The proposed development of the Brisbane Islamic Centre in Underwood Road drew a crowd of some 200 protesters of the project at a meeting held on Wednesday in Rochedale.

 

Ostensibly called to address the traffic issues that the Centre would generate, the organizers saw fit though to paint a less that favourable picture of Islam and Muslims.

 

While some 600 submissions have been made to the Brisbane City Council against the development, a spokesperson for the developers told CCN that they have received letters of support from non-Muslims distancing themselves from the protests. One such email said: "My husband and I live nearby the proposed site for the Brisbane Islamic centre in Eight Mile Plains. After watching the story on channel 9 ....., we wanted to let you know we support your Community Centre and look forward to welcoming you to the area."

 

 

Visit the new Facebook page, Nanna Knows, which supports those with a question and those who can help with the offer of a suggestion or solution from their own personal experiences and/or knowledge.

 

You can ask Nanna anything from where to eat a Turkish meal to where would one find a reliable plumber in the Eight Mile Plains area.

 

Like the page and stay in-touch and informed!

 

 

Last Sunday, the Islamic College of Brisbane held their biennial Fete. Despite the threatening clouds hovering overhead all morning, as lunchtime rolled around, the clouds disappeared and the day went ahead as planned. With 70 stalls spread over three levels, this year’s fete had something for everyone, and thousands turned up to sample the food and fun.
 

The International Food Court was a great success with an amazing array of food from many nations being sold. The multi-purpose hall was also popular with make-up demonstrations, homewares and a huge variety of clothing. The teachers at ICB offered a variety of fun and interesting stalls on the lower level, leading to the ever-popular rides. This year’s fete also played host to the inaugural ICB Fete Baking competition.
 

Fatima Osman's entry in the Fete Cake competition which won her the 1st prize of an iPod shuffle and then sold to raise funds for the school fundraiser

There was an impressive array of entertainment on the stage throughout the day, showcasing the potential of the students at ICB. Some students presented Nasheeds, others a beautiful song on Syrian children and four Grade 6 girls showed that they have talent, with an excellent performance of cup songs.

 

The highlight of the entertainment programme had to be the wonderful International Fashion Parade showcasing students, in their traditional dress, from over 23 nations, and incorporated a didgeridoo performance by a member of a local Indigenous tribe, Douglas James.

 

This was followed by an Acknowledgement of Country, where the chairman of the CPAC committee, Br Rabiul Alam, Brother Annas (Master of Ceremonies) and a group of ICB students paid respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owners of the land by requesting permission to pass through the land in the traditional Aboriginal way.
 

Before the day came to a close, there was a Silat Perisai Diri Martial Arts demonstration, followed by an auction where many fabulous donated goods were sold off in a bidding frenzy and the late evening Fireworks display were bigger and brighter than any seen before at an ICB Fete.
 

All proceeds raised at this year’s event will be used by the CPAC Committee to purchase school resources that directly benefit the students that attend ICB. The success of the fete was truly in the hands of the community who attended. The CPAC Committee wishes to thank everyone for attending, despite the weather and making the day a huge success.

 

The CCN Photo Gallery Slideshow - CLICK HERE

Following the success of the Crescents of Brisbane's Healthy Living event last month,
speakers Louise D'Allura and Carolyn Donovan have compiled a list of practical and
useful tips from both their talks.

 

To read more go to the Healthy Living page.

 

The Courier-Mail reported a magistrate had questioned whether a Saudi woman appearing in court should have been allowed to wear "a full burqa'' or face covering, telling her "this is an Australian court".

Brisbane Magistrate John Costello was sentencing a woman who pleaded guilty to leaving her baby, four and half months, unattended in a car in direct sun for 45 minutes last year.
 

Mr Costello asked the woman's lawyer Peter Saggers if what she was wearing was "a full burqa'' and he indicated it was.
 

"I can only see the eyes of that defendant,'' Mr Costello said.
 

The magistrate questioned whether it was "appropriate'' for the full burqa to be worn in court, saying: "This is an Australian court'' and he queried "the validity'' of her wearing it in court.
 

But Islamic groups yesterday came out in support of Mr Costello, saying they supported magistrates asking women to remove their face covering if there was a reasonable question of security or identification.
 

