Members of the Queensland Multicultural Roundtable
Associate Professor Mohamad Abdalla
Ms Leila Abukar
Sergeant Jim (Dimitrios) Bellos
Mr Luca Fu
The Honourable Gary Hardgrave
Mr Faisal Hatia
Ms Ameera Karimshah
Mr Peter Low OAM
Ms Sharon Orapeleng
Ms Jo Pratt
Mrs Raynuha Sinnathamby
Mr Nick Xynias AO BEM
Queensland
has a new
multicultural
advisory
group to
drive a more
contemporary
approach to
promoting
multiculturalism
across the
state.
The
Queensland
Multicultural
Roundtable
will also
oversee the
delivery of
more
relevant
festivities
and
activities
to celebrate
the state’s
cultural
diversity.
Aboriginal
and Torres
Strait
Islander and
Multicultural
Affairs
Minister
Glen Elmes
said the
Roundtable
will be
chaired by
the
Assistant
Minister for
Multicultural
Affairs,
Robert
Cavallucci.
“Members of
the
Roundtable
are key
ethnic,
business and
community
leaders who
have the
necessary
respect and
authority to
secure high
level
co-operation
from groups
across the
multicultural
spectrum,”
Mr Elmes
said.
“Queensland
has a richly
diverse
ethnic
composition,
and I want
to be sure
that
diversity is
recognised
and
celebrated
in
appropriate
ways right
across the
state.
“The Newman
Government
is committed
to
supporting
the
development
of strong
multicultural
communities
in all areas
of
Queensland.
“We want to
promote and
celebrate
Queensland’s
diverse
cultural
heritage and
provide
opportunities
for
Queenslanders
from all
backgrounds
to come
together and
experience
different
cultural
activities
and events.
“By drawing
on the
expertise
and capacity
of key
community
leaders, the
Roundtable
will work
with
partners,
including
with the
private
sector, to
inform and
connect
multicultural
communities
and oversee
funding for
major
multicultural
events in
Queensland.”
Mr
Cavallucci
said he was
looking
forward to
leading the
group which
will oversee
the delivery
of
multicultural
events
including
the expanded
Italian and
Lunar New
Year weeks
and the new
Queensland
Multicultural
Week.
“We will be
working to
identify
opportunities
for
innovative
statewide
events that
showcase the
social and
economic
benefits of
cultural
diversity in
Queensland,”
Mr
Cavallucci
said.
“I’m
expecting
the
Roundtable
will be able
to develop
partnerships
with the
private
sector to
leverage
funding for
major
multicultural
events.
“I also want
the group to
facilitate
participation
by all
relevant
communities
in the
development
of
multicultural
events and
other
activities,
and to take
a lead in
promoting
better
access by
diverse
communities
to
government
services.”
Brisbane is
playing host
to two
leading
international
scholars
this week.
The
first,
Shaykh
Taha
Karaan
(pictured
left),
is a
specialist
in
Islamic
Law
with
years
of
experience
and
a
wealth
of
qualifications.
Shaykh
Karaan
is
born
in
Cape
Town,
South
Africa
to a
family
renowned
in
both
its
maternal
and
paternal
lineage
for
Islamic
scholarship.
After
finishing
four
years
of
the
‘alim
(religious
scholar)
course
in
two
years,
he
journeyed
to
the
Indian
sub-continent
graduating
from
there
in
1991
with
the
highest
of
distinctions
in a
class
of
over
700
students.
He
then
travelled
to
the
Middle
East
and
completed
his
studies
at
the
Higher
Institute
for
Islamic
Studies
in
Cairo,
Egypt.
Shaykh
Taha
is
the
recipient
of
numerous
chains
of
transmission
(ijazaat)
from
well-respected
scholars
in
India,
Pakistan,
South
Africa,
Egypt
and
Saudi
Arabia,
among.
Currently,
Shaykh
Taha
is a
member
of
the
Ifta’
(legal
Verdict)
Department
of
the
MJC,
and
sits
as
an
executive
member
of
the
Muslim
Personal
Law
Board
and
on
the
Islamic
Advisory
Board
of
ABSA,
one
of
South
Africa’s
national
banks.
