The Department of Communities Disability Services called on the Muslim community to seek financial assistance on behalf of Mr Dzenan Nuhovic, who required a swimming pool hoist to support his ongoing health needs.

Dzenan is 31 years of age and was involved in a serious car accident in October 2000 where he sustained a severe closed brain injury.

He was an inpatient at Royal Brisbane Hospital for two and half years, before returning home with his parents in March 2003.

Dzenan, his siblings and parents moved to Australia nine years ago as Bosnian Muslim refugees.

Both parents have been psychologically impacted upon as a result of their experience of war.

Dzenan currently has no use of his legs or torso, limited movement in his arms, and is completely dependent on 24-hour care for all his daily living needs.

He has very high support needs and requires constant hands on physical, medical and therapeutic support and spends most of the day in bed and is fully dependent on his family and carers for all daily self-care and living needs.

He receives the majority of his nutrition via gastrostomy feeding.

Dzenan has no formal communication skills, but interacts with his family members and carers through facial expressions and eye movements.

Dzenan’s parents, Nedzad and Mirsada, provide all of his care and are very committed to caring for Dzenan at home, continuing to support his rehabilitation and increase his quality of life.

Responding to the call for financial assistance, the Queensland Muslim Welfare Association came to the rescue and within a matter of hours the Nuhovic family was presented with a cheque of $5 700 from the QMWA and the newly formed Muslim Charitable Foundation which was the balance of monies need to have the hoist installed.

Ms. Janeth Deen and Ms. Wilma Bothwell manage the QMWA store in Ewing Road, Woodridge and raise funds through the sale of second clothes and other goods donated by the local Muslim community.

The Fred Hollows Foundation fund raising dinner, supported by the Rotary Club of Archerfield, Crescents of Brisbane, Crescents Community News (CCN), the Muslim Business Network (MBN) and the Islamic Council of Queensland, was held last night (Saturday) at the Michael's Oriental Restaurant.

The primary aim of the event was to create awareness of the work of the Foundation and to support its programs in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania.

Foundation Ambassador and three time Olympian swimmer, Susie O’Neill, was at hand to talk of her passion for the cause and proved very popular with the audience. Susie's eye surgeon husband, Dr. Cliff Fairlie, explained the intricacies of the cataract operation when prompted by Master of Ceremonies, Gary Hardgrave.

Gabi Hollows one of Australia's 100 Living Treasures and recipient of the Advance Australia Award for Community Service and a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow spoke of the pioneering work of husband Fred,

Phil Black, aka Blacky, the Singing Auctioneer did the honours of selling off a number of items ranging from rugby jerseys to holidays and train rides.

The success of the event can largely be attributed to the tireless efforts of Sue Larsen of the Fred Hollows Foundation and Abdul Rahman Deen of the Rotary Club of Archerfield.

Ramadan is approaching very fast and with it the opportunity to share in the spirit of giving during Ramadan. 

We are pleased to announce that IWAQ is starting collection of non perishable goods for packing and distribution for the 2009 Ramadan Hamper Drive.  

The hampers are distributed to families and individuals who are from refugee backgrounds and elderly or people living on their own who are on limited income.

Non perishable goods include: Flour, sugar, rice, pasta, (preferably 1kg or 2kg bags), cereal, honey, canned tomato, oil, etc.  Also you can donate money for meat vouchers.

Please call IWAQ Office on 3423 3022 to arrange for drop off your donations.

We are also inviting volunteers to help us pack the hampers. If you would like to volunteer please call the office on 3423 3022 and earn Allah’s pleasure.

Please ensure that all food items donated (biscuits etc) are halaal.

MunaIbrahim

Muna Ibrahim

Islamic Women's Association of Qld. (IWAQ)

Ph: 3423 3022

Fax: 3423 3099

Mob: 0410 533 203

Email: muna.i@iwaq.org.au

Tragic end before Kokoda

The Kuraby Lions are hosting another tree planting day on Saturday 3 October.

Like last year's effort (pictured left) this will be in the area off Beenleigh Road at Kuraby (the land next to Gateway flyover).

Ten young volunteers have been committed from the Mormon Church on Underwood Road and Crescents of Brisbane will take care of the sausage sizzle.
 

The plan is to plant 450 trees between between 8.00am - 11.00am

If you would like to help out then contact David Forde of the Lions Club of Kuraby on 0413 874 008
 

A.M.C. skillet pan with lid brand new for sale $300 contact Shireen Coovadia 33411178

Adem Somyurek in The Age

Training Australian imams is crucial to engaging with youth

KELVIN Thomson got it wrong when he blamed the screening process of immigrants for the terror threat on Australia. Clearly, recent events suggest that home-grown terrorism is the biggest threat to our security, and not the challenges brought in by immigrants. Decision makers should not be distracted by Thomson's comments last week and, instead, concentrate on solving a domestic issue that is both as disturbing as it is complex and relies on our understanding of Muslim clerics in Australia.

