Gillian Triggs speaking

Gillian Triggs: Yassmin Abdel-Magied backlash linked to Muslim hostility

Human Rights Commission President Gillian Triggs has strengthened her public defence of Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied, linking the backlash to her controversial ANZAC Day social media posts to rising anti-Islamic sentiment.

In her last appearance at Senate estimates, Professor Triggs today suggested the public backlash towards Ms Abdel-Magied over the posts was motivated by a growing hostility towards Muslim women.

She declined to say Ms Abdel-Magied’s comments were offensive when pushed by Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz, instead describing them as “most inappropriate.”

“The key point I was making was that the comment was unfortunately made on ANZAC Day. It was rapidly apologised for. And I think the response in relation to it was been seriously out of proportion to the mistake that was admittedly made,” Professor Triggs said. “My key concern has been the rising level of discrimination against Muslims in Australia and sadly, in particular, against Muslim women wearing the hijab. So that was the context in which these remarks were made.”

Read the full article by Joe Kelly at The Australian (subscription only).