MUSLIM community identity
Keysar Trad is not dangerous, disgraceful or
a racist who incites people to commit violence,
the NSW Court of Appeal has ruled.
Mr Trad, the president of the Islamic Friendship
Association of Australia, has been cleared of
those defamatory labels thrown at him by 2GB's
Jason Morrison and backed by Supreme Court
Justice Peter McClellan. Last week the Court of
Appeal ruled there was no evidence to support
them.
The court found that Justice McClellan had erred
in his findings on a number of points in
relation to those defamatory statements and has
ordered a retrial to assess damages regarding Mr
Trad's reputation.
However,
the court allowed, in part, a rare defence known
as "reply to attack", on some points relating to
the counts. Mr Trad is considering appealing in
the High Court.
The chief operating officer of 2GB, Stuart
Thomas, said the court found that 2GB was only
defending itself and allowed the reply-to-attack
defence in five out of eight points.
The radio station was considering whether it
would also appeal the remaining three points to
the High Court, he said.
The case stemmed from the aftermath of the
Cronulla race riots in late 2005 when Mr Trad
spoke at a peace rally at Town Hall and
criticised the role of the media, in particular
"tabloid journalism and one talkback radio
station".
Mr Trad's said the station was "whipping up
fears" and Muslims were "suffering as a result
of the racist actions of predominantly one radio
station".
Mr Trad called on the Howard government to stop
"ethnic scapegoating". He said: "There is a
great deal of shame in tabloid journalism and
one talkback station, seems to be nothing . . .
other than the mouthpiece of the Howard
government over the last few years".
A 2GB reporter was at the rally and Mr Trad's
comments were broadcast. Mr Morrison, who has
since switched stations to Fairfax Media's 2UE,
launched a scathing attack on Mr Trad on radio
the next day. He said Mr Trad was a "disgraceful
and dangerous individual who incited violence,
hatred and racism".
Mr Trad sued the station for defamation and in
2007 a jury agreed that Mr Trad had been defamed
by Mr Morrison.
However, at a subsequent hearing Justice
McClellan ruled against him and gave a judgment
that criticised Mr Trad's role over the years as
a spokesman for the Lebanese Muslim community.
Judge McClellan found that most of Mr Morrison's
statements about Mr Trad were true.
The three Court of Appeal judges set aside the
orders by Judge McClellan and sent the matter
back to the court to assess damages. Harbour
Radio, owners of 2GB, were ordered to pay half
of Mr Trad's appeal costs.
Left to Right: Hon.
Anna Bligh – Queensland
Premier; Hon. Stephen Robertson;
Hj A. Rahman Deen – ICQ Inc.
Committee, Rotary Archerfield, ISO
Algester
(Photos with
permission by Publicity Office of
Premier’s Staff)
The Islamic Society of Algester Inc. presented a
cheque for $8,000.00 plus notification of
$3,000.00 value of high pressure, petrol powered
water blasters donated to the Rotary Club of
Archerfield for assisting in the flood cleanup
of the Southside area.
The monies were raised after the community
fundraiser of which Algester Society also
contributed.
The Premier received a letter from the Rotary
Club of Archerfield confirming the four (4)
pressure cleaners as well as a Letter of
Commendation for Algesters’ cleanup team led by
Mohammed Ismail, who has been nominated
to receive a Rotary Community Award.
Both Premier Bligh and Hon. Stephen Robertson
congratulated the Islamic Society of Algester
and asked VP Hj Aboo Kassim and Hj
Abdul RahmanDeen to pass on their
best wishes and appreciation for all their
efforts as well as working with the Rotary Club
of Archerfield, which was represented by
President Graeme Saddlier and International
Director Abdul Rahman Deen.
The
Saints Go Down At Home
It was the Sunnybank Saints first game at home
this season, but it proved to be a very unhappy
home start for the boys in blue and yellow.
The Saints came up against Mansfield Gold who
was coming off the back of a big victory last
weekend. Sunnybank were never going to let that
worry them however and they started the game the
stronger of the two sides.
There were in control of the possession and
looked to be good for their money until a horror
moment 15 minutes in. A looping cross was lost
in the sun by the Saints goalkeeper, and that
allowed Mansfield to get in behind and slot home
for a 1-0 lead. Sunnybank were determined not to
let the early mishap affect them and stuck to
their game plan. Mansfield however, took their
second opportunity from a free kick to give
themselves a 2-0 lead going into the half time
break, despite being on the back foot for most
of the half.