The
second,
Dato’
Sri
Professor
Zaleha
Kamaruddin
(pictured
right),
is a
lady
of
repute
and
the
current
Rector
of
the
International
Islamic
University
Malaysia
(IIUM).
A
specialist
in
Shariah
and
the
Common
Law,
Prof
Kamaruddin
is
listed
in
“Who’s
who”
in
law
and
religion
by
the
International
Consortium
for
Law
and
Religion
Studies
(ICLARS)
based
in
Milan,
Italy.
In
2009,
she
became
a
guest
of
Lord
Daniel
Brennan,
Chair
of
the
APPG
on
Legal
and
Constitutional
Aairs,
and
was
invited
to
co-present
a
paper
at
the
House
of
Lords,
England
with
commentaries
by
Prof
Stephen
B.
Young,
former
Vice-Dean
of
Harvard
Law
School.
Professor
Kamaruddin
has
published
seventeen
books
and
presented
more
than
200
papers
for
local
and
international
conferences.
Shaykh
Karaan and
Prof
Kamaruddin
will present
in the
Shariah Law
Symposium on
Wednesday 5th
December at
the Brisbane
Exhibition
Centre and
will deliver
a dinner
speech on
the topic of
‘Living
Islam Today’
at Michael’s
Restaurant
on Thursday,
6th
December
(for details
go to
www.myrevival.com.au).
An interfaith group of approximately 30 comprising Muslims, Jews, Christians, people of other faiths and no faith gathered on Saturday (yesterday) morning to hand out 1000 carnations to the public as a gesture of mourning for all civilians killed on both sides in the latest Gaza/Israel conflict.
Attached with each flower was a card with the names of victims, including short biographical information about the Palestinian and Israeli men, women and children who have died in the conflict (25% are children). Also attached was a short fact sheet about the context of the conflict.
The organisers, a grassroots group called In Solidarity With Humanity, hope this peaceful event will help people remember the humanity of the otherwise de-humanized victims.
Mohamad Alshurafa, a Muslim human rights advocate of Palestinian heritage, and Nicole Erlich, a Jewish Australian peace campaigner, were pleased to be able to come together with others ‘in solidarity with humanity’.
Mr. Alshurafa said the giving of carnations is a beautiful and honourable way to commemorate the innocent victims of the conflict and recognize the many similarities between the people involved, rather than focusing on the differences.
“I have always believed that we’re all part of the human family and this interfaith event is representative of that and reflects that,” he said.
Dr Erlich hopes this action will also encourage people to critically consider and reflect upon the reasons for this conflict and believes the communities need to work together in order for there to be peace.
“I think that particularly people from the Jewish community tend to stay within their communities, and a lot of them have never met an Arab or a Palestinian or even really know people from other faiths. If we want peace we should start by merely talking to each other,” she said.
As well as the flowers telling a short biography of four of the civilian casualties, a full list of the names and some insight to the stories of all the deceased will be published on the website of a supporting organization, www.amarah.org/gaza2012.
"It's a flower for love and peace to commemorate all the victims in the Gaza conflict," a spokesman for the organizers told CCN. "Let's remember them regardless of whether they were Christian, Muslim or Jew."
Each flower had attached to the stem a card depicting the increasingly diminishing Palestinian lands, and, on the other side of the card, a story behind some of the victims of the conflict.
The 7th
annual
Australian
Muslim
Achievement
Awards was
held on
Sunday 25th
November at
Docklands,
Melbourne to
recognise 16
individuals
and
organisations
for their
efforts in
the
community.
Amongst the
15
award
categories
announced at
the
ceremony
were the
‘AMAA Woman
of the
Year’,
awarded to Amina
Elshafei and
the ‘AMAA
Man of the
Year’
awarded to
Waleed Aly.
The
‘Australian
Muslim
Lifetime
Achiever
Award’ was awarded to
community
leader
Mohammed Hassan OAM.
