E/CN.4/2002/24/Add.1 page 46 at all levels, such entrenched stereotypes will continually threaten to depoliticize and marginalize our specific political and social aspirations and will continue to have very real and negative consequences for the Arabic community, most notably in the form of racism”. 98. Members of the Arab community have reported to the Council that they have been victims of physical assaults, attacks on their private property and verbal racist insults, and have received racist messages by ordinary mail or by e-mail. Attacks on mosques have also been reported. Such incidents increased during the Gulf war and are again increasing with the exacerbation of the conflict in the Middle East. “Dirty Arab”, “Arabs deserve to die” and “Go home, Arab; we don’t want you here” are frequently heard remarks. Many incidents occur in schools and on campuses, where Arab schoolchildren and students are abused by teachers or fellow students having anti-Arab views. Veiled women or women wearing the “hijab” are often verbally abused. Such incidents are not always reported to the police or to the race discrimination commissions because the victims feel excluded from Australian society and do not expect to win their case. 99. Discrimination in employment against Muslims in general and against Arab Muslims in particular is frequent. Thus there have been cases where employers have asked Arab job-seekers to change their name if they wanted to be recruited. One Australian of Palestinian origin, an aeroplane mechanic who was born in Australia and applied for a job with an airline, had to undergo a uniquely rigorous security check before he was hired. 3. Situations relating to immigration and asylum policy 100. Although the visit did not focus on immigration and asylum issues, some of the Special Rapporteur’s interlocutors insisted on providing him with information on those issues which they think should be the subject of serious concern. 101. It has been reported that there is currently a campaign against refugees and immigrants which is orchestrated by the media and often backed by some members of the federal Government. With populist insinuations, migrants are being accused of creating unemployment and profiting from the system or invading Australia, etc. Increased discrimination in granting visas for Asian countries and for Muslims has been noted. The federal Government is increasingly opposed to family reunification, notably for persons admitted as refugees or migrants. This situation particularly affects Afghan refugees and migrants. Australia’s immigration policy took a dramatic turn when, on 3 April 2001, Mr. Shahraz Kayani, an immigrant of Pakistani origin, was driven to despair and burnt himself to death in front of the federal Parliament building in Canberra. After having been granted refugee status in 1995, Mr. Kayani became an Australian citizen in 1999 and submitted several applications for his wife and disabled daughter to join him. In 1997 and 1999, the Department of Immigration refused to grant his family members entry visas on the ground that his sick daughter would be a financial burden on Australian social security. 102. At the professional level, migrants - especially those coming from non-English-speaking countries - also have to deal with the non-recognition of their qualifications and experience. They often have to study again and pass new examinations in Australia in order to be able to