CCN wishes all our readers and their family and friends

 

RAMADAAN MUBARAK

 

 

 

 

Roaming the streets of Brisbane leave many minds distraught and guilty. The number of homeless individuals in a first world country such as Australia is preposterous.

Three friends Afra Bashar, Fatima Bhagoo and Naeema Ismail stumbled across the video below that went viral video on youtube, Make The Homeless Smile, and decided to hold a similar event in Brisbane.
 

The general stereotype for Muslims and our job as a community to uplift our surroundings motivated the idea as well. All it took was a 'We should do something like this!' and off they went on a insanely beautiful journey.

A public Facebook event was created and all friends/family were invited.

 

Planning was the most crucial element. Initially it was decided that 50 care packs including, a toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, canned food, water, granola bars, scarves, deodorant, canvas bags, rain poncho, tissue/wet wipes and a blanket would be distributed.

 

However, the increase in interest among donors rose the number of packs to 100. In three days, every donation required was distributed across eager donors, Alhamdulillah. Subsequently, all hopes and promises had to be converted into action.

On Saturday 29 June volunteers gathered to assemble the care packs. Distributions were held in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane City, Westend, Opal House and Woodridge from the 29 June to 3 July.

 

JazakAllah to Micah Projects in Westend who made a helpful referral to BHSC (Brisbane Homelessness Service Centre) in regards to finding suitable distribution areas. BHSC were happy to aid in distributions to the most needy (They are currently holding a blanket drive, so any unwanted blankets would be greatly appreciated!).

 

Thank you to Streer Doctors and Rosies for distributing packs and spreading their genuine kindness.

 

Without these organisations, this project may have gotten very messy, so JazakAllah!
 

On behalf of Afra, Fatima and Naeema, we would like to thank everyone who was involved in the success of this project. Dawah always starts at home and it is our job as Muslims to help the suffering. JazakAllah to all of you, may Allah (SWT) reward you and your families immensely in this life and the next.

 

 

AMONG the oaths, photographs and backslapping at Labor's latest ministerial swearing-in ceremony, a cultural milestone was passed for Australia's parliament.

Ed Husic, named parliament secretary to the Prime Minister and for broadband, became the first Muslim sworn on to a federal government frontbench.

A key supporter of Kevin Rudd, Mr Husic was elevated to the senior role at the expense of Andrew Leigh, who lost the role in the ministry reshuffle.

The milestone was acknowledged by Governor-General Quentin Bryce as she swore in Mr Husic and 24 of his Labor colleagues at a ceremony in Canberra.

 

“This is a wonderful day for multiculturalism, and everything it stands for in our country,” Ms Bryce told Mr Husic, to roars of “Hear Hear!” from his Labor colleagues.

“I wish you all the best as you serve our country as parliamentary secretary.”

 

Mr Husic became the first Muslim elected to federal parliament when he won the western Sydney seat of Chifley in 2010.

Source: The Australian

 

Labor MP Ed Husic turns other cheek on Koran abuse
 

MUSLIM Labor frontbencher Ed Husic says critics have a right to question his decision to swear his oath on the Koran, as a Liberal MP branded online attacks a disgrace.
 

But Mr Husic, Australia's first Muslim frontbencher, warned against extremists who “will always try to seek ways in which to divide people.”
 

Mr Husic, Australia's only Muslim MP, was appointed a parliamentary secretary yesterday and swore his oath on his father's Koran, with Governor-General Quentin

 

Bryce declaring it a “great day for multiculturalism in Australia”.
 

But while many rejoiced in the moment, anonymous internet trolls attacked Mr Husic, the Australian-born son of Bosnian immigrants, on his Facebook page.
 

“You have created history of the worst order, to swear in on a Koran!! This is Australia with Australian Laws,” said one poster calling herself Dinki Di Sheila.

 

“Swore to serve Australia using the same book terrorists do to serve Al-Qaeda ....Disgusting,” said another.
 

