The
6th Australian Muslim
Achievement Awards (AMAA)
for 2011 hosted by
Sydney-based Mission of Hope
Australia was held in the
Alan Gilbert Building,
University of Melbourne,
Victoria last night
(Saturday).
Winners in
the 16 categories were:
Best new
community project of the
year – Islamic Museum of
Australia (VIC)
Business of the Year –
Crescent Times Newspaper (WA)
Media Outlet of the Year –
MuslimVillage.com (NSW)
Sportsperson of the Year –
Walid Yassine (NSW)
Community Organisation Award
– Islamic Museum of
Australia (NSW)
Professional of the Year
Award – Dr Bulent (Hass)
Dellal (VIC)
Abyssinian Award – Rabbi
Zalman Kastel (NSW)
Role Model of the Year Award
– Randa Abdel-Fattah
(NSW)
Creative Artist of the Year
Award – Peter Gould
(NSW)
Researcher of the Year –
Dr Bulent (Hass) Dellal
(VIC)
Event of the Year Award –
Auburn Community Development
Network- Ramadan Iftar
Program 2011 (NSW)
Volunteer of the Year Award
– Moustafa Fahour (VIC)(pictured
below)
Youth of the Year Award –
Amna Karra-Hassan (NSW)
Man of the Year Award –
Moustafa Fahour (VIC)
Woman of the Year Award –
Dr Joanna McKeown (WA)
Lifetime Achievement Award –
Dr. Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad
(NSW)
The
Abyssinian of the Year Award
(which goes out to a
non-Muslim) was won by
Rabbi Zalman Kastel.
Zalman Kastel was raised and
ordained as a Chasidic. Work
and friendship with
Christians and Muslims
transformed him from mainly
seeing people in terms of us
and them to appreciating
people of many belief
groups. He is Director of
Together for Humanity
Foundation, an interfaith
organisation that fosters a
sense of belonging together,
cooperation and respect.
Since 2002, he has led an
initiative that has
challenge the misconceptions
of over 60,000 students,
most often the
misunderstanding were about
Muslims.
On hearing of
his award, Kastel Facebooked:
Great honour to be
awarded the Abyssinian award
as part of Mission of Hope's
Australian Muslim
Achievement Awards in
Melbourne today. Thrilled
with the recognition of the
great work of Together For
Humanity and the benefits
for one of our stakeholder
communities, the Australian
Muslim Community. Thank you
Maha Najjarine, Hanan Dover
and Mariam Veiszadeh (of
Mission of Hope).
Event
organizer, Hanan Dover,
thanked all nominators,
nominees, judges, winners,
National Centre of
Excellence of Islamic
Studies, "and the hard
yakka work by my Mission of
Hope colleagues Maha
Najjarine, Mariam Veiszadeh
and Carrie Vernon in making
the whole process
culminating into the
successful 6th Annual
Australian Muslim
Achievement Awards for 2011.
Four Mission of Hope
volunteers made this happen
from start to finish and I
am humbled by our many late
night efforts."
Muhurram March in Brisbane
Hundreds
of men, women and children
marched through Brisbane
City on Sunday (11 December)
as part of an annual Shia
Muslim event.
Carrying banners and
chanting, an estimated 350
people made their way from
the Brisbane Square Centre
in George Street, Brisbane,
all the way around the CBD.
Shoppers stopped their
Christmas shopping to listen
to a group of Muslim
reciting prayers and poetry
during a ceremony in
Brisbane Square.
The event organised by the
”Islamic Shia Council of
Queensland (ISCQ) was held
for the first time as part
of the Mahurram, "which aims
to spread the message of
peace and tolerance on the
anniversary of the Imam
Hussain’s (AS) death,"
spokesperson Ahmed Murtaza
for the council told CCN. He
was killed after speaking
out against perceived
injustices nearly 1,400
years ago in Karbala.
“We chose Brisbane Square
because it is very central
and we wanted to get the
message out to as many
people as possible," Mr
Murtaza said.
The marchers waved banners
and play-cards with quotes
from people as wide ranging
as Mahatma Gandhi to Charles
Dickens.
"We set out on this march,
not just in memory of Imam
Husain(AS), but to remind
people that we must always
speak out against injustice
and oppression, wherever it
is happening."
