By Pascal Ibe

Introduction

Islamophobia is a fear, prejudice, and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility, and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement, and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world. Motivated by institutional, ideological, political, and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, it targets the symbols and markers of being a Muslim.

This definition emphasises the link between institutional levels of Islamophobia and manifestations of such attitudes, triggered by the visibility of the victim’s perceived Muslim identity. This approach also interprets Islamophobia as a form of racism, whereby the Islamic religion, tradition, and culture are seen as a ‘threat’ to Western values.

Some experts prefer the label ‘anti-Muslim hatred,’ fearing that the term ‘Islamophobia’ risks condemning all critiques of Islam and, therefore, could stifle freedom of expression. But international human rights law protects individuals, not religions. And Islamophobia may also affect non-Muslims, based on perceptions of nationality, race, or ethnic background.

Claim

An X user, Radio Europe recently shared a video showing Muslims marching in a city alongside the claim that they were seeking Sharia Law in Sydney, Australia.

The X user posted the video with a caption that reads, “BREAKING NEWS Tens of thousands of Muslim migrants marched for Sharia law in Sydney. Even in Australia…

The post has generated over a million views, thousands of reposts, and likes.

Verification

First, Fact Checker subjected a keyframe from the video to Google Lens Search and the results showed that the video first appeared online on the 6th July 2025.

A TikTok user, Azad Kanabi posted this video in July with hashtags, #hawler_slemani_dhok_karkuk_hall
#abja #australia
#world
#usa #uk

Also, a Facebook page known as Imam Ali Centre Sydney, posted this same in July and wrote, “Ashura Juloos Sydney
#Ashura2025
#muharram1447

FACTWATCH Nigeria searched “Ashura” on Google and found that it comes from the word “Asharah”, which means ten in Arabic. Fittingly, it falls on the 10th of Muharram.

The Day of Ashura commemorates various significant historical events. This includes the day when Allah (SWT) saved Prophet Musa (AS) and his people from the tyranny of Pharaoh (Fir’aun) in Egypt.

Ashura is also a solemn occasion. It marks the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (AS) (also referred to as Imam Hussein ibn Ali), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), along with his family members and companions, in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.

In the Islamic (Hijri) Calendar, certain days are more virtuous than others. One such day is the 10th of Muharram, the Day of Ashura, which falls in the first month of the Hijri year.

Last year, the Day of Ashura fell on July 16, 2024. This year, Ashura 2025 is projected to occur on July 5, 2025. This is subject to change depending on the sighting of the moon.

Verdict

Our findings indicate that the video posted by Radio Europe on the X platform depicting Muslims marching to seek Sharia Law in Sydney, Australia is MISLEADING. The video was a procession to commemorate the Ashura occasion.