Racist hate mail sent to Australian politicians bears the hallmarks of a letter-writing campaign previously targeting the Lakemba Mosque, suggesting a coordinated effort to intimidate Muslim community leaders and their political allies.
The ABC has obtained letters sent to multiple federal and state politicians containing similar racist rhetoric, formatting, and language to correspondence sent to the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney's southwest.
The letters contain inflammatory anti-Muslim statements and appear designed to intimidate recipients and stoke community tensions. Several MPs who have spoken out against Islamophobia or supported multicultural policies have received the correspondence.
Police are investigating the letters, which may constitute criminal offenses under racial vilification and intimidation laws. The Australian Federal Police declined to comment on specific investigations but confirmed they take threats against parliamentarians seriously.
The Lakemba Mosque, one of Australia's largest and most prominent Islamic institutions, has long been a target of far-right activists and has received numerous threats over the years. The mosque serves a diverse Muslim community in Sydney's Canterbury-Bankstown region.
Mate, this isn't just random hatred—this is organized intimidation. Someone is running a campaign to silence politicians who stand up for multiculturalism.
Community leaders and anti-racism advocates have expressed alarm at what appears to be a coordinated campaign. They note that such letter-writing efforts often serve to normalize extreme views and embolden others to engage in harassment.
The letters come amid rising concerns about far-right extremism in Australia. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation has warned that right-wing extremism now accounts for roughly 40% of its priority counterterrorism caseload, up from 10-15% a decade ago.
Muslim community leaders called for stronger action against those spreading hatred. "These letters are meant to intimidate us into silence," said one community representative. "But we won't be silenced."
Several politicians who received the letters have shared them publicly to expose the hatred they face. Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, who has previously been targeted by racist abuse, said such correspondence has become "disturbingly common."
Experts on extremism say letter-writing campaigns are often precursors to more serious threats or violence, making it crucial that authorities investigate thoroughly and hold perpetrators accountable.