Mr Husic said those who questioned his decision were a “natural part of democracy - it's a good thing that people can ask those questions”.
 

It was important that Australians be brought together and “it's also important that we not necessarily jump because of harsh words out of dark corners”.
 

Mr Husic said it was “right” for people to express their concerns.
 

“But I also think that you will have from time to time people at the extremes - there are people definitely that are extreme within my faith and people that are extreme outside it - and they will always try to seek ways in which to divide people,” he told Sky News.
 

Mr Husic said swearing the oath on the Koran was, for him, a straightforward decision.
 

“Now I couldn't obviously take my oath on a Bible and I didn't want to affirm. I am who I am.”
 

Liberal MP Josh Frydenberg today leapt to the defence of Mr Husic, with whom he has forged a strong friendship, and called the online attacks a “disgrace”.
 

“There is definitely elements of extremism and racism in the community, but we need to call it out when we see it no matter what side of the political fence we come from,” the Jewish MP told ABC radio.
 

Tony Abbott said any abuse of Mr Husic was "completely unacceptable”.
 

Questioned earlier in the day, the Opposition Leader said people should respect Mr Husic's choice.
 

“I respect his choice,” he told reporters in Melbourne. “I think the Australian people should as well.”
 

Labor backbencher Michelle Rowland said the Opposition Leader's earlier comments were “extremely weak”.
 

“Why not condemn the racist abuse directed at him,” she said.
 

Mr Husic, a Rudd supporter, was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Broadband in Kevin Rudd's reshuffle.
 

Source: The Australian

 

The Ramadan State-Off is a fun-friendly online fundraising competition between the states of Australia (QLD, VIC, NSW, WA, SA, ACT, TAS, and NT) to see which state can raise the most amount of funds and help the most amount people.

The aim of this campaign is to bring together communities around Australia to support the world’s poorest this Ramadan and beyond.

The competition will take place between 5th July 2013 - 8th August 2013.

 

The Crescents of Brisbane Team is excited to be part of this first ever Ramadan State Off.

 

Donate through our State Off page: https://ramadanstateoff.everydayhero.com/au/crescents.

You can also join the fun by creating your own page and getting your friends, family and colleagues to support the cause by donating through your page. Create your page through this website:

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/ramadanstateoff and click on JOIN YOUR STATE to register.

 

Be sure to choose your Team (State) in which you are located after creating your profile.

Let's get Queensland to the top of the leader board!! GO QUEENSLAND!!

Need more info on how to get started? Contact Hafizah: rsoqld01@gmail.com.

 

YOU might think that being a devoted Muslim would present numerous challenges in the Australian cricket landscape, but the main concession Fawad Ahmed (pictured above) has made is to not wear the VB sponsorship logo on his cricket gear.
 

"I have never had the drink in my life," Ahmed said.
 

"There is no contact with alcohol for me, even I am not wearing the logo on my cricket shirt."
 

There was one awkward moment involving alcohol in the Victorian camp.
 

Celebrating a stirring win, the Bushrangers sprayed champagne around the dressing room, with Ahmed uncomfortable to be among those who were soaked.
 

All of the teams, the whole country, everyone has really respected my religion, my tradition. I have never had a single problem about my prayers, (whether it be) at the train station or the bus stop or the cricket ground, in the player rooms.   Fawad Ahmed

Skipper Cameron White had a chat with him outside the dressing room door and all learned from the experience.
 

"The players respect that and it is a good thing for them, too," Ahmed said.
 

"They are asking so many questions about my tradition and my culture and especially about my religion.
 

"All of the teams, the whole country, everyone has really respected my religion, my tradition. I have never had a single problem about my prayers, (whether it be) at the train station or the bus stop or the cricket ground, in the player rooms.
 

"I have missed some training because of Ramadan, missed some game time because I had to come to pray and then come back on to the ground.
 

"Especially Melbourne is so multicultural. So many mosques around, so many halal meat shops, so I never felt any problems with my religion. That is such a good thing about this country."
 

