Since its announcement a few weeks ago that it would temporarily suspend publication over the next six months, CCN has been inundated with requests to keep it running and overwhelmed by the many generous offers of assistance, support and suggestions to help with its continuity over this period.

 

Many alternatives have been offered and after due consideration of all of them it has been decided, in the interests of its readers and the integrity of the publication, that CCN will continue on a "best effort" basis.

 

While every attempt will be made to maintain weekly and timely regularity and quality, we ask readers to bear with any shortfalls that may arise on account of the "tyranny of distance and digital infrastructure" during this time.  

 

CCN will continue to be reliant on input, updates and contributions from its readers but even more so during this period. Please keep them coming to ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.

 

Look out for the new CCN logo to be introduced in a fortnight's time and get a "behind the scene" glimpse into the weekly crafting of CCN.

The Islamic College of Brisbane Fete is being held today (SUNDAY 9th JUNE) starting at 12 noon.

A great day for families and individuals has been organised....rides for the kids, a terrific variety of stalls and different ethnic cuisines.

 

The entertainment program can be found here.

Photos supplied by Farooq Dhudia

Dr Anver Omar returned to Brisbane from South Africa, a little worse for ware, a few days after a gruelling 97km Comrades Marathon uphill run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.

 

Dr Omar told CCN: "I usually have a couple of hours to spare but this time scraped in with just 10 mins to go on the (12 hour) clock cajoling, guiding and swearing (son) Yusuf to a finish in what was described as one of the warmest and windiest runs for a long time with many more then usual not finishing the race. Yusuf was grossly under-trained with a mere 100 km on the training clock as opposed to my 1,200 km."

 

Yusuf, who is a reporter with eNCA in South Africa, filed his version of the run:

 

Logan Street Doctor is an after hours mobile doctor’s van that provides healthcare access for the vulnerable and homeless.

 

It organises after hours support at identified locations alongside Rosies’ and Fishes & Loaves vans and hostels and parks.

 

Dr Adel El-Mezin and other local Muslim doctors are part of this initiative.

 

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Amongst this week's panellists is Haifaa Al-Mansour the first female filmmaker in Saudi Arabia and is regarded as one of its most significant cinematic figures.

International acclaim for her 2005 documentary Women Without Shadows influenced a new wave of Saudi filmmakers, and made the issue of opening cinemas in the kingdom front-page news.

Wadjda, Haifaa’s fiction-film debut, is the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia. The film premiered at the 2012 Venice Film Festival to wide critical claim.

Haifaa was named one of Variety magazine's Ten Directors to Watch in 2013, establishing her as an important talent emerging from the Arab World. 

Australian International Islamic College Sergeant Jim Bellos and students of the month: Osama Alotaibi Yr 2; Hareerah Bunyadi PREP and Tanzil Adam PREP

Wisdom College Student of the Week Grade 2 Zeliha Gelim; Grade 4 Islam Lakhal; Grade 7 Faisal Hassen   Student of the Month Prep: Hamza Dogan; Grade 1: Huzeyfe Coskun; Grade 4: Adam Alameddine; Grade 6: Moshen Moussa

Last year, Zuleka Latif (better known as Julu) from the Gold Coast sent iftaar money to Peshawar to provide Ramadaan packages of non-perishable food for hundreds of poor families in the remote villages of Pakistan.

 
This was highly appreciated by the less fortunate and she is hosting this project again this year due to its success last year.

 
Julu would like to transfer the money before the end of Shabaan so that all food can be purchased, packed and distributed by The Noor Education Trust, just before the start of Ramadaan.
Cash can be placed in an envelope labelled IFTAAR and handed either directly to Julu on the Gold Coast (phone 5576 6836 or 0400 142 786) or to Shamshad in Brisbane (phone 3345 4484 or 0421 326 376).
Alternately, a direct debit can be made to the account below clearly stating IFTAAR DONATION as the reference.

Acc name: Zuleka Latif
Acc Number 676328
BSB 064-117
BANK Commonwealth
 

Closing date for donations is 15th June 2013.

Call 0402 026 786 to claim the following items picked up at Orleigh Park after CresWalk2013.