The
People’s
Choice Award
was awarded
to Kamal
Saleh who
also won the AMAA
Creative
Artist of
the Year
Award.
the
Powerhouse
Museum's
Faith
Fashion
Fusion
(FFF)
Exhibition
- a
celebration
of
Muslim
women's
dress
–
from
headscarf
to
hairdo
–
and
how
women
are
expressing
themselves
through
fashion,
without
compromising
their
modesty.
The full
list of:
Media Outlet
of the Year
Award:
Muslimvillage.com
Business of
the Year
Award:
Pharmacy 4
Less
Event of the
Year Award:
Faith,
Fashion,
Fusion
(Powerhouse
Museum)
Best New
Community
Initiative
Award:
Silence is
Betrayal
Community
Organisation
of the Year
Award:
Islamic
Council of
Victoria
Creative
Artist of
Year Award:
Kamal
Saleh
The
Abyssinian
Award:
John
Cornwall
Sportsperson
of the Year
Award:
Assmaah
Helal
People’s
Choice
Award:
Kamal Saleh
Youth of the
Year Award:
Abdi
Malik Osman
Role Model
of the Year
Award:
Mehmet Ozalp
Volunteer of
the Year
Award:
Mazen Fahmi
Profession
of the Year
Award:
Talal
Yassine
Man of the
Year Award:
Waleed
Aly
Woman of the
Year Award:
Amina
Elshafei
Lifetime
Achievement
Award:
Mohamed
Hassan
UK:
A new guide
launched
over the
weekend by
the
Christian
Muslim Forum
(CMF),
dealing with
interfaith
marriages
between
members of
the two
faith
groups.
When two
faiths meet’
(available
here),
emphasises
the need for
tolerance
and
acceptance
of
mixed-faith
marriages”.
Those
supporting
it include
imams from
the more
orthodox
Islamic
schools of
thought and
evangelical
Christians”
The guide is
designed for
faith
leaders who
work
pastorally
with mixed
faith
couples and
their
families.
Those who
have signed
up to the
document
include the
Leicester-based
imam, Sheikh
Ibrahim
Mogra; the
associate
Bishop of
Southwark
Catholic
Archdiocese,
the Right
Rev Paul
Hendricks;
and Amra
Bone, member
of a
Birmingham
based
shari’ah
council.
Mixed-faith
couples
sometimes
face
difficult
situations
such as
hostility
and
resistance
from family
members and
the wider
society, as
well as
pressure on
spouses to
convert to
their
partner’s
faith.
The CMF
guidelines
contain a
number of
recommendations
including
the need for
non-judgmental
support;
rejecting
forced
conversions;
and
prioritising
the welfare
of children.
Speaking to
the
Independent,
Sheikh Mogra
said that
faith
leaders and
communities
need to be
prepared for
what is an
increasing
phenomenon:
"Christian
and Muslim
couples
often face
very
challenging
scenarios
where there
is not
enough
tolerance or
the right
pastoral
care and
that can
lead to a
very
damaging and
negative
experience
for them."
"It's
clearly
already an
issue and
something
that will
become more
and more
common."
He added
that,
"It makes
sense for
pastors and
imams to be
ready for
such
situations
rather than
be left
without help
of
guidelines
when they
get
approached
by couples
seeking
their
advice."
I am looking for the
full list of Halal Requirements so that I can make
our establishment which is a hospital catering
specifically for children Halal Certified.
Kindly help me.
Regards, Esther
Food Safety Team Leader
Gertrude’s Children Hospital
P.O. Box 42325,00100
Nairobi Kenya
Tel: 020- 7206224
Mobile: 0727-690467
If readers can help
with any other resources, please email them to
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org and we will forward
them on.
