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SURFERS Paradise (Gold Coast) could be turned into a souk and Cavill Avenue into a kasbah as part of a bold plan to make the Gold Coast a 'Ramadan-friendly zone'.

Arabic-style marquees, traditional coffee shops, halal restaurants and Middle Eastern entertainment would pop up in Surfers, Broadbeach and at theme parks to encourage big-spending, long-staying Middle Eastern tourists to come here next year during the usually travel-shy holy period of Ramadan.

Nassif Lawand, managing director of inbound tour operators Lawand Tourism, said 2009 would be the first time in 30 years that Ramadan had encroached into the July-August period, traditionally the time Middle Eastern tourists flock to the Gold Coast to escape the stifling heat and sapping humidity of home.

The idea, Mr Lawand said, would not only attract Arabs during Ramadan when people were more reluctant to travel, but could also steal a march on some of the world's most glamorous cities. Muslims from Melbourne, Sydney, Malaysia and Indonesia could also be lured here as Surfers Paradise becomes 'Ramadan Paradise'.

"This could really be made into an opportunity because no other destinations that are global cities can do that -- I can't see Paris or London or Sydney or Geneva doing something like turning their destination into a Ramadan-friendly place," said Mr Lawand.

"Ramadan means they (Muslims) do things at night and sleep during the day, so we could do basic things like erecting a few Arabic tents around Surfers Paradise where they could sit around and smoke shisha (pipes) and drink (Arabic) coffees, perhaps making restaurants stay open at certain times and offering genuine halal foods so they can break their fast at that time."

His company had already discussed the idea with Gold Coast Tourism and Tourism Queensland and wanted to set up a working party including the Gold Coast City Council and local restaurateurs to make it happen.

Gold Coast Tourism's international director Gordon Price said he was right behind the transformation idea. "Because they are fasting from sunrise to sunset, what we would expect is quite an influx of people coming out at night-time en masse, so it's a question of creating some precincts in Surfers Paradise or maybe Broadbeach and maybe even at theme parks that provide them with that night-time activity," said Mr Price.

"And it's not just the food -- there's also potential for bringing some entertainers in and creating a real festival atmosphere where they can sit with compatriots and enjoy Ramadan."

Ramadan forbids all eating, drinking, smoking during the month of religious observance. "Or anything close to it -- you can't even look at a woman in a sexual manner," said Mr Lawand.

He laughed at a suggestion that the Surfers Paradise economically clad maids might have to be more circumspect during the holy month, should the plans go ahead.

"Maybe we'll just have to bring them out at night-time," said Mr Price.

Alternating nights at theme parks and nightly transfers to the Arundel mosque would also be part of the move.

Mr Lawand said the move would be an experiment, but worth a go, as Ramadan would enter further into July and August in 2010, 2011 and 2012, severely threatening the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
 

Source

At this week's Senate Standing Committee inquiry into the provisions of the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill 2008 the President of AFIC, Ikebal Patel made the following submission:

I will introduce Islam. The Arabic word ‘Islam’ means peace and submission. Anything related
to peace is a part of Islam and anything contradictory to peace is against the very nature of Islam. Islam is
about obeying Allah, the true god, and one of his attributes is Al-Islam—the peace. Muslims by default are
workers of peace, and that is what history tells us. However, the consequences of some events of the last
century and what we have been observing in recent years have totally misrepresented Islam and Muslims. This
has not been to the benefit of Muslims and other faiths alike, or peace.

Blaming a religion that has a brilliant track record of peace for everything evil on earth is unfair and
counterproductive. Hiding the real causes of evil under political convenience may only worsen the situation.
Condemning and opposing any oppression, injustice or harm to any innocent person is the responsibility of
every Muslim, regardless of the identity of the victim or the perpetrator. In the light of the current world
situation, the following observations and proposals may be considered seriously to improve community
relations and to build strong bonds amongst various segments of our society based on knowledge and shared
experiences.
 

The spread of fear and terror, whatever form they take and wherever they may be, is of great service to the
terrorist. It is equally true for any individual citizen or government. It is essential to evaluate the measures that
are in place to combat, stem or stop terrorism.

Read the rest of the pages 30-31
 

The Information session on the proposed extensions to the Mosque and Madrasah at the Kuraby Mosque drew a large number of people to the Mosque last Sunday.

Imraan Nathie walked through the preliminary plans with the attendees and a number of suggestions were put forward for consideration.

Further input is encouraged by sending in your suggestions, comments and questions to contact@kurabymosque.org.au
 

Nasser Mashni and Michael Shaik came up from Melbourne on Friday to Kuraby to discuss the aims and objectives of their organization, Australians for Palestine, and to provide an update on the situation in Palestine and the Gaza.

Over 70 people turned up after Taraweh (evening Ramadhan) prayers to listen to the two speakers and engaged in a lively discussion on a number of related issues.

Nasser Mashni is one of the founders of Australians for Palestine. Born in Melbourne to a Palestinian father and Lebanese mother, from birth Nasser was immersed in the Palestinians struggle for justice.

Nasser’s father was the Palestinian National Council representative for Australia and their home was always filled with activists, trade union officials, parliamentarians, church leaders and anyone with a humanistic conscience and concerns for the plights of the Palestinian.

In 1991 Nasser started educating himself in the world of Property Investment and Finance, the business started in his suburban bedroom and today his financial services company is called the Mashni Group.

The Lebanon war and siege of Gaza was a turning point in Nasser’s life. He was outraged not only at the Israeli atrocities but also that in Australia the voice of the Palestinians was not being articulated in any effective manner.