“This
year we were particularly be
thinking of all those who
are suffering around the
world as they try to assert
their basic human rights. We
must speak out against
this."
“A lot of people asked
questions and took
literature from us. It is
all about engaging with the
public, and is a good chance
to resolve some
misconceptions people have
about our peaceful
religion.”
“We want the world to know
that Brisbane as a city is
standing up for human
rights.
“We call on everyone –
regardless of religion, race
or gender – to join us and
speak out against
injustice.”
“It is a time to remind
everyone about the
importance of standing up
against oppression and
tyranny.”
Muhammad: The Last Prophet Movie
Muhammad: The
Last Prophet is
an animated
movie produced
by Badr
International
and directed
by Richard Rich.
The movie was
released in
limited cinemas
in the United
States and
the United
Kingdom. The
movie focuses on
the early days
of Islam and Muhammad.
Like in The
Message, an
earlier
live-action
film, Muhammad
is not depicted.
So whenever he
is spoken to, or
is in a scene,
the character
speaking to him
faces the
camera.
The film
follows
Muhammad’s first
years as a
prophet starting
with Islam’s
beginnings
in Mecca in
which the
Muslims are
persecuted,
the exodus to
Medina, and
ending with the
Muslims’
triumphant
return to Mecca.
A number of
crucial events,
such as
the Battle of Badr and Battle
of Uhud are
depicted.
AUSTRALIA'S
Muslims would not move
towards a parallel legal
system if some Islamic
practices were better
integrated into the existing
legal framework, a
University of Sydney
academic said.
The Sydney law school
lecturer Ghena Krayem said
extensive interviews with
NSW Muslim leaders and
community members found they
were not seeking a
recognition of sharia in
areas where it was contrary
to existing Australian law,
such as polygamy.
But where in practice both
systems overlapped - such as
marriage and divorce - they
sought a better integration
of Islamic principles,
enhancing social cohesion
without legislative change.
Dr Krayem, whose doctoral
thesis on the topic is the
first empirical study of its
kind, said ad hoc mediation
of marriage breakdowns by
imams - a practice which
already operated in the
shadow of the law - would
benefit from procedural
safeguards such as the
transparency and
accountability of the
dispute resolution system of
the Family Law Act.
''Whilst these informal
community processes at the
moment, they're meeting a
need, there are aspects that
need to be improved - and
even our community leaders
and religious leaders
acknowledged that,'' she
said.
Dr Krayem
said the financial rights of
women, often negotiated
differently within the
religion if a wife initiated
the divorce, could also be
better protected if the
contract typically drafted
in Islamic marriages was
treated as if were a legal
pre-nuptial agreement.
''The most valuable thing
for Muslim women is they
need to know what they can
add into that contract
because it's the most
powerful path for them to
ensure they've safeguarded
their rights under Islamic
law,'' she said.
I also think
to not do
anything
about it at
all, to
dismiss this
whole
argument, is
actually
pushing the
community
towards
setting up a
parallel
legal system
Dr Krayem
Dr Krayem, a
Muslim who trained as a
family dispute resolution
practitioner, said the
approach could also take the
sting out of the public
debate surrounding sharia in
Australia.
''I also think to not do
anything about it at all, to
dismiss this whole argument,
is actually pushing the
community towards setting up
a parallel legal system.''
It was a question of
improving access to existing
legal avenues for dispute
resolution for people of
diverse cultural and
linguistic backgrounds, not
just Muslims.
She said an argument could
be made for legislative
change to allow those
certified to marry people,
such as religious leaders,
to also legally divorce
them, when issues of
property settlements or
custody could be excluded.
All American Muslim The Fast And The Furious
Parts 1-3
The Muslim Students' Guide To Brisbane
A
Brisbane Marketing
initiative, The Muslim
Students’ Guide To Brisbane
has been produced to help
Muslim students settle into
Brisbane life.
The guide provides
information on Studying in
Brisbane, and the Brisbane
Muslim Community. It
includes prayer times and
centres, Mosques, Halal
providers and a useful
contacts list.
The studybrisbane website
says that "with a thriving
Muslim Community, the Guide
provides useful information
for Muslim students to
practice their faith whilst
perusing their Studies in
Brisbane."