Dear Editor
I was searching on
the Internet for some old Muslims in Brisbane was wonder
if you (or your readers) have come across the
following names:
Ally Bahadur Khan (I think the actual name is Ali
Bahadur Khan or written as A. B. Khan on his grave)
and his son Ayoub Ally Bahadur Khan, residing at
Logan Road, Holland Park in the late 1920s and
1930s. Ally Bahadur Khan died in 1955 and his grave
is in the Mt. Gravatt Cemetery. They had a mattress
factory at Galway street, Greenslopes.
Can I find any information about them or do they
have any descendants till date? Can you please guide
me where to start looking for?
Your assistance will be highly appreciated.
Wassalam Malik Imran
[Editor] While
the Queensland Muslim Historical Society is
conducting its research into this, iIf any readers
can help please email
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.
There are
over 1.6
billion
Muslims in
the world
today,
making up
approximately
23% of the
world's
population,
or more than
one-fifth of
mankind.
The
Muslim500
publication
is part of
an annual
series that
provides a
window into
the movers
and shakers
of the
Muslim
world. It
gives
valuable
insight into
the
different
ways that
Muslims
impact the
world, and
also shows
the
diversity of
how people
are living
as Muslims
today.
The 2011
Muslim500 lists the
world's most
influential
Muslims who
have
impacted on
their
community,
or on behalf
of their
community.
Influence
is: any
person who
has the
power (be
it
cultural,
ideological,
financial,
political or
otherwise)
to make a
change that
will have a
significant
impact on
the Muslim
World. The
impact can
be either
positive or
negative.
The
influence
can be of a
religious
scholar
directly
addressing
Muslims and
influencing
their
beliefs,
ideas and
behaviour,
or it can be
of a ruler
shaping the
socio-economic
factors
within which
people live
their lives,
or of
artists
forming
popular
culture.
Each week, CCN
publishes
a
personality
selected
from the
list:
No. 49
H.E. Dr
Abd al Aziz
bin ‘Uthman
Altwaijiri
Secretary
General of
the Islamic
Educational,
Scientific
and Cultural
Organization
Country: Saudi
Arabia
Born: 3 April
1950 (age 61) Source of Influence:
Development, Administrative Influence: Head of
largestIslamic educational organization School of Thought: Traditional Sunni
His Excellency
Dr Abd al Aziz
bin ‘Uthman
Altwaijiri has
exercised his
influence by
promoting
educational
development for
OIC member
states.
Educational
Influence
Through his
leadership with
ISESCO,
Altwaijiri has
engaged in
work with
Muslim
institutions in
Europe, Asia
and Latin
America. He has
established the
Supreme
Council of
Education,
Science and
Culture, an
alliance
designated for
work outside of
the Islamic
World.
Voice of
Diplomacy
Altwaijiri, as a
spokesman for
ISESCO, has
categorically
condemned acts
of terrorism
from the
bomb blasts on a
mosque in South
East Iran to
suicide
attacks in
Pakistan’s North
West Frontier
Province in
2009. On
US President
Obama’s
inaugural visit
to the Middle
East, Altwaijiri
expressed his
willingness to
develop positive
relations
between the US
and the Muslim
World toward
tolerance and
the cause of
justice.
Sales of beauty and personal
care products bearing halal-certification
are now worth more than £3.1bn
internationally, as Muslim consumers seek
more integrity in their beauty regimes.
According to a report by the Organic
Monitor, more than 57 certification agencies
globally are now authorised to label a
product ‘halal-certified’.
While the highest adoption rates are in
Muslim countries, the trend for
certification is also seeing growth across
Europe and North America.
Commonly used animal-derived ingredients
such as gelatine and collagen have caused
concern, with many consumers from all
backgrounds perceiving halal-certified
products as more ethical.
Multinational companies Colgate-Palmolive
and Avon, as well as global ingredients
businesses BASF and CP Kelco, are developing
products certified for Muslim markets.
Accounting for around 20% of the global
population, Muslim consumer groups are
recognised as some of the fastest growing in
the world.