Sunnybank knew that there was still plenty of
football to play and pulled a goal back through
Ismail Essof in the second half. Team captain,
Arshaad Randeree made a good run forward before
feeding the saints striker who slotted home
coolly past the Mansfield keeper.
The Saints were looking good to level the score
and possibly complete the comeback and get the
win. The aspirations of such an event were
dashed, when a rare Mansfield attack resulted in
a cracking shot going past the Saints keeper and
into the top corner. There was nothing that
Saints keeper; Adem could do to stop the
powerful shot going into the net.
Saints problems mounted when their keeper went
off injured with about 15 minutes to go. With
fatigue and injuries starting to take effect,
the Saints gave away a sloppy fourth goal and
they trailed 4-1.
The game went into a bit of a lull, as Mansfield
was happy to sit on their lead. The Saints kept
pressing and looking for goals, but the luck was
not to fall their way. Nothing will dampen the
lads’ spirits as they now look to their next
game.
Sunnybank Saints were disappointed to have let
the fans, who turned out to watch them, down but
vow to repay the faith. Attention will now turn
to Brittain Park on the 9th April at 3PM, as the
Saints take on South East Sloths. With the
season only in its third week, there is still
everything to play for.
Stepping
down for new blood
Long serving state Ministers, Stephen
Robertson (Stretton) and Judy Spence
(Sunnybank), both announced that they will not
contest the next state election.
Stephen
Robertson was first elected to the Queensland
Parliament in 1992.
"Looking back, one of my proudest moments was to
be the first politician in Australia to have
spoken out against the racist outbursts of
Pauline Hanson following her maiden speech to
the Federal parliament. Representing a
multicultural electorate as I do, I knew the
hurt and offence that so many of my constituents
would have immediately felt.
“While many sat back and equivocated, I knew I
had to immediately make a principled and vocal
stand, against what she was saying. This was not
the Australia that I believed in".
Mr. Robertson, who was born in Scotland, intends
to take a break after the next election by
travelling back to his birthplace for the first
time with his wife Caz.
Stephen
Robertson is endorsing local community identity
Mr. David Forde (pictured left) to
replace him as the ALP's candidate for the next
state election.
Ms
Judy Spence MP is the Leader of the House
and State Member for Sunnybank. Judy entered
politics in 1989 as the Labor Member for Mt
Gravatt and is now Queensland's longest serving
woman.
Judy
Spence has strongly endorsed Mr. Adam Obeid
(pictured right)for
nomination as the Labor candidate for the seat
of Sunnybank. Born in Australia of parents,
Abdul and Mona, of Lebanese descent, Adam (23)
is completing his degree at Griffith University,
majoring in Government and Politics under a
Bachelor of Arts.
The CCN
Trading Post
Car for sale
Car: VW
Jetta, 2.0 FSI Turbo, DSG
Year: 2007
Odometer: 63,250 kms
Details:
Colour - Pearlescent Black
Heated Leather Seats
Sunroof
Dual Zone Climate Control
New Michelin Pilot Sport 3 Tyres
Price: $23,600 ONO
Councillor
Forced to Apologise to Salma Yaqoob for
'Damaging' Slur
UK:
The Sunday Mercury website and the
Birmingham Post reported that Liberal
Democrat councillor, Martin Mullaney, has
“apologised unreservedly” for accusing
fellow councillor, Salma Yaqoob (pictured
left), of supporting “stoning people to
death” wanting to “see Britain become an
Islamic republic.”
His apology, however, has only come after he
was referred to Birmingham’s Standards
Committee which, the papers report, could
have suspended him from the council.
His comments came after Councillor Yaqoob
and fellow Respect member, Councillor
Mohammed Ishtiaq, refused to join a standing
ovation for Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher
during a meeting in February.