"The enviable lifestyle and
plenty of social and
cultural events, Brisbane is
a destination of choice for
by Students across the
globe."
The Muslim Students’ Guide
To Brisbane is available for
viewing
here.
Political Point Scoring on the back of
Australian Sheep
The president
of Muslims Australia – AFIC,
Mr Ikebal Patel commenting
on Federal member for Cowan,
Mr Luke Simpkins MP’s,
speech in Parliament calling
for labelling of (Halal)
meat in super markets, as an
overreaction and another
attempt at political point
scoring. (See:
Halal meat converting
Aussies article in The
West Australian).
Mr Patel said, “Meat is one
of Australia’s core food
export products and
underpins a significant
proportion of Australia's
food export statistics.
Exporting is vital to the
meat industry representing
60 per cent of the
industry’s trade with
exports consisting mainly of
beef, mutton, lamb and goat
meat. In fact, Australia is
the world's second largest
exporter of beef exporting
to more than 100 countries
across the globe”.
Mr Simpkins said that Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.w) had talked of how Islam could be expanded around the world by getting people to eat Halal meat. "He reportedly said, 'The non-believers will become Muslims when, amongst other things, they eat the meat that we have slaughtered'. This is one of the key aspects to converting non-believers to Islam," Mr Simpkins said.
Our biggest
markets for meat exports are
traditionally Japan, USA,
Korea, China and the Middle
East with the US and Japan
being Australia’s largest
market destinations on total
volumes and dollar value.
Mr Patel further stated, .
“If local supermarkets
respond to consumer demand
for Halal meat on their
shelves we see no impediment
to identifying the meat as
Halal. We believe animals
that are slaughtered in a
Halal manner are treated
well and with compassion. We
were reminded of the
importance of caring for
animals when we saw images
of the brutal treatment of
pigs before slaughter at an
abattoir in Victoria which
was as a result closed by
the authorities. The
treatment of all animals
with kindness is paramount
in Islam.
Mr Patel said the Muslim
community appreciates and
commends the balanced
comments made by Minister
Chris Bowen in response to
Senator Simpkins address in
promoting understanding ,
cooperation and harmony.
Mr Patel said, it’s time
Liberal Senators stop
“Muslim bashing” and the
Liberal leader, Mr Tony
Abbott reigns in Senators
who tend to use such tactics
to stigmatise and promote
division within the many and
various communities in
Australia.
In conclusion, Mr Patel
reminded the Liberal MP to
focus on growing the
Australian economy and
growing jobs for battling
Australians and easing the
burden of the cost of living
for many, many who are
facing a not so happy
holiday season.
Humanitarian Immigration Policy Welcomed
The President
of Muslims Australia AFIC,
Mr Ikebal Patel applauded
the Gillard government and
the Minister of Immigration
Mr Chris Bowen’s decision to
allow asylum seekers who
completed all the relevant
security, health and
character checks to be
released into the community
on bridging visas. "This is
a way forward and a more
humanitarian solution to a
critical humanitarian
crisis," said Mr Patel.
"Muslims Australia’s stance
on people seeking refuge is
clear, these are some of the
most vulnerable members of
the community who are simply
seeking to resume their
lives and start afresh in
Australia. If they do not
pose a threat to Australia,
they have a chance similar
to every other visa
applicant to Australia, to
be assessed for their
suitability to become
valuable members of a
diverse Australian
community."
Mr Patel also expressed his
gratitude to the government
for allowing the asylum
seekers to work, support and
protect their families until
the final assessment on
their application is
determined. "This is a
positive move and a gesture
of good will ensuring the
self respect and dignity of
the individual is maintained
during a difficult and
anxious period."
The CCN
Wedding Scene
Saadiya
&
Zaheer
A match made in Crescents
Crescents of Brisbane Team
members, Zaheer, son of
Dr. Faisal
and ShenazSuleman
of Maryborough and
Saadiya, daughter of
Mahomed and
KhatijaEssof of
Zimbabweembarked on
a project of their own
making when they married
each other on Friday at the
Kuraby Mosque.
The nikah was performed by
Imam Yusuf Peer and some 250
guests attended the walimah/reception
at Moda Events Portside in
Brisbane last night
(Saturday).