Baroness
Flather - Muslims "all on benefits and all
vote Labour"
LONDON:
The Sun reports on reaction to the
comments by Crossbench peer,
Baroness Shreela Flather, who weighed in
on the controversy surrounding the
Conservative Party’s newly appointed
campaign chief,
Lynton Crosby, saying
“I don’t condone swearing,
but Lynton is right to say it is pointless
for the Conservatives to chase Muslim votes.
They are all on benefits and all vote
Labour.”
It was recently alleged that
Crosby, who headed both of Boris Johnson’s
Mayoral election campaigns in 2005 and
2010,
used the phrase “F****** Muslims”
whilst working for Johnson and advised the
incumbent mayor to not bother ‘chasing the
Muslim vote’.
Ethica,
the Islamic finance industry’s leading certification
institute, in an unprecedented move for the industry
has launched a comprehensive online guidebook on
Islamic Finance. The 700 page e-book entitled
“Ethica’s Handbook of Islamic Finance (2013
Edition)” is a tome of practical, usable information
that is the result of extensive of experience in
applying the lofty standards of the Shariah
in global financial markets. It seems poised to
become the desktop reference for Islamic
finance professionals.
The work contains sample Islamic
finance contracts, over 1,000 Q&As approved by
leading scholars in the field, the entire “Meezan
Bank Guide to Islamic Banking,” and study notes to
Ethica’s award-winning Certified Islamic Finance
Executive (CIFE) program, among other invaluable
resources. It is currently available as a free
download (see link below).
Unique Emphasis
Yet its publisher contends that what
really make it unique is an emphasis on
entrepreneurship. Details like sample contracts,
product descriptions, and recommended reading lists
target the newcomer who may not necessarily be
interested in lining up for a job at a big bank. His
horizons may extend to the entrepreneurial side of
Islamic finance, which continues to be top-heavy
with large banks dominating the headlines and
smaller companies and start-ups largely absent from
the industry.
An Ethica spokesperson said in a
press release earlier this month, “We wanted to
create a handbook that empowers professionals with a
usable, practical reference that goes beyond
standard academic theory.”
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: To this basic
recipe I sometimes have used Carnation light and
creamy evaporated milk. A friend has also
suggested adding frozen mixed vegetables. If you
can't finish it all in one sitting you can
freeze it for later use.
Easy Tuna Bake
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 c for 25 min.
Stretching is a very important part of an exercise
regimen as it helps lengthen the muscles, warms them up
for training and assists with post-workout recovery.
It also helps the cardiovascular system return to it’s
resting state.
By slowing your pace and stretching, blood will flow
back to the heart and not pool in the
exercised muscles.
Stretching helps prevent muscle stiffness and can
improve flexibility.
Try adding a Body Balance, Pilates or Yoga class to your
workout schedule and feel the difference.
Two policemen saw this Mula Nasruddin struggling down
the street looking very unwell.
Stopping him they could tell that he was ill and offered
to drive him home.
As they drove through the streets, they kept asking him
where he lived, he would say, "Your passionate."
They drove a while longer and asked again, again the
same response was given as he stroked the officers arm
and he said, "Your passionate."
The officers got a little upset so they stopped the car
and said to Mula Nasruddin, "Look, we have driven around
this city for two hours and you still didn’t tell us
where you live!"
Mula Nasruddin replied, "I keep trying to tell you: YOU
PASSIN IT
It is He
Who has made the earth
manageable for you, so you
traverse through its tracts
and enjoy of the Sustenance
which He furnishes: but unto
Him is the Resurrection.
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
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.
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.
.
UK:
A new guide
launched
over the
weekend by
the
Christian
Muslim Forum
(CMF),
dealing with
interfaith
marriages
between
members of
the two
faith
groups.
Ethica,
the Islamic finance industry’s leading certification
institute, in an unprecedented move for the industry
has launched a comprehensive online guidebook on
Islamic Finance. The 700 page e-book entitled
“Ethica’s Handbook of Islamic Finance (2013
Edition)” is a tome of practical, usable information
that is the result of extensive of experience in
applying the lofty standards of the Shariah
in global financial markets. It seems poised to
become the desktop reference for Islamic
finance professionals.
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011