Career
Rifi is known for winning the The Australian newspaper’s Australian of the Year, in January 2015. Rifi has been acknowledged for his work in trying to prevent the radicalisation of young people in Sydney and has been praised for his community work. However, he has also been criticised and received death threats, including from terrorist Mohamed Elomar, who once tweeted that he would give money to people who helped intimidate Rifi, whom he described as a "Habashi dog", and his family.
He has strongly criticised the content some of the material sold in Islamic bookshops, saying that it is better to discuss these issues rather than banning books
In 2010 he was a National Finalist as Australia"s Local Hero for the Australian of the Year. Subsequently in January 2015 he was chosen by The Australian newspaper as its alternate Australian of the Year.
In October 2015 Doctor Rifi was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Canberra.
