immigrant and a Muslim, Ms Ali has previously been told words to the effect of "go back to where you came from." Senator Hanson's tweet thus reminded her of her experience of those words. She felt personally offended by the tweet even though it was not directed to her personally.
72 Ms Ali said that she felt insulted and humiliated by the tweet, including because it came from a Senator, being an important position in Australian society, with a significant platform. Also, if Senator Faruqi could be the subject of such abuse, then ordinary people like Ms Ali could never be safe from such discriminatory words and sentiment.
73 Ms Ali said that she felt intimidated by Senator Hanson's tweet because it gave a platform and a voice to people who share similar thoughts and feelings. She saw that the tweet generated a significant volume of hatred and discrimination directed towards Senator Faruqi, including threats of violence. Knowing that people with those views could be anywhere around her made Ms Ali feel intimidated, hopeless, scared and unwelcome in the country that she calls home. On many occasions she has felt unsafe in public spaces.
74 Ms Ali recounted various instances of racism or other abuse based on her colour, ethnic origin or religion experienced by her. These included, for example, people yelling words to the effect of "fucking Muzzos" and "black bastards."
75 One of the earliest experiences of racism recalled by Ms Ali occurred when she was about eight years old. She and her older sister, who at the time was about 10 years old, were in a local shopping centre when an older white man approached them and angrily yelled in their faces words to the effect of "go back to where you came from." Ms Ali felt terrified, confused and upset. She and her sister began crying. She said that she was made to feel like she did not belong in Australia and that she was unwelcome in her own home. She recalls thinking that she did not know where else she was supposed to go.
76 In another incident, she and her four sisters had the day off from their Islamic school to celebrate Eid. They were in a park with their father playing football when a white man approached their father and yelled at him words to the following effect: "why aren't your kids in school?" The man also said words to the effect of "you are illiterate" and "you will need to integrate into the Australian way of life." The man later unleashed his dog which chased Ms Ali's family.
