On
Sunday,
18
May,
Muslim
Aid
Australia
(MAA)
and
Muslim
Charitable
Foundations
(MCF),
together
hosted
the
25
Seeds
of
Goodness
charity
fundraiser
at
Michael’s
Oriental
Restaurant,
to
raise
funds
for
worldwide
agricultural
projects
to
eradicate
poverty.
The
afternoon's
proceedings
was
compèred
by
Junaid
Ally
who
entertained
and
engaged
the
audience
through
a
delicious
lunch
spread.
Hafiz
Muhammad
Khatree
recited
and
translated
passages
from
the
Holy
Quran
to
start
the
function.
Muslim
Aid
Australia’s
Chairperson,
Madenia
Abdurahman,
welcomed
the
guests
on
behalf
of
the
international
and
local
charity
organizations
MAA
and
MCF
respectively.
Secreatry
of
the
MCF
Board,
Yusuf
Khatree,
delivered
an
informative
and
comprehensive
presentation
of
his
foundation's
local
and
global
activities
since
their
founding
in
2009.
The
two
organisations,
MCF
and
MAA,
officially
joined
hands
by
the
signing
of a
Memorandum
of
Understanding
to
work
both
locally
and
globally
for
humanitarian
aid
and
development.
MAA’s
CEO,
Sheikh
Hassan
Elsetohy,
highlighted
the
importance
of
the
MCF
and
MAA
partnership,
whilst
also
addressing
the
importance
of
trust,
transparency
and
accountability.
World
renowned
expert,
designer,
and
educator
in
the
field
of
Permaculture,
Geoff
Lawton
had
the
crowd
in
awe
as
he
spoke
about
how
it
was
possible
to
eradicate
poverty
through
a
uniquely
sustainable
method
of
aid
and
development
called
Permaculture.
His
successes
in
Jordan,
where
he
and
his
team
were
able
to
green
a
portion
of
the
desert
using
Permaculture
techniques,
brought
home
the
fact
that
it
was
possible
to
grow
food
in
almost
any
part
of
the
world.
The
much
anticipated
skills
of
local
auctioneering
Hussin
Goss
came
to
the
fore
when
he
helped
take
the
funds
raised
that
afternoon
to
over
$40,000.
MAA
Queensland's
general
manager,
Riyaad
Ally,
told
CCN:
"I
want
to
thank
everyone
who
helped,
participated
and
witnessed
this
historic
cooperation
between
MAA
and
MCF
and
for
bringing
the
possibilities
of a
truly
sustainable
initiative
to
our
attention."
(from
l to
r)
Jamal
Rane
(MCF),
Janeth
Deen
(MCF),
Madenia
Abdurahman
(MAA),
Ismail
Cajee
(MCF),
Farouk
Adam
(MCF),
Sheikh
Hassan
El
Elsetohy
(MAA),
Yusuf
Khatree
(MCF),
Muhammad
Quadan
(MAA),
Riyaad
Ally
(MAA)
Mr.
Zulkeplee
Othman is
conducting
research for
his PhD at
QUT to study
how Muslims
in Australia
perceive
privacy in
their
current
Australian
designed
home, and
how do they
achieve
privacy
while
maintaining
modesty and
hospitality
in the
modern
Western
society.
Othman would
like to talk
with
participants
about their
home and how
Islamic
religion and
culture
affect their
spatial and
furnishing
layouts. "I
would also
like to find
out the
level of
satisfaction
with your
current home
and spatial
and
furnishing
layout with
regards to
privacy
while
maintaining
modesty and
hospitality,
or if
further
actions or
renovations
are
required,
Othman told
CCN.
You are
invited to
participate
in this
project if
you are a
Muslim, live
in Brisbane
or
Queensland
area, and
fall within
age range
from 19to 65
years old.
"I am
particularly
interested
to talk with
people who
are working,
studying at
universities,
have
children,
maybe
extended
families
(parents or
siblings) or
housemates/flatmates
living in
the house,
said Othman.
On
Queensland
Day (6
June), over
8,000
Queenslanders
from all
walks of
life will
welcome
Queenslanders
newest
migrants at
MDA's
LUMINOUS
Lantern
Parade and
concert in
the
Courier-Mail
Piazza.
