Brisbane's solidarity with the Egyptian revolution
Sunday 13 February
There will be a party in the park today (Sunday)
to celebrate the fall of the dictatorial
Egyptian regime
Venue: Svoboda Park, Stiller Drive,
Kuraby
Time: 1pm
Organiser Dr Adel El-Mezin
ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN IN THE CELEBRATIONS!
Tackle
'extreme Islam before it's too late', Liberal MPs warn
Referring to
media comments made by senior Liberal
politicians, the President of Muslims Australia,
Mr Ikebal Patel, in a press release entitled,
'White' Australia Still a 'Liberal' Option,
called on Members of Parliament to focus on the
positive contributions of Australia’s ethnic
population, rather than igniting flames of
racism that feeds those who wish to divide and
destruct. "There has been enough misery recently
due to natural causes, and Australian Muslims
were at the forefront of sharing the grief as
well as donating generously their time and
resources, and these loose comments are getting
beyond an insult now."
"The Halal industry in Australia
is a billion dollar industry which not only
meets the vital needs of the Muslim community in
Australia, (like Kosher products are vital to
the Jewish community), but also fosters trade
between Australia and Islamic countries
contributing to the Australian economy and
benefitting both Muslim and non-Muslim farmers,
abattoir workers and butchers.” The reputation
of Australia’s premium quality beef and lamb and
all manufactured food products that are Halal is
at risk by these irresponsible comments which
have no basis for any concern.
Mr Patel said, in relation to
specific services for Muslims or other groups,
again if any application for a service is within
the framework of the law, be that local council,
state or federal then the due application
process will result in an outcome that should be
respected by all including politicians.
AFIC rejected the claim that the
provision of Halal products in Australia and
Muslim only washrooms in Universities (used for
ablution before prayer) leads to “ethnic
enclaves: “Through the provision of Halal
certification and other services such as Islamic
schools, AFIC empowers the Muslim community to
retain vital aspects of their faith which allows
Muslims to live fulfilled lives, enabling them
to function and contribute happily and
comfortably in society. “The availability of
wide spread services that meet the needs of
minorities assist in preventing the
concentration of one group around the few places
where they can find these vital services”, said
Mr Patel.
“Australia is unique in its
history and challenges and is an example of a
democracy in this region, offering freedom of
choice. An integral part of democracy is that
its citizens choose– red hair, blue hair, no
hair, halal, kosher, hijab, safari suits (if you
are so inclined), it is all part of choice in a
plural society, as long as one’s behaviour and
conduct does not contradict Australian law or
impinge on the human rights of another person”.
Mr Patel called on Kevin Andrews,
Cory Bernardi and Mitch Fifield to move forward
– Australia abolished the White Australia policy
over 30 years ago! And Australian primary
producers and manufacturers of halal meat and
food products are doing it tough, please do not
add insult to their injury by jeopardising their
livelihood by your ill informed loose
statements. We are well aware of the tough
competition our farmers are facing from
countries like Brazil and others.
“Political expediency at the
behest of hard working Australian farmers and
factory workers involved in the billion dollar
halal export trade is JUST NOT KOSHER”, said Mr
Patel.
The CCN
Trading Post
Household Items
Family migrating - household
items for sale - contact Bahaudien on 3841 8402
or 0431 801 559
ETAC
meeting
The Ethnic Taxi Advisory
Committee (ETAC), a sub-committee of ECCQ
and chaired by Mustafa Ally, will be convening
its second meeting on Thursday 24 February at
4.30pm at ECCQ House.
The agenda includes discussion of
the Queensland Government's Taxi Strategic Plan
for 2010-2015.
If you would like to attend the
meeting or find out more about the workings of
ETAC, call Mustafa Ally on 0402 026 786 or email
mustafa.a.ally@gmail.com.
'It's
time for religious hatred laws' - Suresh Rajan
The sentencing of a Perth man
under the racial hatred laws means that now is
the perfect time for the state government to
introduce religious vilification laws, it has
been claimed.
A former president of the Ethnic Communities
Council, Suresh Rajan, said the jail term handed
down to Brendan Lee O'Connell recently put the
issue of racial and religious intolerance back
in the public eye, and he hoped it would prompt
a movement in religious vilification laws.
O'Connell was sentenced to three years jail for
unleashing a verbal racial attack on two young
Jewish men who attended a Friends of Palestine
group protest outside a South Perth supermarket.
Advertisement: Story continues below O'Connell
filmed his verbal tirade of Stanley Keyser and
Timothy Peach and later posted the video online.
In the video, he labelled Mr Keyser a "racist
homicidal maniac".