Mr Saggers told the magistrate the woman, 27, was from Saudi Arabia and said: "I have not seen her dressed in any other way.''
 

Mr Costello then proceeded to sentence the female student, without requiring her to remove her face covering, more commonly called a niqab when it reveals the eyes.
 

Islamic Council of Queensland president Mohammed Yusuf said he opposed any blanket law requiring women wearing burqa or niqab to show their face.
 

But he said the Islamic council would not object to a magistrate asking a woman to remove her face covering if there was a reasonable question of security or identification.
 

Mr Yusuf said individual cases could be handled with sensitivity, with the woman taken into another room for identification by a female police or court officer.
 

Yasmin Khan, president of Islamic community festival Eidsfest, said magistrates should be able to ask women wearing a burqa or niqab to remove their facial covering in court.
 

"Where justice and security are an issue women should identify by at least showing their face, to identify the person who has been charged,'' Ms Khan said.
 

She said another person could falsely pose as an accused person by wearing a face covering.
 

Source: Courier Mail

---

 

Paper condemned over Muslim face coverage

The SBS reported that a Brisbane Islamic community leader has condemned the front page newspaper report of a Muslim woman appearing in court with her face covered in a traditional niqab.

 

A 27 year old Saudi Arabian student pleaded guilty in a Brisbane magistrate court for leaving her 4-month-old child locked unattended in a car and received a six-month good behaviour bond.‬

During the hearing the magistrate asked if it was appropriate that he could only see her eyes, but it was not an issue of contention.

The Courier Mail has not responded to SBS inquiries about the story.

President of Queensland's Eid Fest, Yasmin Khan, told Stefan Armbruster the case has been sensationalised by the Courier Mail and the judiciary can ask to see a person's face if necessary.

 

A reader commented on the SBS article:

A large photo, page 1 and most of the text over the page means few readers will have read that Muslim leaders and others have supported the right/need of a Magistrate to see the face and know the identity of the person charged with a crime. Kay Dibben's sensationalised reporting feeds the misunderstanding and unwarranted fear of our Muslim community, and fails to explain that we have fee paying overseas students as well as migrants and refugees who are Muslim. Letters to the Courier Mail, if fit to be published, will undoubtedly include anti Muslim refugee complaints Thank you SBS for following up and setting this in context. .

Source: SBS
 

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Related article: Expert claims court had right to demand woman remove her burqa

Brisbane's Annual Pre Ramadan Shopping Expo

 

Click image to enlarge

IBC - Islamic Books & Clothing is pleased to make Islamic shopping in Brisbane easy. Our annual 2 day event brings all the benefits of Melbourne's largest retail Islamic store to Brisbane, next weekend - Sat & Sun June 22 & 23. The selection this year will astound you with everything you need for Ramadan, Eid and beyond.   Eid Clothes, Scarves/Hijabs, Abbayahs, Thobes, Sajadah (prayer mats), Attar, Books, Children's Toys & Games, Eid Decorations, Gifts, CD's, DVD's. and much more. All in the one place for 2 days only. Pre-order at sales@ibcshopping.com.au or 0415 800 967, and we will have your order ready to pick up at the Expo. See you at the Islamic College of Brisbane Hall Saturday & Sunday June 22nd & 23rd only 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Visit us also at www.ibcshopping.com.au

Click image to enlarge

The new Kuraby Mosque sign in front of the Mosque with the logo design crowd-sourced in CCN recently.

 

We were in a crowded waiting room in the maternity wing of a Sydney hospital and I braced myself for the kid’s reaction as we walked past. He outdid himself.
 

Wrestling free from my grip, he tore over to her, arms outstretched, fingers pointing and yelling at the top of his voice: "Mummy! Mummy! What’s that? What’s THAT?"
 

Anyone who hadn’t already been staring before my son’s outburst was doing so now. Put on the spot, I couldn’t think of an explanation that would satisfy his three-year-old brain without offending the spiritual sensibilities of the woman and her equally pious husband.
 

I smiled apologetically in the direction of the woman’s face (her eyes not being visible behind the fine mesh of her veil) and tried to drag the kid away.
 