Zaheer, who has been working
as a paramedic in Bundaberg
returns home to Brisbane to
settle.
Saadiya will continue her
studies in sports
psychology.
The couple head off on a
honeymoon overseas today the
destination of which the
groom has kept a secret from
the bride.
CCN can reveal that a trip
to Fiji is on the cards.
Ruqayya
&
Haseeb
Ruqayya, daughter of
Ebrahim and Safiya
Abdoola, and Haseeb,
son of Naseema Mustapha
and Ahmad Abu
Ghazaleh and grandson of
Dr Sadeq Mustapha and
Ferouza Mustapha were
married recently
The Waleema was held 26th
November and the couple are
now in Southern Africa after
honeymooning in Thailand.
Around the Muslim World with CCN
Copy
of Qur’an in space
A
copy of the Qur’an taken into space for the very first time
by Russian Soyuz TMA-01M, Commander Alexander Kaleri, was
unveiled at the 18th Tehran International Press Festival on
October 30.
The Qur’an was sent into space on September 7, 2010 at the
request of Iranian space analyst, Sirus Borzu, as a symbolic
respond to burning of the Qur’ans in the US.
The Qur’an was returned on March 16 this year, said
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of scientific magazine,
Aseman-e-Shab, Hamid Reza Karimpour.
During the ceremony held in Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla,
Karimpour said that the first page of the Qur’an bears the
stamp of the International Space Station.
Borzu, who has been living in Russia for over 18 years,
added that the Russian Astronaut, Kaleri, expressed his
thanks to him after he returned from space and said that he
and his companions “had a difficult journey into space but
the Holy Book helped them to overcome the difficulties.”
Borzu had also sent into space a collection of postcards by
Iranian master miniaturist Mahmud Farshchian. They were
taken by astronaut Pavel Vinogradov on April 24, 2006.
“I am planning to allocate the third item to the text
inscribed on the Cyrus Cylinder in addition to its Persian,
English and Russian translations,” he added. Cyrus Cylinder
is an ancient clay cylinder, on which is written a
declaration in Akkadian cuneiform script in the name of the
Achaemenid King Cyrus the Great. Cylinder has also a text on
“human rights charter”.
Borzu is now an editorial member of Aseman-e-Shab magazine
which is a leading astronomy and space science journal in
the Middle East.
Borzu, who was born in Iran and has been involved in
researching on space science for over 40 years, was the
publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Infinite Borders of Space
magazine in Iran.
“My motivation for sending postal cards of miniature
paintings to the space was to do a service to the Iranian
art and to lift Iranian spirit. It is a privilege for
Iranians to have the first art exhibition in the space.
The reason for sending the Qur’an to space was a response to
burning of the Qur’ans in America, and also to protect Mr
Kaleri who is a dear friend to me,” Borzu told The Muslim
News.
He added that he was “very happy when I heard that the
Qur’an had helped Kalery to overcome the difficulties in
space.”
Indonesian
sharia stronghold 'rehabilitates' punks
A
group of detained Indonesian punks wash themselves
in a lake after their hair was shaved off at a
police school in Aceh province. After being arrested
at a punk rock concert, 59 male and five female punk
rock fans have been forced to have their hair cut,
bathe in a lake, change clothes and pray. AFP Photo
BANDA
ACEH: Indonesian sharia police are "morally
rehabilitating" more than 60 young punk rock fans in
Aceh province on Sumatra island, saying the youths
are tarnishing the province's image.
Since being arrested at a punk rock concert in the
provincial capital Banda Aceh on Saturday night, 59
male and five female punk rock fans have been forced
to have their hair cut, bathe in a lake, change
clothes and pray.
We
feared that the Islamic sharia law implemented in
this province will be tainted by their activities,"
Banda Aceh deputy mayor Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal,
who ordered the arrests, told AFP on Wednesday.
"We hope that by sending them to rehabilitation they
will eventually repent."
Hundreds of Indonesian punk fans came from around
the country to attend the concert, organised to
raise money for orphans.
Police stormed the venue and arrested fans sporting
mohawks, tattoos, tight jeans and chains, who were
on Tuesday taken to a nearby town to undergo a
10-day "moral rehabilitation" camp run by police.