It begins
with a
colourful
parade of
captivating
lanterns on
the Cultural
Forecourt.
It winds its
way through
South Bank
Parklands in
a dazzling
display of
light before
entering the
Courier Mail
Piazza for a
free concert
filled with
world music
and dancing,
and
headlined by
Robert
Forster of
‘The
Go-Betweens’
fame, with
world
renowned
Didgeridoo
player
William
Barton and
renowned
Tibetan
Singer
Tenzin
choegyal.
Go with your
friends and
family, and
enjoy a
taste of
delicious
multicultural
delights on
the
forecourt
before
walking in
the parade
to the
concert.
LUMINOUS has
established
itself as a
bright,
colourful
and unique
tribute to
multicultural
Queensland,
becoming a
signature
event on
Queensland’s
events
calendar as
part of
Queensland
Day
celebrations.
LUMINOUS is
an
initiative
of MDA Ltd -
in
partnership
with TAFE
English
Language and
Literacy
Services
(TELLS), and
Dealer
Solutions.
Susan
Carland and
Waleed Aly
are exactly
the type of
people you’d
want at your
dinner
party:
intelligent,
outspoken,
engaging,
charming,
funny. Add
Australian
accents to
that package
and you’ve
won me over
in a second.
Independently
of each
other,
married
couple
Carland and
Aly often
serve as the
public faces
of Islam in
Australia.
Aly, 35, is
a
broadcaster
who hosts
multiple
shows on
both radio
and TV,
covering
news events
ranging from
politics to
entertainment
to sports.
Carland, 34,
is often
called on by
the media to
write
articles or
give
interviews
discussing
her academic
work on the
intersection
of feminism
and Islam.
The duo’s
friends
jokingly
refer to
them as the
“Muslim
Brangelina,”
and it’s
easy to see
why. They
are young,
good-looking,
fashionably-dressed
and
charitable.
Like
Brangelina,
except sans
Hollywood
and plus two
upcoming
PhDs.
Similar to
what
happened in
the United
States after
9/11,
Muslims in
Australia
were treated
to intense
scrutiny,
suspicion
and racism.
“We went
through a
real period
of feeling
quite under
attack,”
says Carland.
She felt an
expectation
that Muslims
were
supposed to
start
managing
themselves
to make sure
a September
11 didn’t
happen in
Australia,
too. A year
after 9/11,
the Bali
bombings
killed 88
Australians,
followed by
the 2004
Madrid
bombings and
the 2005
London
bombings,
all Islamist
attacks.
”That whole
era right
through to
about 2007
was just
intense. It
really was
this feeling
of
constantly
being
surveilled
by whoever
was manning
the moral
barricades
of society,”
says Aly.
But Muslims
in Australia
are coming
out of that
period now,
both Carland
and Aly say
— and
they’re
becoming
much more
creative.
“We have hit
a point of
real
evolution,”
says Aly.
Artists,
comedians,
novelists,
athletes and
academics
are all
starting to
flourish,
particularly
in the
Melbourne
Muslim
community
the couple
calls home.
While Aly
has reached
a point in
his career
where he is
a media host
who just
happens to
be Muslim,
Carland more
often speaks
publicly
about Islam,
often on
editor Scott
Stephens’
website,
Religion and
Ethics for
ABC Online.
Stephens
explains
that Aly
expresses
his
spirituality
“by bringing
his faith
invisibly to
bear on
politics,
ethics and
matters of
public
interest.”
He says the
couple
embody the
“two great
traditions
within
Islam; the
“hardnosed,
intellectual,
critical”
side, as
well as the
“deeply
prayerful
and
hospitable”
side.
“He’s simply
one of the
sharpest
minds in the
public
sphere,”
says
Stephens,
noting Aly’s
sharp
political
analysis and
“forensic”
interview
style. “He
is just
uncommonly
intelligent.”
Stephens
says Aly is
“idolized”
by young
Muslim
academics
because “he
gives them
faith that
it’s
possible to
be a Muslim
in public
without
always being
subject to
suspicion.”
While
neither of
them claim
to represent
all Muslims,
they still
receive hate
mail from
those who
disagree
with their
opinions.
