Australian Test cricket veteran Usman Khawaja’s daughters have been targeted by vile trolls because of his Muslim faith following the shocking attack on Bondi Beach, his wife Rachel has revealed.
The horror of that day has heightened anti-Islamic sentiments in Australia after the alleged shooters, father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, were accused of having links to extreme terrorist organisation Islamic State.
Khawaja is a Muslim cricketer who has spoken openly about his Islamic faith throughout his international career.
He was born in Islamabad, Pakistan, and moved to Australia with his family at the age of five.
Khawaja was raised in Sydney, where he developed as a cricketer.
He has publicly addressed Islamophobia, including speaking about abuse directed at Muslim athletes and the need for greater understanding and inclusion in sport.
Rachel Khawaja has posted some of the vile abuse that has been directed at her family since the Bondi massacre (she is pictured with husband Usman and their daughters)
She revealed the abuse is nothing new – but has become markedly worse since the shooting atrocity at the famous beach
Anti-Islamic sentiment has risen in Australia since the Bondi mass shooting and prominent figures like Khawaja have been targeted
Now he has become a target again, with Rachel posting examples of the horrific abuse that has extended to their daughters Aisha and Ayla.
‘I’ve collected a small sample size of some of the comments we have received over the past week,’ she posted.
‘I would love to say this is new, but sadly we have always received these kind of messages.
‘But of course, they have gotten worse.’
Some of the shocking comments called their daughters ‘future school blasters’ and said they had ‘cancer terr***** blood’.
There were also numerous comments telling the family to ‘go home’ to Pakistan.
Rachel shared comments about Bondi made by One Nation’s Pauline Hanson, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Liberal MP Andrew Hastie.
She also included a statement from the Jewish Council of Australia calling for unity and an end to antisemitism and racism in the community.
Rachel collated a number of horrible comments aimed at her family and shared them to Instagram
The mum of two also shared news snippets from a range of political leaders after they were shared by the Jewish Council of Australia
‘It is important now more than ever that we continue to come together and stay united,’ Rachel posted.
‘Whether it’s standing up against antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism, we shouldn’t stand for any of it.’
Usman Khawaja previously made several statements on Instagram in response to the slaughter.
He posted an image of his first statement on Sunday, along with the caption: ‘To the whole Bondi and Jewish community. 2 horrible crimes in 2 years.
‘Truly devastating news from Bondi today,’ he posted with a broken-heart emoji.
‘Lives lost senselessly, families shattered, the Bondi community traumatised.
‘There are no words – only heartbreak. My thoughts and prayers to all affected.’
Khawaja also shared a post from the Jewish Council of Australia.
‘We are horrified and shaken in the wake of the mass shooting at a Chanukah event in Bondi this evening, which has left at least 10 people dead and injured many more,’ the council’s post read.
Khawaja has been an outspoken opponent of Islamophobia since he first rose to the national Test cricket side
Tributes continue to flow at Bondi to honour the 15 lives that were lost in the mass shooting
‘This is the first night of Chanukah when we gather with loved ones and friends to light the Chanukiah.
‘Many within our community have just received the worst news of their lives. Others are caring for injured loved ones, and some are still waiting to hear that their families are safe.’
Khawaja shared his message again on Monday morning to his Instagram story, including a new update.
‘Up before the break of dawn and praying for the Jewish and Bondi community as a whole,’ he posted.
‘No room whatsoever for these hate crimes.’
During his career, Khawaja has made several political statements focused on human rights.
Those included attempting to display messages such as ‘All lives are equal’ and ‘Freedom is a human right’ written on his shoes during the 2023 Test series against Pakistan.
The ICC ruled that the messages breached its regulations on personal messages and instructed Khawaja to remove or cover them, citing rules that prohibit political, religious, or personal statements on playing equipment.
Cricket Australia confirmed it had spoken with Khawaja and supported compliance with ICC regulations, while stating it respected his right to express personal views outside of match play.