But first we need to acknowledge that we are involved in a battle for the hearts and minds of Muslim youth who, for a wide range of reasons, feel alienated and unable to connect with being Australian. They are soft targets for people who take advantage of this disconnect and stoke the feelings of isolation by promoting victimhood, hate and mass murder.

We need to tackle this problem and prevent the poisoning of the hearts and minds of alienated Muslim youth. And the best way we can do this is by training and educating our own imams.

Currently, there are two categories of imams operating in Australia: imams who are trained but imported from the Muslim world, and self-taught lay people who arbitrarily claim the title of imam.

If we look at the first category we must ask why it is believed that an imam trained in the Islamic world where values of democracy, pluralism and human rights seldom exist and where anti-Western sentiment prevails among the masses and officialdom could be capable of offering spiritual guidance and preaching sermons appropriate to Australia's laws and cultural setting.

Should the more enlightened of these imported imams attempt, in good faith, to preach and offer spiritual guidance compatible with Australian values, can they connect with Muslim youth, when the common bonds of a shared Australian culture and English language are remiss?
 

The Age

CCN is about to celebrate its 250th birthday. On 23rd August CCN will officially turn 250.

As our birthday draws near we’d be more than happy to hear your thoughts and feelings of the uninterrupted journey that you have taken together with us over the last 5 years.

You can email us at ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org

We wish to thank the many individuals and organizations who have already sent us emails. We look forward to publishing as many as we can in next week's 250th issue.

Cultural and religious leaders, judges, academics and other experts in law and religion gathered in Canberra this week to examine the potential implications of a bill of rights on human rights and freedoms.

Held by the University of Adelaide's Research Unit for the Study of Society, Law, and Religion (RUSSLR) and the Brigham Young University Law School in the US, speakers at the conference debated whether a proposed bill of rights for Australia would enhance or curtail cultural, religious and other freedoms and rights.

"Human rights have been brought into sharp focus with recent legislative and executive actions affecting human rights in immigration, Indigenous affairs and bikie groups," says RUSSLR Director and conference organiser Dr Paul Babie, University of Adelaide.

"The National Human Rights Consultation Committee, led by Father Frank Brennan, will report at the end of September but there is a dearth of knowledge about a potential charter or bill of rights and what it might mean for cultural and religious rights and freedoms in Australia.

"We expect some vigorous debate. Our goal is to ensure that adequate information from both sides of the debate is presented at the conference and that this is conveyed to politicians who will make the ultimate decision."

`Cultural and Religious Freedom under a bill of rights' was held at Old Parliament House, Canberra on 13-15 August. More information can be found at www.crfbillofrights.org/

Among the speakers and panellists were:

  The Honourable Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Supreme Court of Pakistan, who was removed from office under the Musharraf Presidency when he refused to comply with the order requiring a new judicial oath. He was reinstated in 2008;
 

  Dr Ameer Ali, former President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils and head of the Howard Government's Muslim Community Reference Group. He called for a strong Charter of Rights to thwart "real threats" to religious freedom and religious tolerance.

If you would like to have your Mosque's Ramadan timetable posted on CCN email an electronic version to ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org

From Sunday 19th July to Tuesday 21st July, Affinity Intercultural Foundation in collaboration with Macquarie University,

University of Western Sydney, University of Sydney and University of Newcastle held the inaugural "Challenging Islamophobia: Towards Social Justice & Inclusion" conference at the auspicious newly established Law Faculty at the University of Sydney.
 

The Conference commenced with its Symposium on Sunday evening with over 250 attendees from various sectors of the community including education, academia, political, public service and religious.

The Master of ceremonies, Mr. Ahmet Keskin welcomed the Hon. Paul Lynch M.P. who officially opened the program. The Hon. Paul Lynch applauded the unique initiative taken by Affinity Intercultural Foundation and the Organising Committee.

Prof Kevin Dunn from University of Western Sydney, discussed "Standing by Australian Muslims: Bearing witness to racism".

Assoc Prof Jake Lynch - University of Sydney, explored "Islamophobia and the media: complicity through denial and indifference".

The international guest speaker Dr Ihsan Yilmaz - SOAS, from University of London, UK presented "Islamophobia in Europe".

Mehmet Ozalp - Affinity Intercultural Foundation, NSW then presented on "Islamophobia in Australia: Denial Sometimes Means Acceptance".

Significantly important to this Conference were the issues of Islamophobia and its influences on integration and citizenship within the current and future framework of Australian Multiculturalism.

