Communications
Media Releases
Official statements, press releases, open letters, and community updates from the Islamic Council of Victoria.
35 releases on record
2024
16 releasesAustralia must investigate our citizens fighting in the IDF for war crimes
The ICV calls upon the AFP to ensure any credible allegations of mass atrocity crimes committed by Australian citizens abroad are investigated and prosecuted.
Unholy alliance between the proponents of two racist ideologies must be called out
The ICV calls out the ideological connections between Hindutva and Zionism, and the coordinated efforts of their proponents to target Palestinian and Muslim advocates in Australia.
Conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism is a pernicious lie and must be rejected
Antisemitism is an ancient hatred of Jews. Zionism is a political ideology. Calling out the terrorism of Zionists does not make you antisemitic — many Jews and Jewish groups are doing exactly that.
Senator Fatima Payman should be applauded not punished for her principled stance
Senator Payman voted according to her conscience and demonstrated commendable courage and moral clarity. The Muslim community and millions who stand with Palestinians are very proud of her.
The ICV stands with Senator Fatima Payman
In crossing the floor to support the motion calling on the Senate to recognise Palestine, Senator Payman voted according to her conscience and demonstrated commendable courage and moral clarity.
The two sides are not morally equivalent
It is disingenuous at best, deceitful if not libelous at worst, to label peaceful university protests as hateful and antisemitic. One side calls for an end to slaughter; the other is a cheer squad for Israel's crimes.
The ICV welcomes the Australian government's decision to vote in favour of the UN resolution recognising Palestine
Australia has broken away from its closest ally the US, which is fully complicit in the genocide in Gaza. Australia must now cease all military and intelligence ties with Israel.
Announcement of collaboration between the Islamic Council of Victoria and Jewish Council of Australia
The ICV and the Jewish Council of Australia have formally met to discuss matters of common concern, including solidarity with the Palestinian people and standing against Islamophobia and antisemitism.
Pro-Palestine university encampments are a source of inspiration
Student and staff protestors hail from many backgrounds, most not Palestinian, many of them Jewish. Their demands are straightforward and honourable: stop university complicity in the Israeli genocide.
It is time for Australia to sanction Israel
The murder of heroic Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom should come as no surprise. In defiance of international court rulings and with a sense of complete impunity, Israel continues its murderous campaign in Gaza.
Calls for Muslim community to be silent in face of injustice
The ICV and Muslim community stand firmly with President Adel Salman against this Islamophobic smear campaign. The Muslim community will not be blackmailed or bullied into silence.
Victorian Premier's Iftar 2024
The ICV welcomes Premier Jacinta Allan's announcement that this year's Premier's Iftar will be cancelled — an appropriate decision given the overwhelming sentiment from the Muslim community.
ICV Statement Regarding ABC Radio Interview Comments
ICV condemns the killing of innocent civilians on October 7. Comments about legitimate resistance are in reference to the right of Palestinians, like all peoples, to resist their occupation.
Sharing our Faith and Cultural Heritage — ICV's Victorian Mosque Open Day 2024
This year's VMOD will have a distinctly Palestinian theme to acknowledge the plight of the people of Gaza. Mosques across Victoria open their doors with a record number of participating sites.
Highest international court announces that Israel is on trial for genocide
The ICV hails the International Court of Justice's near unanimous decision. For Israel to comply with provisional measures it must stop killing civilians — one cannot fathom how Israel can meet this without ceasing its assault.
In this upside-down world, apologists for Israel accuse us of sowing division
Those who bear witness to evil and call for humanity and justice are sanctioned. Those who support evil by lying and malicious fearmongering are given a platform. The tide of public opinion has irrevocably turned.
2023
12 releasesDisgraceful attack on stalwart of multicultural Victoria for supporting Palestine
The Herald Sun stooped to new lows seeking to portray Mohamed Mohideen OAM — a long standing champion of multifaith engagement — as stoking antisemitism for highlighting the suffering of people of Gaza.
Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Who says? They do!
Under international law, to constitute genocide, there must be proven intent. The public statements of Israeli ministers since October 7 speak clearly to genocidal intent.
Open letter to ABC regarding biased moderation of Q&A panel on 13.11.2023
The ICV expresses deep concern about the biased moderation of the Q&A episode on the Israel-Palestine conflict, calling on ABC to carry out a review of the episode.
Authorities must take appropriate action on suspected hate crime against Palestinian-owned Melbourne business
The Caulfield branch of Burgertory was destroyed by a suspicious fire after weeks of abuse and vilification. The ICV calls for a thorough investigation and for it to be treated as a hate crime.
Australia did not vote to end the Gaza killing fields
Australia was one of a minority of nations that chose to abstain on a UN resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza. The ICV is furious and dismayed by the government's decision.
Open Letter to the Prime Minister
We write with great disappointment at the way you have openly supported Israel as it commits genocide and crimes against humanity. Palestinians have been subjected to 75 years of military occupation.
Ten thousand Victorians rally to demand an end to the barbaric assault and siege of Gaza
2,670 Palestinians killed in Gaza by Israeli bombs since October 7th, over 1,000 of them children. Protesters heard from Jewish, First Nations, and Palestinian voices united in demanding an end to the brutality.
United We Stand: Joint Statement by Australian Muslims
Australian Muslim community organisations issue a joint statement raising deep concern about the grave situation in Palestine and strongly rejecting the one-sided portrayal of the issue in Australia.
Palestinians have the right to defend themselves too, Prime Minister
What is happening now in Gaza has a context. The Palestinians would not launch an assault against Israel if they were not desperate and felt they had no alternative after 75 years of occupation.
Australia must use its considerable influence to pressure the Indian government to stop the daily persecution of Muslims and other minorities
Over forty Muslim community organisations have signed an open letter to the PM calling on him to appeal to Modi to take immediate measures to end ongoing human rights violations in India.
Banning the ISIS flag sounds obvious but it risks inadvertently increasing Islamophobia
The Shahada — the Islamic declaration of faith — is sacred to 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. The government must not rush through legislation that would inadvertently criminalise the core tenet of the Islamic faith.
The ICV supports enshrining a First Nations Voice in our Constitution
Muslims have a long history of rich engagement with the First Nations people of this continent predating European colonisation. The ICV encourages all Muslims and all Australians to vote yes.
2022
6 releasesThe ICV welcomes the decision by the Albanese Labor government on Jerusalem
The ICV welcomes the decision to reverse the Morrison government's move to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and urges the government to move decisively with its commitment to recognise Palestine.
The ICV welcomes the commitment by Victorian Liberal Party to religious freedom
The ICV welcomes the commitment by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and the Victorian Liberal Party to fund the ICV City Centre and to progress Equal Opportunity Act provisions.
Extreme Islamophobe and purveyor of hate not welcome in Australia
Indian MP Tejasvi Surya, an unapologetic Islamophobe, has been invited to speak at the annual Australia India Youth Dialogue. The ICV calls upon the AIYD to withdraw its invitation.
Australian children are innocent and are not a threat. Prime Minister — BRING THEM HOME
41 Australian children, two thirds under the age of seven, remain deeply traumatised in camps in northeast Syria. Australia has a moral and legal obligation to return these vulnerable innocent children home.
People of faith feel let down by our politicians' failure to guarantee religious freedom
Australian law protects against many forms of discrimination but religious belief is not a protected attribute. This is a glaring gap in our anti-discrimination framework that must be addressed.
Sharing our Faith and Cultural Heritage — ICV's Victorian Mosque Open Day 2022
As Victorians welcome the end of many COVID restrictions, the Mosque Open Day is a great opportunity to get out and connect with neighbours and satisfy curiosity about fellow Victorian Muslims.