Still, they
are both
subjected to
a particular
brand of
scrutiny in
the public
eye. Aly and
Carland have
been targets
of backlash
from within
the Muslim
community
for not
accurately
representing
the variety
of
experiences
among
Muslims in
Australia.
Aly actually
stepped down
from the
Islamic
Council of
Victoria
before his
book came
out in order
to avoid
seeming like
he was
representing
others, yet
while
neither of
them claim
to represent
all Muslims,
they still
receive hate
mail from
those who
disagree
with their
opinions.
Non-Muslims
have lobbed
criticism as
well.
Recently
columnist
Andrew Bolt
expressed
disdain for
Aly, saying
he’s used by
the leftist
media to
persuade
Australians
not to fear
Muslim
groups at
home and
abroad.
Carland’s
own
perception
of Islam
took a
unique
journey. Her
ancestors
were on the
first fleet
of
(non-indigenous)
people who
founded
Australia,
and Carland
herself was
born and
raised in
Melbourne as
a Christian.
She
initially
started
looking into
Islam out of
“polite
interest.”
She recalls,
“After
getting past
my knee-jerk
reaction of
‘Oh no, no,
evil,
sexist,
disgusting
religion,’
the more I
read, the
more I felt:
‘There’s
something
there.’” She
converted to
Islam at age
19, despite
her mother’s
vehement
objections.
Susan with Waleed
and their children
Today
Carland is
finishing a
Ph.D.
looking at
the way
Muslim women
fight sexism
by using
their
religion in
defense of
feminism
rather than
as a
hindrance to
it. She is
currently on
leave from
teaching
gender
studies,
politics and
sociology,
with a focus
on Muslim
women and
Muslims in
Australia,
at Monash
University.
“She’s able
to take
stories of
women in the
Qur’an and
make them
applicable
to men and
women
today,” says
Saara
Sabbagh, the
creator of
the Muslim
women
organization
Benevolence
Australia,
who has been
friends with
Carland for
twenty
years.
“She’s able
to revive
female
scholarship
in a way
that hasn’t
been done.
Muslim women
have not
felt safe
within their
own faith in
the sense
that it has
been
interpreted
by men for
so long …
Susan brings
a
reconnection
to the
divine for
the modern
Muslim
woman. I
believe she
is going to
be one of
the most
influential
women in
Australia.”
Susan
brings a
reconnection
to the
divine for
the modern
Muslim
woman.
Soon after
she
converted,
Carland’s
friend tried
to set her
up with Aly.
After
meeting up
with him she
says she
told him,
“Listen, I
wouldn’t
marry you if
you were the
last man on
Earth.” She
laughs,
recalling
this now, 12
years into
their
marriage.
Carland
explains she
was still
dealing with
turmoil in
her family,
and her mom
had once
declared
she’d rather
Carland
marry a drug
dealer than
a Muslim.
But once
Carland
realized she
was
comparing
every man
she met to
Aly, she got
back in
touch and
the two were
married in
February
2002. Her
mom gave a
loving
speech at
the wedding
about how
she always
knew the two
were meant
for each
other.
The son of
Egyptians
who moved to
Australia in
the 1960s,
Aly grew up
in
Melbourne,
and when he
wasn’t
immersed in
music, he
was playing
sports. Ever
the “think
tank,” he
explains
that in
Australia,
sports
transcend
class and
race. “If
you were
good at
sport then
you
belonged,”
he explains.
“It was my
social
capital.” In
2002, his
last year at
university
studying law
and
engineering,
he began
writing for
mainstream
newspapers
across the
country
about
Muslim-related
affairs. He
worked as a
lawyer for a
few years
and
published a
provocative
book arguing
that
ignorance
from both
Islam and
the West was
causing
dialogue
between the
two to fail.
His current
Ph.D. work
at Monash
University
is based in
terrorism
studies, and
his
dissertation
tries to
develop a
social
theoretical
explanation
for global
terrorism.
Muslims in
Australia
are coming
out of that
period now —
and they’re
starting to
flourish.
Carland
& Aly
In 2009
Aly’s
broadcast
career took
off and
today he has
a two hour
radio show
on ABC
(Australia’s
national
public
broadcaster)
Monday
through
Thursday and
a Sydney
Morning
Herald
column, and
hosts two TV
news shows
on Friday
and over the
weekend.