Of course this only made him more determined. To my utter mortification, he started tugging on her burqa — even trying to crawl underneath it while giggling: "It’s a ghost! I want to play too, mummy. Help me get under the sheet!"
 

Minutes later, I retold what I thought was a sweet anecdote of a child’s innocent clash with culture, to the doctor.
 

Her reaction truly shocked me: "I actually agree with your son," she said.
 

"If these people want to dress like that, they shouldn’t come to Australia to do it. They should go back to their own country. The men are worse; they always make a huge fuss about how their wives must only see female doctors."

 

The doctor’s epic interpretation fail of my son’s reaction to the burqa troubled me. There had been three pregnant junkies and their partners on the nod in the same waiting room and they had apparently not warranted a second glance.

I fretted about it for days.

How do you respectfully explain a burqa to a child — particularly when the subject is standing right in front of you? Surely I was not the first parent to have encountered this sort of situation in multicultural Australia? Had the Muslim couple been offended? Was there anything either of us could have done differently?

I sought advice from Muslim scholars and community leaders across the country. This is what they said:
 

 

Courier Mail Lifestyle

With the signing of the contract for the purchase of the Church property this week by the Islamic Council of Toowoomba, a community engagement and visit of the proposed Mosque site has been planned for Saturday 22 June.

 

Amongst the guests will be the Most Reverend Bishop Robert McGuckin, Toowoomba; Professor Jan Thomas, Vice Chancellor, University of Southern Queensland; Assoc/Prof. Mohamed Abdalla, Griffith University; Mr Mohammad Yusuf, President of Islamic Council of Queensland; Professor Shahjahan Khan, President, Islamic Society of Toowoomba; and Dr Nada Ibrahim, Griffith University.

 

Lunch and a site visit are part of the day's programme. For more details click here.

 

The Queensland Police Service / Muslim Reference Group convened during the week at the Mt Gravatt Police Station for one of its regular meetings, under the chairmanship of Sergeant Jim Bellos.

 

A number of issues directly affecting the local Muslim community were tabled and discussed.  Amongst the items discussed were the need to cater for the requirements of Muslim inmates in prison, particularly during the coming Ramadaan, and for a programme developed for correctional staff to be appraised of the practices of Muslims during this period.

 

Deputy Superintendent Darryl Johnson reiterated the Australian Government's position on the illegality of Australian citizens participating in conflicts in other countries. A document detailing the directive from the government will be provided to the Muslim media for circulation.

 

The need for the QPS to document reported racial and hate crime incidents targeted towards Muslims was emphasized.

 

The QPS and Sergeant Jim Bellos were complimented for their extra vigilance during CresWalk2013 and during an anti-Muslim protest outside Parliament House.

 

The next meeting has been scheduled for 22 August and anyone wishing to attend should email Bellos.Dimitrios@police.qld.gov.au.

IT'S often said that every cloud has a silver lining, and this is certainly the case for Sophie Koussan.

 
According to the Deaf Society of NSW, the Auburn resident is poised to become the first accredited Muslim Auslan interpreter in NSW - thanks to her late best friend, who inspired her.

"My best friend was deaf, so she taught me sign language," Ms Koussan, 21, said.
 

"She passed away four years ago and, after that, (I realised) I had a passion for Auslan and I haven't stopped ever since."

Ms Koussan completed her diploma in Auslan via the Deaf Society last year, and is now taking an Auslan interpretation course at Petersham TAFE in order to become accredited.
 

After starting her studies in 2010 and doing many hours of Auslan-related volunteer work, she said she hoped to graduate within a couple of months.

 

Ms Koussan said she was proud that she would be the first Muslim Auslan interpreter in NSW, and hoped it would inspire future Muslim interpreters.

Ms Koussan, who has a Lebanese background, said there was a cultural taboo regarding the deaf and she hoped her achievements would break that down.

"This will actually open up doors for them, give them more access to things, make them feel more comfortable and expand their knowledge, because a lot of them don't know what's out there for the deaf community," she said.

Sophie Koussan said since studying Auslan, her social circle was now mostly made up of deaf friends:

"Coincidentally, they are all Muslim as well. They told me about how much they struggled growing up being deaf and Muslim and how they're not exposed to anything," she said.
 

