A woman was shocked to discover her home had been targeted with disgusting Islamophobic graffiti.
Rita Manessis, 53, discovered the graffiti on the driveway of her home in Manningham, in Melbourne’s northeast, on Thursday night.
As the mother-of-four took out the bins, she smelled paint and saw the disgusting messages: ‘Out with the Muslim bullshit and ‘death to Palestine’ sprayed on the driveway.
Next to the mottos were several hand-drawn swastikas.
The mother of four believes they may have been attacked because she displays “Free Palestine” stickers and signs on the front of her home and on her car.
Mrs Manessis, who is not Muslim, immediately called the police.
She told ABC she was shocked, but “a little numb right now.”
Local Manningham community group Menzies for Palestine believes Ms Manessis’ property was attacked between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on Thursday night.
Rita Manessis discovered the graffiti on the driveway of her home in Manningham, in Melbourne’s northeast, on Thursday night.
Ms Manessis believes they may have been attacked because she displays “Free Palestine” stickers and posters on the front of her house and on her car.
Menzies Federal MP Keith Wolahan (pictured) called the graffiti attack ‘reprehensible’
The group stated in a social media post: “Menzies for Palestine condemns in the strongest terms the reprehensible act of hate speech and vandalism perpetrated against a resident in Manningham.”
“It is crucial to note that the resident is not of Palestinian, Muslim or Arab descent, but has been subjected to intimidation and harassment solely for his support of the Palestinian cause.”
Menzies federal MP Keith Wolahan called the graffiti attack “reprehensible”.
‘I contacted the local police, who are investigating.
‘The line between legitimate expression of highly charged emotions and ugly hatred looks like this. That line applies to all religions.’
The Australian Islamophobia Registry, an organization “dedicated to monitoring and combating Islamophobia in Australia,” said in a statement that it “continues to see a worrying increase in Islamophobic incidents compared to pre-October 7 levels in 2023.”
‘The Register previously reported on 23 October 2023 that reports of Islamophobia had increased tenfold, followed by a thirteen-fold increase a month later.
‘Unfortunately, since then, the number of incidents reported to the Registry has continued to increase at an alarming rate.
“In the same period following October 7, we have seen an alarming 39-fold increase in reported incidents on college campuses across the country.”
Victoria Police are investigating the Islamophobic graffiti incident in Manningham.
“There is absolutely no place in our society for hate-based symbols and behavior,” a police spokesperson said.
Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.