 

IF YOU believe the bigots, Muslims are Australia's privileged minority.

They are slowly taking over the country through halal food and Islamic prayer.

The effects of September 11, the Bali bombings, and attacks that followed, continue to ripple through Australian society. Now, with each terrorist attack, you can expect prejudiced, inflammatory diatribes from the usual suspects. Alan Jones, for example, shocked no one following April's Boston bombings when he used it as reason to ban foreign students coming to Australia.

But in the wake of the Woolwich attack last month, in which a British soldier was killed on a London street by two Islamic extremists, it has been more disturbing to see the Muslim slander hasn't been confined to shock jocks. It has bled into my social circle. Social media posts from good friends, who have always been open- minded and compassionate, have taken an anti-Muslim slant. Medical professionals, teachers and social workers, who abhor racism and homophobia, somehow think portraying Muslims as terrorists is OK.

Equally concerning is the lack of reaction to these posts - barely a digital shrug. This stands in stark contrast to any discriminatory comments posted following the abuse of Adam Goodes at a football game last weekend, when any racist commenters were quickly questioned, criticised and pulled into line.

The existence of halal food does not equal a privileged minority. According to a Newcastle University study published in 2011, the unemployment rate of Muslim Australians between 19 and 24 years old is 18 per cent, compared to 9 per cent of non- Muslims. Once Muslim men reach the age of 65, they are four times more likely to be unemployed. This, despite the fact they are more likely to have a university degree.

There's also the fear, isolation and vulnerability. In 2003, the Human Rights Commission reported that Australian Muslim women were afraid to walk their children to school for fear of being abused, spat on or mocked. In a survey conducted by the commission, Australian Muslims told of having stones thrown at them, dogs set upon them, cars driven at them, and being physically grabbed and assaulted in supermarkets.

Overall, it paints a pretty bleak picture for a community that is overwhelmingly peaceful. And in victimising them, we create the best possible opportunity for Islamic extremists. A report released by the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies in 2009 suggested Muslims were more likely, through discrimination and economic disadvantage, to feel isolated from Australian society, leading to higher rates of crime and imprisonment, and potentially leading to religious and non- religious radicalism.

So, it's up to us then - we play a role too. Not through ignorant campaigns against Muslims converting people through halal food and Islamic prayer in schools, but through support, education, compassion and understanding.

You may not agree. But next time you criticise and judge an entire community, ask yourself who the real bad guy is.
 

Source: The Examiner

 

The federal government has set aside $700,000 for community programs that tackle extremism. This year’s Building Community Resilience grants program will focus on internet-based projects that get the anti-radicalisation message out to the community.

 

The federal government has set aside $700,000 for community programs that tackle extremism.

This year’s Building Community Resilience grants program will focus on internet-based projects that get the anti-radicalisation message out to the community.

The new money comes as the last community project, which involved mentoring young Muslim people, came to an end.

Nine men and women graduated from the program, which taught them leadership and media skills, while giving them confidence to call out misconceptions when they’re confronted by them.

Twenty-four year old Muhammed Veysel Tapci finished the course, saying there’s a lot of misinformation in society about Islam.

“We are the majority who believe in Australian qualities and values.”

Head of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, Hass Dellal, says the Muslim community is working behind-the-scenes to fight radicalisation. “We don’t see the number and level of programs that are happening at a grass-roots level to address these issues".

He says young people respond to their peers, and that’s why programs like this are so valuable.

Applications for the next round of funding are now open, and will close on June 28.

 

The US Consul General Niels Marquardt visited the Gold Coast Masjid on 7th June (Friday). He was met by the members of the ISGC- Management Committee and the Gold Coast Community. A sumptuous lunch was prepared for the Consul General's visit and he specially enjoyed the curry. The Consul General was very pleased with the reception and he is looking forward to visiting Gold Coast in the near future.

Members of the Bangladeshi Community of Brisbane with Mr David Forde hand Mr. Graham Perrett MP, Member for Moreton, a petition on the plight of their countrymen enduring human rights violation in their homeland. A copy of the 1400 signatures collected will be presented to Federal Parliament and the Foreign Minister.