Source: The Telegraph

Among these contestants in the reality TV show is a saboteur - the Mole. It's their job to create confusion, throw others off-track and use whatever means they can to stop the group winning money.

 

And the Mole's brief is to remain undetected.
Contestants have to hold their nerve, back their judgment and find out everything they can about each other in an attempt to uncover who among them is the Mole.
 

Distrustful, manipulative, deceitful and selfish are all personality traits indelibly linked to playing a successful role in The Mole. While many of us may at first struggle with living out these traits, Hillal has fretted more than most. As a devout Muslim aspiring to strictly follow his religion, the thought of embracing the conniving nature of the contestants was at first a moral dilemma.

My game plan is to be the best of both worlds - to be a mediator and a friend of everyone, he says. But when night-time comes, I need to use those friendships to benefit myself.

 

Source: Yahoo!

The National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies, Griffith University International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia and The Multi Faith Centre Presents: A New Islamic Rating Index of Well-­being for Muslim Countries by Dr Daud Abdul-­Fattah Batchelor

 

Dr Batchelor is Associate Fellow at the International Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia.

 

He has a broad experience with leading multinational corporations and institutions in industry, academia and international consulting covering the fields of Environmental Management, Islamic Political Science and Earth Sciences.

 

Daud has taught at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman and Universiti Sains Malaysia. Daud has a Master of Arts from the International Institute for Islamic Thought and Civilisation Malaysia and a Diploma of Islamic Studies.

 

In 1985 he was presented with the prestigious Longmans Award for his PhD research at Universiti Malaya.

 

He has an MSc with Distinction from the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London and a Master of Engineering Science from Griffith University.

 

Since 1978 he has been active in Muslim community organizations and is co-­founder of the Islamic College of Brisbane. He is currently writing a book on the Islamic political system and lessons to be learned from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

 

To register, email your interest to mfc@griffith.edu.au or call (07) 3735 7052

 

For more details, click here.

 

Dr Mustafa Ally, president of Crescents of Brisbane, Mr Mohammed Yusuf, president of the Islamic Coucil of Queensland, and Ms Nora Amath, president of AMARAH, met with the Attorney-General of Australia, Mark Drefus QC MP, to discuss the joint democracy awareness workshops conducted by the three organizations as well as the Building Community Resilience funding opportunities available through his office.

The newly elected Muslim Business Network (MBN) directors

From left to right, Mr Atif Shafi (Vice President), Mr Farouk Adam (President), Mr Salim Rane, Dr Midhat Abdel-Magied, Mr Mohamed Shaheed (Treasurer), Mr Hazem Hamouda, and Mr Faris Fazalbhoy (Secretary).

(Missing from the photo, Mr Abdulla Osman and Mr Yousuf Ali-Khan)

Clive Palmer has been called on to sack his Federal candidate for Hinkler following the publication of discriminatory comments in a Hervey Bay newspaper.

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs Glen Elmes said the comments from former State Member Rob Messenger were worse than anything even the most extreme manifestation of One Nation could come up with.

“Mr Palmer must immediately get rid of this man who’s a disgrace and an embarrassment to all people who aspire to political office,” Mr Elmes said.

“If he doesn’t dis-endorse him immediately, the only possible implication is that the views expressed by Mr Messenger are consistent with Palmer United Party policy.

“The letter refers to the recent incident in London where two Muslim extremists allegedly murdered a soldier, but in writing this letter the former member shows himself to be no better than those two men.”

 

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Rob Messenger

 

The full text of the Rob Messenger's letter published in the Hervey Bay City Independent – 30 May 2013.

There will come a time when Islamic terrorists will not only be armed with meat cleavers, knives, home-made bombs and guns.

In the not to (sic) distant future, terrorists (who now live among us, sustained by our welfare payments) could be armed with modern weapons - capable of killing many innocents, with the flick of a switch.

One of the greatest risks our children face is that meat cleavers, knives, home-made bombs and guns will be replaced with sophisticated modern weapons of mass destruction - poisonous chemicals, nuclear bombs and deadly viruses.

Just as the Islamic terrorists show no hesitation, shame or remorse butchering individuals and small groups in cold blood - so too will they have no hesitation, shame or remorse, destroying our cities or suburbs with the press of a button.
 