Two kids
later, the
couple still
gives off a
newlywed
glow. Their
personalities
are
complementary;
Aly is the
dignified
and mellow
calm to
Carland’s
frenetic and
happy
energy. They
both have
witty and
engaging
senses of
humor, and
even
produced a
Muslim
comedy
sketch show
together for
a few years,
which ran on
national
television.
Yup. Perfect
dinner party
guests.
Although be
forewarned,
you may have
to cede the
spotlight to
this dynamic
duo’s triple
threat of
charm,
intelligence
and
spirituality.
ISLAM’s
stance on
what is
permissible
to eat and
what is not
is clear.
There are
strict rules
when it
comes to
meat
regarding
what is
allowed and
what is
forbidden.
The Islamic
practice of
slaughtering
animals by
means of a
sharp cut to
the front of
the neck has
frequently
come under
attack by
some animal
rights
activists as
being a form
of animal
cruelty, the
claim being
that it is a
painful
inhumane
method of
killing
animals.
In the West,
it is
required by
law to stun
the animal
with a shot
to the head
before the
slaughter,
supposedly
to render
the animal
unconscious
and to
prevent it
from
reviving
before it is
killed so as
not to slow
down the
movement of
the
processing
line. It is
also used to
prevent the
animal from
feeling pain
before it
dies.
It therefore
may come as
a surprise
to some to
learn of the
results of a
study
carried out
by Professor
Wilhelm
Schulze and
his
colleague
Dr. Hazim at
the School
of
Veterinary
Medicine,
Hannover
University
in Germany.
The study
attempted to
compare pain
in
conventional
(captive
bolt pistol
stunning)
and ritual (halal,
knife)
methods of
slaughtering
sheep and
cattle.
Researchers
found that
Islamic
slaughtering
is the most
humane
method of
slaughter
and that
captive bolt
stunning
causes
severe pain
to the
animal.
The
Logan Mosque
is holding a
fundraiser
on 21 June
to raise
$100 000 for
creating a
450 square
meter area
to be used
for
functions,
ifthar
programmes
and room for
more
Musallies
during Jumma
and
tharaweeh
salaats.
The house on
the
adjoining
property is
also in need
of repairs
before it is
ready to
house
offices for
a full-time
Imam and
administration.
The Logan
City council
has also
given notice
for more
bitumen
sealed car
park areas.
Click on the
thumbnail
image above
for more
information
on the
dinner,
contact
persons and
banking
details.
$25 000 has been received this week through donations from direct payments as well the pledge forms leaving a shortfall of $275 000 to be raised by mid-June this year.
Fund raising coordinator, Haji Abdul Rahman Deen, told CCN:
“Only with the support of the whole community can we achieve our target. Please keep the donations coming in and shukran for the continuous support from CCN and its readers.”
Bachar Houli,
AFL club
Richmond's
star muslim
footy player
visited ILIM
college in
Melbourne
this week.
He addressed
the students
and spoke
about the
balance in
his life
between
practicing
Islam and
being a
footy
player.
Bachar held
a training
workshop
after his
speech to
select
students
from the
college to
compete in
the annual
Bachar Houli
Cup which is
a footy
competition
between the
Islamic
schools of
Melbourne.
Channel 9 TV
crew
recorded the
training
workshop to
promote the
competition.
Wafic Said
may be a few
millions
worse off
after the
wedding of
his daughter
in Paris’
Palace of
Versailles
last year,
but it’s
unlikely
that the
nuptials
will have
made too
much of a
dent in the
Syrian-born
billionaire'
s pocket.
Said, who
has Saudi
nationality
but lives in
London - is
still
best-known
for Al
Yamamah —
the colossal
Saudi
fighter jets
contract
that is
Britain’s
biggest ever
export deal.
Said is the
chairman of
Said Holding
Limited, a
Bermuda-based
holding
company with
investments
in Europe,
North
America and
the Far
East. The
firm has a
diverse
portfolio of
investments
including
fixed
income,
quoted
equities,
hedge funds,
private
equity and
real estate.
\
Said, who
now splits
his time
between the
UK, Paris
and Monaco,
started his
career at
UBS in 1963
before
establishing
a project
development
and
construction
management
business in
Saudi Arabia
in 1969.