A girl cried as women in headscarves cut her long
unruly hair into a short bob, and some of the men
groaned as their heads were shaved, according to an
AFP correspondent at the camp.
"Why did they arrest us? They haven't given us any
reason," said Fauzal, 20.
"We didn't steal anything, we weren't bothering
anyone. It's our right to go to a concert."
A 22-year-old man from Medan city, who did not want
to be named, said he feared he would lose his job
for staying at the camp for 10 days.
"I've just started with a bank in Medan. I don't
even know what to tell them because I don't know why
I've been arrested."
Police said the objective was to deter the youths
from "deviant" behaviour.
"They never showered, they lived on the street,
never performed religious prayers," Aceh police
chief Iskandar Hasan told AFP.
"We need to fix them so that they will behave
properly and morally. They need harsh treatment to
change their mental behaviour."
A local rights activist Evi Narti Zain said the
arrests breached human rights.
"What the police have done is totally bizarre. Being
a punk is just a lifestyle. They exist all over the
world and they don't break any rules or harm other
people," she said.
Hasan denied the accusation, claiming the
rehabilitation programme was merely an "orientation
into normal Indonesian society".
Aceh, on the northernmost tip of Sumatra island,
adopted partial sharia law in 2001 as part of a
special autonomy package aimed at quelling
separatist sentiment.
Only Muslims can be charged under sharia law,
although the non-Muslim community is expected to
follow some laws out of respect.
Nearly 90% of Indonesia's 240 million people are
Muslims, but the vast majority practise a moderate
form of Islam.
Police gather a group of detained
Indonesian punks at a police school in Aceh Besar in
Aceh province. AFP Photo
An Indonesian policewoman cuts the
hair of a detained punk at a police school in Aceh
Besar. AFP Photo
The
Fatwa Against Women Touching Bananas and Other Stupid
Islamic Orders
Did an Islamic cleric ban
women from touching bananas and cucumbers? True or false,
Asra Q. Nomani writes, fatwas have become ridiculous. See
her list of the 10 most outrageous ones.
There
is an interesting headline moving through Muslim community
listservs: "Did an Islamic cleric really ban women from
touching bananas and cucumbers?"
This past week, an email pinged around the world, claiming
that a Muslim cleric "residing in Europe" issued a, well,
interesting fatwa, or religious ruling, banning Muslim women
from touching bananas or cucumbers:
“He said that these fruits
and vegetables ‘resemble the male penis’ and hence could
arouse women or ‘make them think of sex,'" according to a
report in a supposed Egyptian website, BikyaMasr. The Times
of India ran the story: "Islamic cleric bans women from
touching bananas."
"If women wish to eat these
food items, a third party, preferably a male related to them
such as their a father or husband, should cut the items into
small pieces and serve," the cleric supposedly dictated.
It's hard to confirm that the
fatwa is true, but the fact that we, in the Muslim
community, would even think it's possible is a reflection of
just how inane the phenomenon of fatwas has become in the
Muslim community. The idea of the fatwa became notorious
when an Iranian cleric called for the killing of author
Salman Rushdie when he published the novel The Satanic
Verses, about an erased portion in the Koran supposedly
inspired by the Devil.
The fatwas used to carry the
authority of divine ordination. But the years since have
revealed that, indeed, there is nothing to fear—or
revere—about the fatwa. In fact, nowadays, you can get a
fatwa to validate any point you want to make. I call it
"fatwa shopping."
The Daily Beast
Can
Turkey Make Its Mosques Feminist?
Istanbul Islamic leaders are
requiring houses of worship to treat men and women equally,
challenging some traditional norms and raising a few tempers
Women sit at Eyup Sultan mosque while
waiting for Eid al-Fitr prayers, in Istanbul
/ Reuters
Turkey: A campaign to make
Istanbul's roughly 3,100 mosques more welcoming for women
could set off a gender revolution in Turkey's places of
Islamic worship - and one that may not be uniformly
welcomed.
"This is about mosques being a space for women," declared
Kadriye Avci Erdemli, Istanbul's deputy mufti, the city's
second most powerful administrator of the Islamic faith.