The terrorists cleverly hide amongst, us. They exploit our western, Christian democratic freedoms; compassion, generosity and love of a fair go for all – to escape public condemnation.

How do we stop these people and protect future generations? We remember the lessons of WW2, which showed that a policy of appeasement in the face of this kind of extremist evil, will always fail.

These terrorists will never stop. Dialogue and peaceful reason has no effect on them.

They kill and terrorize because we will not bow to their god and live a life ruled by their extreme religious leaders' demands and beliefs.

The terrorists cleverly hide amongst, us. They exploit our western, Christian democratic freedoms; compassion, generosity and love of a fair go for all – to escape public condemnation.

We are now too scared of being reported to our anti-discrimination councils or branded a racist for speaking out against the terrorists' religious and world-views.

There was a time in the 1930's in Germany when the Nazi's were hounded from villages in a shower of rocks and curses. There was a time when the German people could have emphatically said "No" to the Nazi's special message of hate and crazy.

We are living in similar times and face a similar evil. And the world will suffer a similar fate as the generation of 1930's & 40's, if we do not loudly condemn the leaders and followers of the extremist Islamic religious ideology driving this current world madness.

Rob Messenger

Palmer United Party

In April 2013, 12 young adults departed Sydney, bound for Launceston Tasmania.

6 Men, 6 Women, from 6 different religions, brought together to discover the meaning
of interfaith and inter-community harmony. As they hiked through the Tasmanian wilderness they soon discovered a common humanity that transcends religious difference.

With each step up the mountain, interfaith harmony ceased to be a concept, and became a reality for these new friends. What began as a quest to experience interfaith harmony became something much more for these young people. It became a call to action, a sign of hope, and the start of something much bigger.

This is just the beginning.

Their journey, and our story, continues soon…

 

 

Last week the Griffith Islamic Research Unit unveiled its latest cutting edge research project.

 

PhD Candidate Riyad Rahimullah (pictured right) gave a presentation to various community groups on his project entitled “The Debate on Violent Extremism: Voices of Young Australian Muslims”.

 

He emphasised that this research is being conducted by members of the Muslim community and for the benefit of the Muslim community.

 

Violent extremism will be studied from purely an Islamic perspective. The research is being independently facilitated through Griffith University with no government or police involvement.

The research will involve asking a large number of Muslim adolescents and youth to complete surveys or take part in interviews. Participants’ identities will be kept anonymous.

It is envisaged that insights will be gained into vital issues that might be related to violent extremism such as integration, racism, and personal identity. The research is also designed to give young Muslims a platform to speak about these issues and to give voice to their concerns.

The research team comprises Associate Professor Mohamed Abdalla, Dr Stephen Larmar, and PhD candidate Riyad Rahimullah.

Stay tuned in future CCN editions for an opportunity to take part in an online version of this important survey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr David Forde will take on the 59th Magnetic Island to Townsville 8km open water swim against the clock on Sunday 28 July to raise funds for the the Lions Medical Research Foundation.

 

Details on how you can help support David's cause can be found here.

 

 

 

 

"Next time someone tells you that immigrants are destroying our country, show them this. This nice British lady is kind enough to do the math on what's wrong with our thinking on immigration so you don't have to. She curses a little, but only because she's quoting a faulty argument."

 

Abdirahman Mohamud, a father of nine, runs a convenience store in Moorooka, but has also joined Australian peacekeepers in Somalia as a translator during Operation Solace. Photo: Michelle Smith

 

Wearing a pinstriped suit, Abdirahman ‘‘Abdi’’ Mohamud sits in a worn office chair talking frenetically on his mobile phone.

About 12 minutes south of Brisbane’s CBD, Mr Mohamud’s convenience store is nestled on a sliver of Beaudesert Road, Moorooka, unofficially christened ‘‘Africa town’’.

The kilometre of road here is a testament to the virtues of second chances.

" I never find difficult being in Australia," Abdirahman Mohamud says. Photo: Michelle Smith

Surrounded by an eclectic mix of soaps, hair products, rugs, pressure cookers and clothes, Mr Mohumud welcomes visitors to his store with a broad grin, ushering them inside with the wave of a hand.

‘‘Come, come,’’ he says.

