Labor to appoint British academic Aftab Malik as new Islamophobia envoy

The Albanese government is due to announce British academic Aftab Malik as the special envoy to combat Islamophobia in Australia after months of delays.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said in early July that two envoys would be established – one to tackle antisemitism and another to look at Islamophobia during the war in Gaza.

Lawyer Jillian Segal was announced as the antisemitism envoy shortly afterwards but Labor delayed announcing the Islamophobia envoy amid reports people had turned down the role.

But on Monday sources confirmed to the Guardian that Malik was to be appointed with the news announced at a Muslim community event later in the evening.

Malik currently works in the NSW premier’s department. He has previously held roles at the Lebanese Muslim Association.

He is a former executive director of the Zaytuna Institute, a college in Berkeley, California, and has been designated a “global expert” on Muslim affairs for the UN’s Alliance of Civilizations.

The Guardian understands that up to four others were considered for the Islamophobia envoy role including school principal Ali Kadri and community leader Jamal Rifi.

Previous talks stalled over concerns regarding how such a role could represent diverse Muslim communities and if the envoy would be able to criticise government policy, sources say.

Tony Burke, the minister for home affairs, and Malik have been approached for comment.