"When a woman enters a mosque, she is entering the house of
God and she should experience the same sacred treatment. In
front of God, men and women are equal; they have the same
rights to practice their religion."
As part of the "Beautification of Mosques for Women"
project, Erdemli sent 30 teams to visit all of Istanbul's
mosques and report back on the facilities for women. What
the teams found was shocking, she claimed. "Many of the
mosques have no toilets for women, no place for women to
wash before praying," Erdemli recounted. "Most of the places
allocated for women were used as storage places, and those
that weren't were usually filthy and freezing cold in
winter."
Istanbul's mosques are now under strict instructions to
clean up and provide equal facilities for both men and women
by February 2012. But it's not only a push for cleanliness
and improved sanitation that is underway. The way mosques
are arranged is also being changed, according to Erdemli.
"In most mosques, the women's area was divided by a curtain
or a wall, and this is not fair," she elaborated. "They are
sacred places and women have the right to take advantage of
their spiritual feeling as well."
In most
mosques, the
women's area
was divided
by a curtain
or a wall,
and this is
not fair.
They are
sacred
places and
women have
the right to
take
advantage of
their
spiritual
feeling as
well
Kadriye
Erdemli
Unlike men, women
are not required under Islam to attend a mosque;
their presence is allowed, but, traditionally,
female Muslim believers have prayed more
frequently at home. Practices, however, can vary
from country to country, and from mosque to
mosque. In Istanbul's mosques, to reflect the
beautification project's goal of equal worship
space, "all the curtains and walls are coming
down," Erdemli said. "But segregation will
remain; men and children will pray in front of
women."
Starting in late December, inspections will
start to check if mosques are complying with
instructions. Since the program began in March,
Erdemli has addressed over 5,000 of the city's
imams and religious staff to explain the
theological reason for why mosques are for women
as much as they are for men. On the streets of
Istanbul, there appears to be broad support for
the program among religious women. "Sure, it
would be beautiful. It would be much better,"
said one 30-year-old woman, who gave her name as
Münevver. "In some places, the spaces for women
are clean, but in others they are filthy."
The Diyanet, the state-run administrative body
for Turkey's mosques, has not only given its
complete support to the project, but also
provided a theological justification. In
November, the head of the Diyanet, Mehmet Gomez,
gave an uncompromising speech, in which he
acknowledged the problem of misogyny in Islam.
"There are some wrong, incomplete, biased
interpretations that do not reflect the general
principles of our noble religion," Hürriyet
Daily News on December 7 reported Gomez as
saying.
We see more
and more
women
getting
educated in
the
universities,
more women
in the
workplace.
They've been
able to
become more
visible in
society. And
they want to
be a part of
the mosque
system as
opposed to
praying at
home.
All are not happy
with this gender revolution. "I hope all these
increasing efforts are not aimed at removing the
obstacles for a woman to come out of her home,
and first go out to the mosque, and then to find
a job; all by finding legitimacy within [the
Islamic] religion," grumbled leading Islamic
columnist Ali Bulac on December 3 in the Zaman
newspaper.
The column provoked a storm of reaction. The
outcry, interestingly, was louder coming from
practicing Islamic women than from secular
feminists. In her December 6 column for the
daily Yeni Safak, Islamic columnist Ozlem
Albayrak termed Bulac's attitude a form of
"persecution against women."
The heated polemic is just the latest example of
an important change in Turkish society. Istar
Gozaydin, a law professor at Istanbul's Dogus
University and an expert on the Diyanet, argues
that the rise of a new conservative Islamic
middle class on the coattails of the decade-long
rule of the Islamic-rooted Justice and
Development Party has eased both formal and
informal restrictions on Islamic women in
education and state workplaces. "We see more and
more women getting educated in the universities,
more women in the workplace," Gozaydin said.
"They've been able to become more visible in
society. And they want to be a part of the
mosque system as opposed to praying at home."
Although the percentage of women in Turkey's
workplaces and university student bodies may
appear relatively low, the figures are trending
upward. A 2010 World Bank report on gender
equality reported that 30 percent of Turkish
women work. According to official data for the
same year, women accounted for 44 percent of
Turkish university students.