When he realises this reporter is at his door he taps the leather seat beside him, while still talking in his mother tongue.

As his phone conversation ends, Mr Mohumud slips off his brown sandals and crosses one leg over the other.

The father of nine was born in the city of Baidoa, south-central Somalia.

His beaming smile gives no clue to the horrors he witnessed in his home country - the horrors of seeing children starving in the streets, fearing at the same time he would not be able to feed his own sons and daughters.

‘‘It was the ‘city of death’,’’ he says.

‘‘The bones of the people were lying everywhere. There was the whole village, around 2000 to 3000 people, perished. It was heartbroken. Nobody can imagine.

‘‘It was genocide. It is beyond to comprehend what it was like.’’

Before arriving in Australia, he was held captive by the Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, who was to gain world notoriety as the antagonist in the film Black Hawk Down.

‘‘I had started university when the civil war began and worked with the international community, including the Australian Defence Force, because I spoke English,’’ Mr Mohumud, 46, says.

He joined 1000 Australian peacekeeping soliders as an interpreter. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Australians’ deployment to Somalia under Operation Solace.

‘‘After the United Nations left the warlord kidnapped me, but I was able to flee to Kenya,’’ Mr Mohumud says.

After a year in a refugee camp, Mr Mohumud and his wife, Odpi, and their six children boarded a plane to Australia, courtesy of the Australian High Commission.

The young family arrived in Brisbane on December 4, 1998.

‘‘It was like my birth date,’’ Mr Mohumud says.

‘‘Australia is the lucky country. The good thing about Australia is they have a culture that is open-minded to everyone, and they are good to hosting people.’’

Mr Mohumud started driving a taxi the following year.

Within six years, he had saved enough money to open his own business, and had another three children. He’s now a grandfather.

‘‘I never find difficult being in Australia,’’ he says.

His grin broadens when he speaks of daughters, Masra, 27, Amale, 23, Hani, 21, Kowther, 20, Adni, 12 and Arafo, 9, and his sons Abdima, 17, and Abdi, 16.

They are completing degrees in medical engineering, business, psychology and international relations.

However, other Somalian refugees have struggled to settle in their new home.

Mr Mohumud explains grievances between tribes and communities have traversed oceans.

He established the Somali Development Organisation to unite his community, while helping those in his home country.

‘‘I decide to link them. I tell them the only thing to success in this country is unity,’’ he says.

He now acts as a translator for Somali refugees, helping them seek medical treatment, legal aid and financial assistance.

He also teaches them the ways of the land.

‘‘I put a lot of effort to explain to them Australia is a country for everyone, same rights for everyone,’’ he says.

While working with the troops, Mr Mohumud became familiar with the Australian sense of humour. He tries to explain this too to the new arrivals.

And in the afternoons the small business owner is also a tutor, helping local children with their school homework.

He believes in paying it forward, ‘‘because I witness the pain of the poor’’.

He sponsors families still living in Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp.

‘‘We send a lot of money,’’ he says.

‘‘Then those families support more families.’’

For his service to his community, Mr Mohumud has been awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia.

‘‘From July, I will include my name O.A.M,’’ he says with a chuckle.

‘‘I am so proud.’’

 

Source: BrisbaneTimes

A short film (composed of a series of scenes) produced by the Muslim Youth Project (Sydney) for the "Muslim youth: Identity Dilemma?" event held in Sydney, Australia, on June 8, 2013.

 

 

The iconic stand-up and star of the beloved sitcom The Cosby Show routinely weighs in on cultural matters.

 

This past weekend, Cosby penned an op-ed for The New York Post in which he detailed some of the flaws in modern society. He also suggested we should take a page out of the Koran if we want to have healthier families, less crime and more productive people.

 

I’m a Christian. But Muslims are misunderstood. Intentionally misunderstood. We should all be more like them. They make sense, especially with their children. There is no other group like the Black Muslims, who put so much effort into teaching children the right things, they don’t smoke, they don’t drink or overindulge in alcohol, they protect their women, they command respect. And what do these other people do?

 

They complain about them, they criticize them. We’d be a better world if we emulated them. We don’t have to become black Muslims, but we can embrace the things that work.

 

Read the full article here.