In Muslim enclaves of southwest Sydney, Christians are regularly warned (by both Muslims and Christians) not to wear overtly Christian symbols such as crucifixes. One Australian man of Greek Orthodox heritage discovered too late what happens to those who ignore the warning. Mike, 30, wore a large cross while traveling on a train from Belmore Station, Sydney, with his girlfriend. Suddenly four young men of “Middle Eastern” appearance violently ripped the crucifix from around his neck, threw it to the ground and stomped on it, while yelling “F*** Jesus” and making references to “Allah.” They then punched and kicked him, including in the face. When his girlfriend attempted to defend him, two Arabic-speaking women attacked her. Mike said that five uniformed railway transport officers stood by idly watching the attack. According to a local Orthodox priest, “This is not an isolated incident. There are gangs of these young fellows of Muslim background who have been harassing people they identify as Christian… You don’t hear about it because no one’s reporting it.” He said there have been at least three other similar attacks around public transport in southwest Sydney recently: “It’s like their territory; they don’t want Christians or other types of infidels there… ”

Raymond Ibrahim