Erdemli has her sights on the Beautification of
Mosques for Women project becoming an
inspiration for the rest of Turkey. She
maintains, though, that its goal is not
revolution, but simply bringing the Muslim faith
back to its roots. "All we are doing is taking
Islam to back before it was corrupted and
misinterpreted, when women and men were treated
equally," she said.
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MUSLIM AND
MUSLIM FRIENDLY
BUSINESS
DISCLAIMER: CCN publishes
articles in good faith and takes no
responsibility for the contents
supplied by its writers. Any
complaints regarding any articles
should be sent by email to
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org for
us to act on.
CCN Readers' Book Club: You are what you
read!
This week CCN recommends
Shantaram
by
Gregory David Roberts
Synopsis
"It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what
I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the
heart of it came to me in an instant, while I was chained to
a wall and being tortured."
So
begins this epic, mesmerizing first novel set in the
underworld of contemporary Bombay.
Shantaram is narrated by Lin, an escaped convict with a
false passport who flees maximum security prison in
Australia for the teeming streets of a city where he can
disappear.
Accompanied by his guide and faithful friend, Prabaker, the
two enter Bombay's hidden society of beggars and gangsters,
prostitutes and holy men, soldiers and actors, and Indians
and exiles from other countries, who seek in this remarkable
place what they cannot find elsewhere.
As a hunted man without a home, family, or identity, Lin
searches for love and meaning while running a clinic in one
of the city's poorest slums, and serving his apprenticeship
in the dark arts of the Bombay mafia.
The search leads him to war, prison torture, murder, and a
series of enigmatic and bloody betrayals.
The keys to unlock the mysteries and intrigues that bind Lin
are held by two people.
The first is Khader Khan: mafia godfather,
criminal-philosopher-saint, and mentor to Lin in the
underworld of the Golden City.
The second is Karla: elusive, dangerous, and beautiful,
whose passions are driven by secrets that torment her and
yet give her a terrible power.
Burning slums and five-star hotels, romantic love and prison
agonies, criminal wars and Bollywood films, spiritual gurus
and mujaheddin guerrillas---this huge novel has the world of
human experience in its reach, and a passionate love for
India at its heart.
Based on the life of the author, it is by any measure the
debut of an extraordinary voice in literature.
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: It's the holiday season
and everyone deserves a little indulgence. This recipe is
great for those times in the day you crave a snack and can
be an alternative to mini-pizzas.
Calzone
with Chicken Filling
Ingredients
3 cups flour
2 Tab sugar
1 tsp salt
2tsp yeast (10g)
¼ cup oil
1 egg
½ cup milk and ½ cup water
Method
1. Sift the flour and the salt, then add all
other dry ingredients.
2. Beat the egg and oil and very gently rub into
the dry ingredients.
3. Mix the milk and water and add to the flour
mixture and knead to form a soft dough.
4. Cover the dough and leave to rise until
almost double in size.
Filling
3 cups of chicken fillet cubed
1 tsp ground cumin (jeeru)
1 tsp salt
¼ cup lemon juice
1 tsp ground green chillies
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp garlic
2 tab oil or ghee
½ cup of Mozzarella Cheese
½ cup of chopped tomatoes
Extra chopped tomatoes, cheese and green peppers
for the topping.
Method
Heat the oil and add all the above and cook the
chicken until tender and then make a mixture of
1 ¼ cup cold milk and 2 tab corn flour and add
to the chicken and let it simmer for a few
minutes and then allow it to cool.
To
make the calzone:
Punch the dough down and then using half the
dough at a time, roll it out, using an 8cm
cutter, and cut out circles.
Brush
with beaten egg, place the filling in the one
half, top with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese
and then fold over.
Brush
with beaten egg and sprinkle with cheese and
cubed tomatoes and green peppers and bake at 180
degrees until light brown.
You could any filling of your choice, spinach
and feta is also a great combination for the
vegetarians.
All questions sent in
are published here anonymously and without any
references to the author of the question.
Flightstar Fozi's Travel Tips
Q: Dear Flightstar Fozi, I want to travel to
India but am afraid of getting that dreaded 'Delhi Belly”,
am I allowed to travel with medicine in case I get sick.
A: Before you travel you should consult with a doctor
to make sure you are well enough to travel and ask any
medical questions you have.
