Muslim children as a threat

Abstract This study explores the impact of Islamophobia on Muslim children in Australia, shedding light on their lived experiences and the long-term consequences of anti-Muslim hostility. Drawing on 28 semi-structured interviews and four focus group discussions (FGD) conducted with Muslim parents, predominantly mothers, across New South Wales and Victoria, the study highlights the ways in which children are perceived as threats, often facing harassment in both formal settings, such as schools, and informal public spaces. The research exposes how institutional Islamophobia from government and media sources, creates a climate for individual experiences of Islamophobia identified by the parents. Overall, the findings reveal that Islamophobic discourse places a significant psychological burden on Muslim children, impacting their sense of belonging, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. The rhetoric of the “dangerous Muslim” extends to children, with instances of bullying, name-calling, and harassment contributing to children’s feelings of alienation and insecurity. Parents often experience heightened anxiety, which children internalize, further embedding the cycle of fear and exclusion that propels parents to adopt strategies to protect their children from emotional harm. The paper argues that Islamophobia is not an isolated issue but a systemic societal challenge that requires coordinated efforts to dismantle structural racism and Islamophobia. It calls for long-term, multi-stakeholder approaches.