"This is my mother; a person with extraordinary intelligence, and a wonderful heart."

Editor’s note: This week, Mamamia received an email from a young woman named Zahra. Zahra wrote to tell us about the beautiful Facebook status her brother had recently written about his mother.

Zahra wrote: “I cried when I read it because he expresses what so many within the Muslim community would feel.”

This is the post from Zahra’s brother, Musthafa Haryadi. We’re honoured to share it today.

This is my mother; a person with extraordinary intelligence, and a wonderful heart.

She has:

– B.Math from a prestigious university in Indonesia
– Post graduate diploma in science from the University of Western Australia
– Master of Science (MSc) from the University of Western Australia
– PhD from Curtin University of Technology Australia, and
– graduate certificate in teaching from the University of Newcastle.

She excelled academically, never having to pay a cent for her courses, awarded numerous scholarships.

She finished her PhD 9 MONTHS early despite raising my younger sister at the same time.

She also has numerous published papers.

She was a tenured lecturer and excellent researcher during her time at the University of Newcastle. Now she resides in Adelaide, working at Flinders University as she decided that it was time for a change.

She is highly respected by her colleague and her students.

She is also a respected part of the Muslim and Indonesian community.

Every year, a portion of her earnings always goes back to her parents and family in Indonesia, along with donations to an orphanage. Every. Year.

Despite her achievements, she will always celebrate and put my achievements (and my brother and sisters) over her own, even if I have failed her over and over.

Unfortunately, some people only focus on the fact that she wears a hijab.

Unfortunately, the hijab (or any Islamic head dress) equates to ISIS terrorists.

Unfortunately, she is now a possible target for bigots simply because she stands out a little more because of her head dress.

Unfortunately, she is a possible target simply because she exercises her faith and CHOSE to wear the hijab.

All the bigots, and ignorant people will see only one thing, possible terrorist.

I am not the best example of a Muslim, but I do love and care about the Muslim community.

Vandalism and assaults have occurred in QLD, NSW, VIC, and WA (to my knowledge) against Muslim Australians simply because they are Muslims.

I fear for my mother, I fear for every Muslim that displays their pride of their faith through traditional wear, I fear for their children because they are too young to understand, but will still experience possible hatred due to ignorance.

I fear especially, despite these hatred-fueled events over the past week or so, our PM haven’t denounced the violence against Muslim Australians, despite calling for “Team Australia” and for all Aussies of different racial, religious, sexual orientation, to unify.

If anyone who reads this has a problem with the hijab or Muslims, please kindly block me, or remove me from your social event/life.

Because some people are just so hateful and ignorant, they will never see nor try to understand the human wearing the hijab.

And that genuinely upsets me.

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