Your medical professional will also look up the country you
are travelling to and advise you of any medication or
immunisations you may need.
Getting sick on holidays is not a pleasant experience so
make sure you take the appropriate medication with you.
As a general rule it is suggested that you take with you
some type of headache tablet, some type of gastro medication
and an antibiotic.
It is also advisable to purchase a small first aid kit to
travel with.
You can travel with medication as long as it is for personal
use, and it is always better to be over cautious when
getting medication especially if you are eating food 'off
the street'.
Once again your doctor is the best person to advise your
specific medical needs.
All questions sent in
are published here anonymously and without any
references to the author of the question.
The CCN Chuckle
Mula Nasruddin
was terribly overweight, so his doctor placed him on a
strict diet.
"I want you to eat regularly for two days, then skip a
day, and repeat this procedure for two weeks. The next
time I see you, you'll have lost at least five kilos,"
his doctor assured him.
When
Mula Nasruddin returned he shocked his doctor by having lost
almost twenty kilos.
"Why, that's amazing," the doctor said, greatly
impressed, "You certainly must have followed my
instructions."
Mula Nasruddin nodded, "I'll tell you what though, I thought
I was going to drop dead on the third day."
"Why, from hunger?" asked his doctor.
"No, from all that skipping."
The CCN
Without God, Atheists
wouldn't exist.
Anon
Notice Board
Click on image to enlarge
Events
and Functions
AMYM
Males
Summer Camp
24-26 December
Napolean
7 & 8 January
The 2012 CBA/Brisbane Indian Times Multicultural Awards
NOMINATION FORM
International Food Festival
Gold Coast
6 May
Islamic
Programmes, Education & Services
AIIC Scholarship
As-Salaam Institute of Islamic Studies
Summer Program
December & January
Holiday Qu'raan Classes
Kuraby Mosque
14 Dec to 19 Jan
Intensive Quran
Holiday Programme
HALL HIRE
Islamic College of Brisbane
New Multi-Purpose Hall
Facilities
include :
a) seating capacity for
about 800 people
b) kitchen
c) cold room
d) sound system
e) stage
Computers,
laptops, bags, accessories, digital cameras, monitors,
notebooks, printers, toners/cartridges, software and much
much more. All the best brands at the lowest possible
prices. Visit us today
www.efxshop.com.au
Islamic Couture
ZAM ZAM Water now available:-
500ML Bottle @ $6.50 each Buy 5 @ $6.00 each Buy 10 @
$5.80 each Buy a carton of 24 @ $135.00 a carton ($5.63
each)
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
Mo's
Handyman Services
Bilal Solwa @ Reed
Table & Chair Hire
Additional contact:
Ahmed Hassan
0433 531 593
Gabriel Hair Studio
Colour - Style - Shine.
Gabriel K hair studio is a boutique studio exclusively for
women. Gabriel K has over 20 years experience as a stylist
and uses Matrix as the professional range.
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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encourage them to send an e-mail to
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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.
he
Abyssinian of the Year Award
(which goes out to a
non-Muslim) was won by
Rabbi Zalman Kastel.
Zalman Kastel was raised and
ordained as a Chasidic. Work
and friendship with
Christians and Muslims
transformed him from mainly
seeing people in terms of us
and them to appreciating
people of many belief
groups. He is Director of
Together for Humanity
Foundation, an interfaith
organisation that fosters a
sense of belonging together,
cooperation and respect.
Since 2002, he has led an
initiative that has
challenge the misconceptions
of over 60,000 students,
most often the
misunderstanding were about
Muslims.
Hundreds
of men, women and children
marched through Brisbane
City on Sunday (11 December)
as part of an annual Shia
Muslim event.
“This
year we were particularly be
thinking of all those who
are suffering around the
world as they try to assert
their basic human rights. We
must speak out against
this."
A
Brisbane Marketing
initiative, The Muslim
Students’ Guide To Brisbane
has been produced to help
Muslim students settle into
Brisbane life.
There
is an interesting headline moving through Muslim community
listservs: "Did an Islamic cleric really ban women from
touching bananas and cucumbers?"
So
begins this epic, mesmerizing first novel set in the
underworld of contemporary Bombay.
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7
August 2011