Explaining her actions, Councillor Yaqoob
wrote on her website at the time:
“If our politicians really want to
demonstrate their support for our troops,
they should abandon substituting medal
pinning and phoney patriotism for rigorous
and honest debate. And they could also try
reflecting the will of the majority of
British people who are opposed to our
military presence in Afghanistan, and put
their efforts into getting these soldiers
home and safe where they belong.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Mullaney wrote on a
website following the meeting,
“I can only assume that if one of the
failed 21/7 London suicide bombers had been
in the council chamber, Coun Yaqoob would
have been demanding the council applaud the
failed suicide bomber for their past heroic
actions.
“If Coun Yaqoob had her way, she would be
implementing Hadood Law, with hands cut off
and stonings.”
After being referred to the Standards
Committee, Mullaney issued the following
apology to Councillor Yaqoob:
“I have been made aware of a couple of
formal complaints to the city council’s
Standards Committee about comments that I
recently made relating to you which could
potentially have been damaging to you.
“I recognise that my comments were
unfounded, insensitive and overstepped the
mark in terms of the code of conduct for
members.
“As such, I apologise, unreservedly, to you,
the complainants and the members of the
Standards Committee for those remarks and
the hurt that they, undoubtedly, caused.”
Responding to the apology, Councillor Yaqoob
said: “I accept the apology, but it is a
shame that it has come in grudging manner
after the Standards Board became involved.
"It proves that I do not have the views
attributed to me in the statements by
Councillor Mullaney.
"People may ask why he remains a Cabinet
member after this episode. There should be
no place in Birmingham for the politics of
bigotry and malice.”
The Sunday Mercury reported that the Liberal
Democrat party is “not taking disciplinary
action against [Mullaney].”
Thank you so much for including my mother Mrs
Emma Khan's 90th Birthday in
your last
issue of Crescents Community News.
We really appreciated your generous time and
effort in displaying it so promptly.
Great work
Wasalam
Zulaika Shaheen
Dear Editor,
AOA
In
response to your reader's enquiry in last week's
CCN, Mrs Iffat Ahmad is doing catering work for
functions and her number is 33382054 or
0402199525.
Regards
Javed Rahman
Dear Editor,
Assalam-0-alaikum,
Hope everyone is doing great. I cook from home
Pakistani/Indian style dishes, make desserts,
bake cakes, brownies and much much more.
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:This is a really easy
recipe for tuna casserole to bake. It is good for when
unexpected guests turn up and is easy to put together.
Serve warm with a green salad.
.
Ingredients
½ cup of milk
2 eggs
60g butter
175g tin tuna (drained)
1 cup flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1tsp ground garlic
2 tsp chopped coriander
1 tsp ground green chillies
½ tsp crushed cumin
1 small grated onion with water squeezed out
½ cup of grated cheese
Method
1. Beat eggs, milk and melted butter
2. Add all remaining ingredients and mix.
3. Pour into greased casserole and bake at
180 degrees centigrade for 25 minutes
Q: Dear Kareema, I am a new mum
and have always been active. I find it difficult now
after having my baby to get back into the swing of
things. Please give me some ideas on getting back on
track and finding some much needed balance in my new
busy lifestyle.
A: If you loved going to the gym before, try and
find one with a crèche that operate during hours that
would best suit you and you're baby's routine (or
sleeping patterns).
Other options would be to use some
exercise DVDs during baby's nap time, or a 30min walk to
start off with just before nap time. You may even find
that the fresh air helps baby sleep a little better or
longer, so you can get to rest as well (or have some
quiet time for you to enjoy).
On the days that baby is a little
unsettled or if you can't seem to get things done,
remember your mini-workouts. Do what you can, even if it
is for a total of 10mins at a time, every little bit of
exercise will count and you'll always feel better
afterward.
Try not to rush back into things - ease
your way back into an exercise routine and you'll reap
the rewards long-term!
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.
If there is someone you know who would like to
subscribe to CCN please encourage them to send
an e-mail to
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org with the words
“Subscribe Me” in the subject line.
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.
Stephen
Robertson is endorsing local community identity
Mr. David Forde (pictured left) to
replace him as the ALP's candidate for the next
state election. 
Vacancy at IWAQ 
UK:
The Sunday Mercury website and the
Birmingham Post reported that Liberal
Democrat councillor, Martin Mullaney, has
“apologised unreservedly” for accusing
fellow councillor, Salma Yaqoob (pictured
left), of supporting “stoning people to
death” wanting to “see Britain become an
Islamic republic.” 
