow division, fear and hatred. Such actions are not only morally reprehensible but also a violation of Australian values of inclusion, respect and coexistence,” a spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

Executive Director Nora Amath added, “Hate speech and Islamophobia, like all forms of racism, must be unequivocally condemned at every level. These incidents serve as a call to action for all Australians to stand united against racism, bigotry, and intolerance.”

Police Investigate Related Incidents in Melbourne

Meanwhile, in a related incident, Victoria Police is investigating fresh assaults in Melbourne on two women in hijabs.

Victoria Police said a 30-year-old from Lalor and a 26-year-old from Wollert, were allegedly attacked by the same assailant at Epping shopping centre on High Street between 1:10 p.m. and 1:20 p.m. on Feb. 13.

Investigators said both victims were attacked by a woman who then allegedly left on foot with a man. Police confirmed that investigations were ongoing, including “whether these were prejudice-motivated assaults.”