Over the
next two
decades his
group took
on some of
the largest
public
sector
projects in
the kingdom
and he
became a
billionaire
through his
connections
with Saudi’s
royal
family,
acting as an
advisor and
consultant
on many
major
infrastructure
projects.
In 1996, he
donated £23m
($35.85m) to
help
establish
the Said
Business
School at
the
University
of Oxford.
To
commemorate
Women’s
History
Month, we
collected
photos of
Muslim
American
women.
We’ve
compiled
thirty-two
images. One
for each day
of March,
plus another
because no
one month
can contain
the
awesomeness
of Muslim
Women.
These images
show the
status and
the
importance
of Muslim
women in our
society.
Muslim women
are
liberated,
educated,
and play the
most
important
roles in our
society.
Update: The
purpose and
intent of
this article
is not to
showcase the
ethnic and
racial
diversity of
Muslimahs.
No one
article can
do that. We
meant to
express the
diversity of
the roles
Muslimahs
play in
society and
to begin to
re-frame how
they are
thought
about. Going
forward we
will make
sure to be
all
inclusive.
Ramadaan is in a months time and Zubaida and I are
planning this years Iftar in Peshawar.
If anyone is interested in donating any amount,
please either contact me on 0400142786 or Shamshaad
on 0421326376.
Alternatively please deposit directly into my
account stating who it is from and that it is for "Ramadaan
Iftar"
My details are: Zuleka Latif
Bank --CBA
BSB --064117
Acct---676328
Last year a package comprising of:
20 Kg wheat; 24 pack milk cartons; 5 kg ghee; 5 kg
rice; 5kg sugar; 2 kg dates;
½
kg tea; 1 kg besen flour; 2 kg chana dhal; 3 kg
beans
cost us $45 including transport and distribution, it
could cost slightly more this year
Also on the agenda is iftar offered daily at a cost
of $0.70 ,comprising a couple of rotis and a curry.
These are offered at different venues, including a
hospital at which we sponsor medical aid to the
poor.
Last year we managed 200 meals a day and a total of
160 packages
If interested any amount is welcome as long as
commitment is made by 16 June so that arrangements
can be made and distributions can be done before
Ramadaan starts (distribution is carried out by
volunteers)
Jazakallha Khair
Julu
Assalamu alaykum wa
Rahmatullahi wa Barrakatuhu Editors of CCN,
Alhamdulilah, I always
really enjoy getting the weekly CCN in my inbox and
look forward to reading all the articles.
I noticed your
letter to the editor this week, and in
particular the invitation for readers to share their
views in confidence, with the editor's response.
By no means am I
intending to correct the editors or contributors,
but simply to offer my opinion to the conversation
as a member of the community of readers.
I have a similar
question about the section which has profiles of
American Muslim women, all of whom have diverse
careers, outlooks and dress.
For me personally, I accept that Muslims cannot be
forced to adhere to any act of worship - that is
between them, in their hearts, and The Creator
alone. But I was wondering if perhaps you could
include some kind of brief description of who the
sisters are, and perhaps a bit of encouragement to
show how they practice Islam.
I understand that it is
a struggle for many Muslims to uphold their
religious practices in a secular culture such as
ours, where not drinking, wearing modest clothing or
adhering to daily prayers is seen as strange.
Perhaps for some sisters
who are struggling with hijab, to see a picture of a
Muslim woman who also doesn't wear hijab is helpful
on their journey.
But I feel like just an
image with no explanation is a kind of acceptance
of, in my opinion, choosing not to follow a command
of Allah.
Unfortunately hijab is a
very external and obvious choice whereas not
choosing to follow the daily prayers or pay Zakat is
more hidden.
I also see your point
that we shouldn't put our deeds on display for the
community to see.
However as a mum to be I
would really like to see more role models,
particularly for young people to look up to, as
proud to be practicing Islam as we have been
instructed.
A suggestion as an
alternative to this column would be interviewing
Muslim sisters in the community - teachers at
Islamic College or Madrassa, local businesswomen,
organisers of not for profit organisations. Rather
than showcase a picture of them, perhaps a short
interview could be conducted with them which
explains what they do, and maybe how they feel about
being Muslim in Queensland.