The Monday and Tuesday leg of the conference explored the impact of Islamophobia with the following plenary panels:

- Muslim experiences, settling in Australia

- Media and its role in public hysteria
- Islam, the State and social inclusion
- Marginalisation, radicalisation and terrorism
- Muslim Women: narrated experiences from margins
- Anti-racism: learning from the past, new strategies
 

With delicious meals, rich morning teas and great supply of all-flavoured tea & coffee, participants expressed their appreciation for meals and the rich food for thought.

the Affinity Newsletter

Keysar Trad is a spokesperson for a section of the Australian Muslim community, and no stranger to controversy thanks to his former role as an interpreter for Sheik Taj El-Din Hilaly. He will argue that the values that have served to protect, preserve and strengthen the family in the Islamic Culture could benefit Australians:

As the family is failing and losing significance in the developed world, we could gain much benefit from appreciating the values that have served to protect, preserve and strengthen the family in other cultures.

Today, apart from the fear of losing one’s assets, marriage means little more than a lavish wedding party, to be held quite late in a person’s middle age out of a sense of nostalgia.

With modern trends leading away from marriage, you find Muslims and other religious people asserting the importance of preserving marriage and the family.

Islam teaches that if a man starts to feel a strong attraction to a woman other than his wife, rather than starting an illicit relationship, they will have the option of an openly acknowledged marriage that, unlike an affair, does not carry any stigma or shame.

Yet Australia provides severe penalties for such unions.
 

Venue: Sydney Opera House

Duration: 60 minutes with no interval
 

Source

Keysar Trad's defamation case against a Sydney radio station collapsed in the Supreme Court recently.

by Iqbal Lambat

Since late June, Australia has been bombarded with positive economic news – both domestic and foreign. Retail sales, exports, housing prices and employment all exceeded expectations, and the unemployment rate was below market expectations. There has also been a huge increase in both consumer and business confidence as measured by surveys by leading banks.
 

Our major companies have reported good profits this week with Telstra, Leightons, CBA and BHP all beating market expectations. And to top it all, our Reserve Bank governor has declared that despite the risk of a number of quarters of negative growth, the deep recession is all but over (did it really happen?).
 

The Asian markets are growing and even Germany and France are recording small positive growths. The USA is showing increasing signs of stabilising.
 

Right now it’s fair to say that the Australian economy has entered the second half of this calendar year with strong momentum and consumers and business in a strong confident mood.
 

Yet economists and indeed business leaders of BHP and CBA are advising caution. The 6% annualised real growth in the first 6 months of the year was boosted by government handouts, cheap fuel prices and low interest rates. It remains to be seen how much of the ebullience of the first six months survives into the second half of the year.
 

Treasurer Wayne Swan, in response to the indicators of growing confidence, issued the following blunt warning to workers, home buyers and job seekers: many people are still likely to lose their jobs or struggle to find work and borrowers will be hit by higher interest rates.
 

Read all about it in this week’s MBN Business News.

A win on Saturday afternoon would have all but ensured the lads at Sunnybank Saints (3N) a place in the final four.

An enticing encounter saw the Saints take on top of the ladder, Lifehouse.

On two previous occasions Lifehouse narrowly came out victors with a 3-2 and 2-1 scoreline.

This promised to be a tough contest and the match lived up to its billing, with the Saints putting on a fantastic display to win 1-0.

Naseer Ahmid grabbing the vital goal 25 minutes into the first half.

A superb all round performance from the team was superbly orchestrated by the midfield pairing of Muhammad Sabdia and Riaz Essof.

Sunnybank dominated the lion’s share of possession and should have easily have added a couple more to the score line.

With play offs just around the corner the team will need to be more clinical in front of goals.

Special mention and thanks to the passionate and vocal supporters on the sidelines. Some of the fans even came armed with the famous vuvuzela’s. The Saints were definitely playing with a 12th man.

With one round of games left in the season, the Saints need to lose by an astronomical margin to miss out on the final four play offs.

The next game sees the Saints face Tigers at Lister Street on the 22nd August at 7pm.

Special acknowledgement must be given to the Queensland Christian Soccer Association (QCSA) who revised the fixture from an afternoon game to an evening game to accommodate the majority of Muslim players in the team who will most likely be observing the first day of fasting of this year’s Ramadaan.

To follow the team’s progress, visit: http://www.qcsa.org.au/fixtures/index.php?division=SM3N

Iqbal Lambat has compiled a series of articles to assist CCN readers with maximizing their benefits during the month of Ramadan.

The articles contain advice and direction from leading Islamic scholars around the globe.

This week's articles on the month of Ramadan month focus on the following:

• The importance of Ramadan – explains why Ramadan is important and the events that occurred in this month
• How to welcome Ramadan – outlines briefly how a person should welcome Ramadan
• What to do and pray in Ramadan – this is the centerpiece article that advises what a person should do and pray in Ramadan. It contains specific advice from leading scholars around the globe.
• Tarawih & Tahajjud prayers – how to conduct these prayers
• How to pray for forgiveness – we have been instructed to beg for forgiveness in the second ten nights of Ramadan – this article focuses on who we should beg for forgiveness.
 

Next week: Fasting rules – who should fast, exemptions, rules on fasting, what to do if you miss or break a fast

Number 12

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