This prompted Nasser and his brother Moammar to partner with the sisters Sonja Karkar and Dora McPhee to found and finance Australians for Palestine, a Melbourne-based organization that advocates for a just solution to the Palestine/Israel conflict and works to raise awareness of the conflict’s dynamics among the Australian public.

Nasser is one of the sponsors of Michael Shaik's work in the AFP movement.

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is inviting submissions on issues of Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century in Australia.

In particular HREOC is interested in your responses to any or all of the questions in the Discussion Paper, as well as any other issues of concern.
 

Nick Faldo has experienced many extraordinary moments in his career, but none quite like the one this week when he was moved to tears in the captains' press conference on the eve of the Ryder Cup. It spoke volumes for his emotional state.

Faldo, who had been discussing his pairings for the opening morning foursomes, was asked what he had made of the Europe team's encounter earlier with Muhammad Ali, Louisville's most famous son. He could barely reply.

Ali, debilitated by Parkinson's disease and unable to speak, met both teams - driven by buggy first to the American team on the 10th tee, then to the Europeans on the 1st fairway - and had photographs taken with both. The crowds could barely believe their eyes and neither could the players.

Asked if the meeting with Ali would inspire him and his team, Faldo found a lump in his throat and tears in his eyes. “It was an incredible moment, as you can tell,” he said. “It was really special.” Had he expected to be so emotional, meeting the former world heavyweight boxing champion? “Don't start me again,” he said. “I'm about there with emotions already. I need to get it out somewhere.”

In many ways, the moment was surreal. Was this really Faldo, the iron man of golf, displaying such emotion? And what did it say about what lies ahead? After all, this is the man whose single-mindedness helped him to crush his rivals on his way to becoming the most successful British player in history.
 

China’s Communist Regime Suppresses Uighur Ramadan Activities

While the start of this week marked the beginning of the month of Ramadan for Xinjiang’s Uighur Muslims, China’s Communist authorities are reportedly cracking down on Muslim religious activity.
The Web site for the town of Yingmaili currently lists nine rules put in place to control the Muslim holy month in the name of “maintaining stability during Ramadan.”

The list includes barring teachers and students from observing Ramadan, requiring men to shave their beards, forcing women to take off their veil’s, prohibiting mosques from letting people from outside the town stay the night, forbidding retired government officials from entering mosques, and requiring restaurants to maintain normal hours of operation.

Read the rest....

US fashion students design Muslim cloaks

RICHMOND, Va. — The assignment for Virginia Commonwealth University fashion students: design an abaya, an enveloping cloak worn by Muslim women, that is stylish yet acceptable in Arab countries.
The results: elaborately beaded designs, a flamenco-influenced abaya, a punk rock abaya — and perhaps a better understanding of cultural norms in the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar, where the university has had a campus for 10 years.

"We were trying to make a feeling of youth — but still be true to their culture," said Kendra Palin, a fashion design major who partnered with classmate Shelby Day to design an abaya with looped buttonholes, princess seams and a high waist. "Everything else had to be black, but the embellishment could be any color, and we used silver and blue."

Read the rest....

Anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim attitudes rise in Europe

Anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim attitudes have been rising nearly in tandem in several European countries, apparently reflecting concerns over immigration, globalization and economic ills, according to a new international survey.

Anti-Jewish feelings were particularly strong in Spain, Poland and Russia - with negativity up significantly since 2006, according to the Pew Research Center's polling. Anti-Muslim views were also strong in those three countries, as well as in Germany and France.

"There is a clear relationship between anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim attitudes," said the report from Pew, released Wednesday. "Publics that view Jews unfavorably also tend to see Muslims in a negative light."

Negative views of Muslims were also strong in several Asian countries: Half or more of the Japanese, Indians, Chinese and South Koreans surveyed said they had negative impressions of Muslims.
 

Read the rest....

Qur’an memorizers honored
 

JEDDAH: Outstanding memorizers of the holy Qur’an from centers in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia and South America were honored during a ceremony organized by the Holy Qur’an Memorization International (HQMI) at Lailaty Hall here.

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal distributed gifts to memorizers and supervisors of the Qur’an study centers run by the organization in the five continents. The melodious Qur’an recitation by children from different countries added color to the event.

Abdullah Basfar, secretary-general of HQMI, said an international conference on the Holy Qur'an would be held in Makkah next year.

He said Crown Prince Sultan has donated SR25 million to HQMI in the form of an endowment. As many as 3,090 students have graduated from HQMI’s Qur’an study centers in different parts of the world this year, he added.

Read the rest....

Qur'an Best-seller in France Ramadan
 

PARIS — With Muslims dedicating their time during the fasting month to become closer to Allah, the Noble Qur'an is becoming a best-seller in France during Ramadan.
"We sell between 10 to 15 copies of the Noble Qur'an every day," Ali Al-Maghori, a Paris bookshop owner, told IslamOnline.net.

"Pocket-sized copies of the Qur'an top our sales before and during Ramadan."

According to Livre Hebdo magazine, which specializes in books sales, Qur'an ranks 8th among the best-selling books during Ramadan, which began on Monday, September1.

Vendors are seen selling copies of the Noble Qur'an across the streets of the capital Paris, particularly Muslim-populated neighborhoods such as Belleville and Paribas.

Also on sale are books on how to perform prayers and the benefits of fasting Ramadan, the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar.

Sales of prayer beads and prayer rags are also booming.
 

Read the rest....