Please forgive me for
any negativity or mistakes in this message, and
JazakAllahu khairon for the opportunity to engage
with this topic.
Wa Salaam, (Name Supplied)
Wa Alaikum Salaam CCN
Editor
On behalf of the small (in comparison to Brisbane)
South African community of Melbourne, I would like
to take this opportunity to say a very big THANK YOU
to you and your team for publishing the highly
informative and exciting Crescents Community
Newsletter. You are doing an absolutely amazing job.
Keep it Up!
It reminds us of the good old days in South Africa
when we used to wait for the Sunday Times Extra to
come out for sale on Saturday nights. Our weekend is
incomplete without reading your newsletter.
Once again Thank You and keep up the Great Work!!!
IRAN: A group
of six Iranians who were arrested for
filming a video tribute to the Pharrell
Williams song 'Happy' has reportedly been
released on bail.
One of the six arrested posted a message on
Instagram, saying she had been released.
In the photo post, fashion photographer
Reihane Taravati said she was glad to be
released.
Police said
the arrests had been made over a "vulgar
clip" that had "hurt public chastity".
The YouTube video shows three men and three
unveiled women dancing on the streets and
rooftops of Tehran to the soundtrack of
Pharrell Williams' song, 'Happy'.
On Tuesday, state-run TV broadcast what it
reported as a video confession from the
dancers.
In the edited video, the dancers were filmed
from behind saying they were tricked into
making the video.
"They told me they are making a feature film
and they had a permit for it," one of the
six said in the video.
Williams himself took to Facebook, posting a
message condemning the arrests as unjust.
"It is beyond sad that these kids were
arrested for trying to spread happiness,"
the singer wrote on Facebook.
The 'Happy in Tehran' video clocked up more
than 165,000 views on YouTube before police
attention forced the video to be made
private. However, the video has sprung up on
other YouTube accounts.
Iranians at home and abroad expressed anger
at the arrests, with many using the hastag #FreeHappyIranians
to express support for the six dancers.
A few days ago, Iranian President, Hassan
Rouhani spoke out again against internet
censorship (the president has an active
Twitter account despite the fact that
Twitter is banned in Iran.) On Wednesday,
Mr. Rouhani gave his own response:
Islamic Finance in South
Africa: Key challenges and innovative
solutions
SOUTH AFRICA: South
Africa’s National Treasury wants to make the
country the hub for Islamic finance in
Africa.
The country has the most
sophisticated and advanced financial,
legislative and governance structures and
regulations on the continent, and has the
potential to be the economic superpower of
Africa.
This gives the country a
unique competitive edge over most African
countries in actively capturing and
promoting the Islamic finance industry.
Within the country, Islamic finance has seen
considerable development.
South Africa’s regulators have taken various
measures to develop and promote the Industry
including amending tax laws to create an
equitable and level playing field for
Islamic finance.
Proposed tax amendments were
issued in May 2010. Section 24JA of the ITA,
first introduced in the draft Taxation Laws
Amendment Bill, 2010, set out the proposed
legislation for Islamic financial products.
This section provided parity
of tax treatment between Islamic finance
products versus conventional banking
products. Section 24JA of the ITA sets out
the tax consequences of diminishing
Musharaka, Mudaraba, Murabaha and sukuk.
SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Town -
Democratic Alliance Youth chairman Yusuf
Cassim (pictured left) is set to
become the youngest member of Parliament to
be sworn in on Wednesday.
“Cassim will be 24 years, four months and 16
days old tomorrow, making him the youngest
MP in South African history,” the party said
in a statement.
“Cassim formed part of the DA's Young
Leaders class of 2011. He became the SRC
president at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University in 2012, and the DA Youth federal
chairperson in 2013.”
Cassim will overtake the record set by his
fellow DA member Geordin Hill-Lewis, who at
the age of 24 years and seven months became
the youngest MP to be sworn in in 2011. Source: IOL
Under code
to be announced next month by Michael Gove,
Islamic schools would ensure teachers were
vetted by police
UK: A
voluntary code of conduct to regulate
teaching in madrasas in Britain is due to be
announced next month by the education
secretary, Michael Gove.