I need to
protect the
little
Muslim girl
who has her
veil ripped
off her face
while
walking to
the local
train
station.
Mr Rajan was one of the main
forces behind the introduction of the racial
hatred laws in 2004 while also pushing for
similar criminal charges for religious
vilification in the public domain.
In 2004, then-premier Geoff Gallop supported the
changes to laws - however Dr Gallop's Labor
Party opposed the religious laws, which Mr Rajan
believes is due to support from the Catholic
Church, who were against the legislation
changes.
"The Catholic Church's argument is that we need
to have education programs, not legislation. I
need the legislation," he said.
"I need to protect the little Muslim girl who
has her veil ripped off her face while walking
to the local train station.
"I want religious vilification laws.
Unfortunately, I don't think I have any hope of
getting it through with this state government."
"I just don't think there's enough there to get
us over the line at the moment, but I think it's
the perfect time to be pushing this through."
Mr Rajan said the new laws could make the
criticism of other religions during church
services illegal.
He said similar laws in Europe related to
cultural vilification, and said the introduction
of a religious equivalent in Australia would
bring us into line.
"I think this is the absolute opportune time for
us as a community to revisit that whole issue of
religious vilification," he said.
Mr Rajan said that since the racial hatred laws
were passed in 2004, he had taken a number of
issues to police where Muslims had been
vilified, however police were not prepared to
take them on.
"The Director of Public Prosecutions said that
this was religious vilification, not racial," he
said.
He said this further confused the line between
what defines a race and a religion, as
highlighted in the O'Connell case where he
believed that Judiasm is a religion and not a
race, as it was ruled by the court in this
instance.
Mr Rajan said the religious vilification law
would allow anyone who felt they are denigrated
for either race or religion would have the same
rights in a WA court.
Attorney General Christian Porter said all
anti-vilification laws raised complex questions
of the nature and extent of free speech, and
religious vilification laws in particular had in
some jurisdictions not operated as they were
intended.
"The state government would view any proposals
for expansions of this area of the law with a
cautious eye," he said.
The
next Islam Basics course will commence on
Saturday February 19th from 10:00am
-12:00pm at the Sisters House in Kuraby.
This 6 week course is ideal for new Muslim
sisters and other women interested in Islam.
The main topics the course covers are the 5
pillars of Islam, which are discussed in detail
and accompanied by informational handouts.
Bookings are essential. For more information
please call Bayaan 0431747356 or Khadijah
0423474807.
The CCN
Middle Link (REPEAT)
Project Coordinator - Part Time Contract
AMARAH, Crescents of
Brisbane and Islamic Council of Queensland (ICQ) are
seeking to employ a Project Coordinator to assist in
the organisation and implementation of Democracy
Workshops. Application from suitably qualified
persons are invited.
A Muslim working mum is
looking for a full time (Monday to Friday), female
nanny to assist her with her 4 year old daughter, in
Kuraby.
You will travelling to work with the mum and she
will always be with you to support you, so you are
not left alone to manage.
Whilst formal qualifications are not essential, a
friendly, easy going, active and playful disposition
is essential.
This is a long term role.
Please call 0400125 786 if you are interested.
Around
the Muslim World with CCN
A
Look at David Cameron's Speech on Terrorism
and UK Muslims
UK:
Prime Minister David Cameron used his speech
at the Munich Security Conference in Germany
on Saturday to “set out his views on
radicalisation and Islamic extremism.”
The PM has already come under fire for
making the speech on the day the EDL hosted
a ‘homecoming march’ in Luton. More
controversial still are the contents of the
PM’s address to the Munich conference which
look to have been lifted from the pages of a
‘leaked’ QF report from last year advising
the incoming Coalition government on a
revamp of the discredited Prevent programme.
The PM said:
.”..terrorism is not linked exclusively
to any one religion or ethnic group....we
should acknowledge that this threat comes in
Europe overwhelmingly from young men who
follow a completely perverse, warped
interpretation of Islam, and who are
prepared to blow themselves up and kill
their fellow citizens.”
He went on to claim the cause for young
Muslims being seduced by the warped
interpretation of Islam came down to a
“question of identity,” and a weak
affiliation to the British nation and
British values.
I would to thank you for placing a very positive
and excellent information on our shop and we
have had great support from our Muslim brothers
and sisters.
We have also received very positive response
about out food and reasonable pricing. Both Sayad
(my business partner and shop manager) and I are
looking at new halal products to add to our menu
which is not very easy due to halal issues.
Our burgers are very popular and appears to sell
as much as our fish and chips family packs.