 Apart from broadening his teammates' knowledge, Ahmed's presence has also helped bolster camaraderie.
 

Well, there was one time we had a big win in a T20 in which Fawad took wickets and he jumped up and did the chant in Urdu. The guys loved it   Derek Bennet

Melbourne Uni president Derek Bennett could recall several examples.
 

"We've got a bit of a chant that we do when the boys win," Bennett said.
 

"Well, there was one time we had a big win in a T20 in which Fawad took wickets and he jumped up and did the chant in Urdu. The guys loved it."
 

On the eve of his departure for England with the Australia A team, Ahmed invited several club teammates as well as friends from his mosque to a BBQ at his house. There was no alcohol, but a feast of traditional Pakistani cooking and a couple of volcanic curries.
 

Bennett said it was one of greatest social cricket functions he had attended.
 

"It had to have been the most unique send-off any Australian had ever had before embarking on a tour of England," he said.

Source: The Telegraph

So far this year the Muslim Charitable Foundation (MCF) has investigated, visited, interviewed and recorded 123 cases compared to 119 in all of 2012.

 

This was assistance provided to the needy in our own local Muslim community.

 

The vast majority of cases proved to be genuine with only a very small number that were rejected. Most were recipients from the Zakaat account or General account if there arose any uncertainty about the case.

Increased numbers of refugees are arriving with limited or no income in need of the basic necessities, such as white goods, bedding and household items. Others are permanent residents struggling to survive from week to week on Centrelink payments or part time work.

 

With constant increases in the cost of living, more people are unable to pay their rent or bills for essential services, such as electricity and gas. Many of them are given food hampers as well as paying their debts.

Another group which seems to be increasing, are the separations, divorces, domestic abuse and family breakdowns. Usually, it is the mother or wife left to manage on a very limited income.

Some have become widowed or lost a loved one and could not afford the funeral fees.

Others required urgent medical treatment, purchase of medical aids or payment of medical bills.

It is pleasing to see the recognition given to MCF from Government support agencies, Imams, Societies, Organizations and the ongoing generous financial support of our own Muslim community.

Our support for these people has doubled and ongoing aid depends on your contributions, so I urge everyone to donate all, or a portion of your Zakaat to MCF.

We thank all those who have contributed in the past, and pray for those less fortunate and humbly ask forgiveness for any mistakes made during the year.

State member for Nicklin, Mr Peter Wellington (pictured left), is to reintroduce a Private Members Bill - the Identification Laws Amendment Bill which he had previously introduced into Parliament in October 2011 but it lapsed without debate.

 

Under Mr Wellington's proposed legislation, Corrective Services officers (in relation to visitors to prisons}, people taking oaths or making affidavits, police, and state security officers would be empowered to require a person to remove face coverings such as a burqa or veil. It would be an offence not to comply.

It would seem that Mr Wellington was prompted to raise this old chestnut by the recently reported comments of a magistrate during the sentencing of a woman, querying the appropriateness of the woman wearing a full burqa in court. However, the magistrate proceeded with the sentencing without requiring the woman to reveal her face -which he had every right to do had he considered it important enough an issue in the particular case.
 

Although Mr Wellington's previous Bill does not refer to a burqa, a niqab or a veil-it is apparent in the context of his recent statement that he has a concern that Muslim women would seek to hide their identity from authorities.

The question needs to be asked: why is he concerned? The Deputy Anti-Discrimination Commissioner for Queensland is reported as saying: there is nothing to prevent one person from respectfully asking another person to remove headgear "for the purposes of reasonable legitimate public safety or identification".

 

It is definitely not an issue in the courts, as the Chief Justice of Queensland is quoted as saying "Judges and magistrates are acutely alive to the sensitivities of these situations. They respect the requirements of particular religions ... they would remove a burqa only if necessary for the due determination of a proceeding - if, for example, the identity of an alleged offender were an issue."