Over the past decade, ministers from all
parties have expressed unease at the
inability to regulate teaching in the
schools, which offer supplementary education
outside of mainstream schooling. But they
have held back partly due to the amount of
regulation that would be required.
The plans have emerged as an Ofsted inquiry
continues into claims of an attempt by
Islamist extremists to take over as many as
21 schools in Birmingham, a charge that is
strongly rejected by many in Birmingham.
Gove has appointed Peter Clarke, the former
head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism
command, to lead a Department for Education
inquiry, one of four investigations being
carried out.
The Labour MP for Perry Barr in Birmingham,
Khalid Mahmood, has argued for at least six
years that stricter regulations are needed
to protect children in privately run
madrasas.
The Mosques and Imams National Advisory
Board already promotes good governance in
mosques and imam training institutions
through a process of voluntary
self-regulation, and the charity claims to
have over 600 members.
There are as many as 2,000 madrasas known to
local authorities in the UK and whose staff
have undergone all the checks required to
teach children in a safe and secure
environment.
The proposed code would require madrasas to
ensure that teachers are vetted by police,
and that students are not subjected to
corporal punishment. The schools would agree
to adopt a syllabus that prevents
fundamentalist teaching.
Madrasa has become a catch-all term for the
teaching of Islam in schools linked to
mosques or in private houses. A Whitehall
official said madrasas would be offered
official recognition if they agreed to sign
up to the new code.
"The code will make sure that all teachers
are CRB [Criminal Records Bureau] checked,
and that no corporal punishment is dealt
out," the official said. "The schools may
also be required to teach a standard
syllabus, because right now they can teach
whatever they want. The syllabus will be
supportive of the government's
preventing-extremism strategy, so there will
be no fundamentalist teaching.
The code
will make
sure that
all teachers
are CRB
[Criminal
Records
Bureau]
checked, and
that no
corporal
punishment
is dealt
out.
The schools
may also be
required to
teach a
standard
syllabus,
because
right now
they can
teach
whatever
they want.
The
syllabus
will be
supportive
of the
government's
preventing-extremism
strategy, so
there will
be no
fundamentalist
teaching.
DfE
Spokesperson
"The
incentive for the supplementary schools is
that the DfE [Department for Education] will
consider publishing their names on its
website to give them a bit of prestige and
differentiate them from the unregistered
schools."
The former children's minister Tim Loughton
had opposed further regulation, saying that
to focus only on madrasas would appear
discriminatory and could reinforce unhelpful
stereotypes.
Ofsted is expected to publish its Birmingham
inspection reports next month. It is
understood that at least six of the 21
schools will be put into special measures
that could lead to the removal of
headteachers and governors.
Last week, Park View, the school at the
centre of the controversy, issued a lengthy
statement condemning the "entirely
fictional" allegations made against it. It
said the flurry of accusations had created a
backdrop for the settling of political
scores by disgruntled former staff.
There have been claims that some former
teachers will not air their concerns due to
gagging clauses imposed on them.
Gove is understood to be examining plans
when Ofsted reports in June to remove
several schools found to be failing from the
control of the Labour-controlled council.
Tristram Hunt, the shadow education
secretary, blamed the crisis in Birmingham
on the coalition's support for academies and
free schools. "Michael Gove is trying to
pass the buck," he said. "His record of
allowing underperformance to go unchecked
means … 1.5 million children are not
receiving the standard of schooling we
expect."
Apostasy case: Former
Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey calls on
British Muslim leaders to back the right to
convert from Islam
UK: Lord
Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury,
has called on leading British Muslims to
support the right to convert from Islam to
another religion after a court in Sudan
sentenced a woman to death for apostasy.
The peer said
it was “accepted doctrine” that Muslim
converts should face the death penalty. He
also said there were examples of ex-Muslims
in Britain who had been forced to “almost go
underground”.
“Isn’t there something fundamentally wrong
with Islam at its core that it cannot allow
people to change their religion?” he told
The Sunday Times.
“It is accepted doctrine in Islam [that] you
don’t convert and if you do the penalty may
be death.” He added: “I want to hear Muslim
leaders say ‘we allow Muslims to become
Christians if they wish to’.”