Regards
and salaam
Asgar Ali
KURABY SEAFOOD TAKEAWAY
CCN
readers from around the globe
New on
ISLAM TV this week
If you are unable to view Islam
TV here open this CCN newsletter in Firefox or
Safari
With
a compassionate realism and narrative sweep that recall
the work of Charles Dickens, this magnificent novel
captures all the cruelty and corruption, dignity and
heroism, of India.
The time is 1975. The place is an unnamed
city by the sea. The government has just declared a
State of Emergency, in whose upheavals four strangers--a
spirited widow, a young student uprooted from his
idyllic hill station, and two tailors who have fled the
caste violence of their native village--will be thrust
together, forced to share one cramped apartment and an
uncertain future.
As the characters move from distrust to
friendship and from friendship to love, A Fine Balance
creates an enduring panorama of the human spirit in an
inhuman state.
Would you
like to see the cover of your favourite book on our book
shelves below?
Using the book club you can see what books
fellow CCN readers have on their shelves,
what they are reading and even what they,
and others, think of them.
KB SAYS:Summer entertaining
and the trusty barbie go hand in hand and this easy and
tasty recipe is perfect for both. You can add 1/2
teaspoon of hot chili powder at the beginning to give it
a little more of a kick if you are so inclined. My
friends tell me it tastes just like the ones you get in
a restaurant!
Ingredients
500g Chicken fillet
1 cup coriander leaves chopped
1 tsp crushed garlic
2 tsp ground green chilies
½ tsp salt
½ tsp coarse black pepper
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
4 Tab lemon juice
4 Tab tamarind juice
1½ tsp crushed cumin
1 tsp crushed coriander
Method
1. Cut chicken into 6cm x11cm strips
2. Process coriander leaves, spices, sauces,
lemon juice and tamarind juice.
3. Pour into bowl and add coriander and
cumin
4. Mix well and add chicken strips and
marinate for 2-3 hours.
5. Skewer chicken, concertina style and
grill or barbeque for 5 minutes on the
either side.
6. Serve on a bed of lettuce with Satay
Sauce.
Satay Sauce
½ x100g bottle of Peanut butter
1 tsp tamarind concentrate
½ cup lemon juice
2 tsp ground green chillies
Mix the above ingredients and cook the
mixture for 2 to 3 minutes adding salt to
taste, cool and serve.
Q: Dear Kareema, can I use my
resistance bands instead of my free weights at home if I
wanted to tone my body?
A: Of course you can! The good thing about
resistance bands is that you can get a great workout
anywhere, anytime. Few workout tools beat the efficiency
of the multitasking resistance band. It is also much
cheaper than the weights, and of course easier to carry
around with you.
It works your muscles at a full range of
motion, targeting parts that are often missed with free
weights, so it is a great tool for toning.
Remember too that using your own body
weight is good to challenge yourself.
Exercises such as push-ups, tricep-dips,
squats, lunges, etc. will all help tone your muscles and
leave you not only feeling good, but looking great!
Want an effective treatment to
clean out BAD CHOLESTROL and PLAQUE from your
arteries?
ArgiNox Maintain is available from Zakiya
Sacur - 0433 270 770. Book your consultation
now
Topics that
are relevant, Iman-boosting and
mind-capturing. Where: AMYN Islamic Youth Centre,
16/157 North Road, Woodridge When: Every Saturday,after Maghrib
Info:
www.AMYNweb.com Everyone is invited
Australian Muslim Youth
Network (AMYN)
Find out about the latest
events, outings, fun-days,
soccer tournaments, BBQs
organised by AMYN. Network
with other young Muslims on
the
AMYN Forum
The best ideas and the best feedback come from
our community of readers. If you have a topic or
opinion that you want to write about or want
seen covered or any news item that you think
might be of benefit to the Crescents Community
please e-mail
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.
Share your thoughts, feelings and ambitions for
our community through CCN.
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Disclaimer
Articles and opinions appearing in this newsletter do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Crescents of
Brisbane Team, CCN, its Editor or its Sponsors,
particularly if they eventually turn out to be
libellous, unfounded, objectionable, obnoxious,
offensive, slanderous and/or downright distasteful.
It is the usual policy of
CCN to include from time to time, notices of events that
some readers may find interesting or relevant. Such
notices are often posted as received. Including such
messages or providing the details of such events does
not necessarily imply endorsement of the contents of
these events by either CCN or Crescents of Brisbane Inc.
Project Coordinator - Part Time Contract
UK:
Prime Minister David Cameron used his speech
at the Munich Security Conference in Germany
on Saturday to “set out his views on
radicalisation and Islamic extremism.” 
With
a compassionate realism and narrative sweep that recall
the work of Charles Dickens, this magnificent novel
captures all the cruelty and corruption, dignity and
heroism, of India. 