The Parliamentary Committee charged with examining the former Bill received a submission from the Amnesty International Human Rights in Law Group (Queensland-Northern NSW Branch) which noted that it is very Important for transparency and accountability in the legislative process that Bills such as this clearly acknowledge and justify any limitation to fundamental rights, such as the right to manifest one's religion. If this were done, then the proposed Bill would be exposed for what it really is - an attempt to pander to a small but vocal group within our community who have no tolerance for religious beliefs or cultures different to their own.
 

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs, Mr Glen Elmes MP (pictured right), said:

"If reintroduced, this Bill will not be passed by the Government. However, sirnply by being introduced, the Bill and potential publicity around it could cause unnecessary anxiety among the Muslim community. It could also prompt the small but at times vocal redneck element to make scare-mongering anti-Muslim denouncements. This is an attempt, by an independent MP who says he will vote for Mr Clive Palmer, to get a newspaper headline at the expense of Queensland's Muslim community. These comments follow from the horrible comments of Rob Messenger, Palmer United Party Candidate for Hinkler made about our Muslim community. I have publicly called on Clive Palmer to dis-endorse Rob Messenger as his candidate and to date, Mr Palmer and the two Palmer United Party MPs have remained silent."

"The question needs to be asked: why is he concerned? The Deputy Anti-Discrimination Commissioner for Queensland is reported as saying: there is nothing to prevent one person from respectfully asking another person to remove headgear "for the purposes of reasonable legitimate public safety or identification".
 

"I imagine there would be very few, if any, cases in Queensland to date where a Muslim woman wearing a niqab or an Anglo Saxon woman wearing a veil has refused to reveal her face in appropriate circumstances. A further question that puts this matter in perspective is: why isn't there public debate about people wearing bike helmets refusing to remove their helmet when asked by a police officer? Possibly because, even that is a rarity."

 

"I am dedicated to ensuring that we have positive relationships with the Muslim community based on affirmative engagement and aspirations, not fear. Should you wish to tell me your views about the possible Bill and what the Queensland Government could do, in addition to what it is already doing, to enhance its relationship with the Muslim community, I would ask that you consider emailing me at atsi@ministerial.gld.gov.au.

A ground-breaking television campaign, facilitated by the not-for-profit My Peace, aims to show that Australian Muslims are just like everyone else – they love their family, contribute to the community and are proud Australians.

The advertisement features candid photos sent into My Peace by the Muslim community via social media, and Muslims of all ages talking about how about why the values of the prophet Mohammed are compatible with the values of wider Australia. It’s called, “I’m Muslim and proud.”

The advertisement was funded by members of the Muslim community, who each “sponsored” a photograph displayed in the commercial. My Peace is hoping to encourage more sponsors, to keep spreading the message that Islam is a peaceful force in Australian society. A spot can be sponsored through mypeace.com.au.

  

A self-proclaimed former Islamic radical is hoping to prevent people from joining extremist organisations through open discussions.

 

Maajid Nawaz has been pushed into action following an admission by one of Australia's most respected Muslim leaders Imam Afroz Ali. Two months ago Mr Ali made an admission at a closed forum of 25 of Australia's leading Imams on the radicalisation of Islam.
 

Mr Ali has been recorded saying that over the course of seven years he had identified 240 'radicals Islamists' within his community centre, 120 of whom continue to have extremist views and are seen to potentially be on a path to "extreme acts".
 

Mr Nawaz, who says he understands extreme Islamist groups because he was once a true believer, thinks Mr Ali's admission is a serious concern.

 

Mr Nawaz says he understands extreme Islamist groups because he was once a true believer.
 

He was a radical Islamist who joined Hizb ut-Tahrir, a global extremist organisation, at the age of 16.
 

"Hizb ut-Tahrir wants to overthrow every single Muslim majority regime and replace them with one pan Islamist, global super-state. They call it the 'Caliphate'," Mr Nawaz said.
 

"The next stage of their aim is to declare offensive Jihad against the world."
 

Mr Nawaz says it is the young, ignorant and angry youths who join Islamist groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir.
 

 

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