Lord Carey spoke out after Meriam Ibrahim,
27, was
sentenced to death by a sharia court in
Sudan after refusing to recant her
Christian faith. The sentence has been
suspended as she is pregnant.
UAE: To
give labourers in the UAE a few extra
minutes of happiness, Coca-Cola created the
Hello Happiness Phone Booth -- a special
phone booth that accepts Coca-Cola bottle
caps instead of coins for a free 3-minute
international phone call, helping them
connect with their families back home more
often.
The 5
machines were placed for about 10 hours from
21st March till 21st April 2014 in the
workers' camps in Dubai. During this period
they logged 134,484 minutes, that is roughly
about 22,000 hours of calls.
Immigrants must learn to
be British, says Asian Tory
Culture minister Sajid
Javid, the first Asian Secretary of State,
says those coming to the UK must learn
English and "respect our way of life"
Sajid Javid says
voters have legitimate fears over
'excessive' immigration
UK: Immigrants must learn
English and “respect our way of life”, the
new Culture Secretary says as he criticises
migrants who have lived here for years but
still cannot speak the language.
In an exclusive interview with The
Telegraph, Sajid Javid says voters have
legitimate fears over “excessive”
immigration and are justified in wanting
Britain to have more control over its
borders.
Mr Javid, the first Asian Secretary of
State, defends Nigel Farage, the leader of
the UK Independence Party, against charges
of racism but insists that only the
Conservatives can deliver the reforms to
European Union laws needed to cut
immigration.
“People want Britain to have
more control over its borders, and I think
they are right,” Mr Javid, who is the son of
Pakistani immigrants, says.
“People also say, when
immigrants do come to Britain, that they
should come to work, and make a contribution
and that they should also respect our way of
life, and I agree with all of that. It means
things like trying to learn English.” The
tough message on immigration, coming from
Britain’s highest ranking Asian MP, who is
also the Minister for Equalities, will
provoke debate on controls to migration in a
crucial week of elections.
On Thursday, voters go to the polls across
the UK to elect MEPs for the European
Parliament. Elections are also being held in
161 English council areas. Immigration is a
key battleground in the current campaign and
will be central to all parties’ manifestos
in the run up to the general election.
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: Nasreen
Abdullah served me this coconut slice with
afternoon tea and I was not going to leave her
place without getting this delicious recipe off
her for our CCN readers. She was kind enough to
oblige.
Almond Coconut Bars
Ingredients
First layer
125g butter
1/2 cup sugar
±1 cup flour
½ tsp baking powder
Bake for 10-12 mins
Second layer
3 eggs separated
1 cup sugar
2½ tab flour
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup sliced almonds
1 tsp vanilla essence
Method
1.Beat egg whites
until soft peaks form.
2. Add sugar until mixture is thick and then add
the yolks.
3. In a separate bowl sift flour; add coconut,
salt, baking powder and 2/3 cup almonds.
4. Add to the egg mixture and fold in.
5. Pour over biscuit base evenly.
6. Sprinkle balance of almonds and decorate with
chopped red and green cherries.
7. Bake at 180' for 20-25mins.
8. Switch off the oven and leave to crispen.
9. Slice into bars when cool.
Q: Dear Kareema, will I
lose weight with Pilates and Yoga classes?
A: You bet!
Pilates moves the body in a way
that optimises circulation, improves digestion,
and makes the body move more efficiently – all
critical factors in weight loss. An advanced
30-min nonstop mat workout can burn up to
1256kJ, rivalling the kilojoule expenditure of a
cardio gym session…
Yoga improves flexibility and
aids in lengthening and strengthening of
muscles, which in turn can help improve posture
while working out which means you can challenge
yourself more with every workout!
Jallalludin bought a new Mercedes Benz to celebrate his
wife leaving him and was out on the freeway for an
evening drive.
The top was down, the breeze was blowing through what
was left of his hair and he decided to open her up.
As the needle jumped from 100 to 140, he saw flashing
lights behind him.
"There's no way they can catch a merc" he said and
opened her even further to 160.
Then, reality set in "What am I doing!" he said, and
slowed down and pulled over.
The cop came up to him, took his license, without a
word, and examined it and the car.
"Its been a long hard day. This is the end of my shift
and its Friday. I don't feel like more paperwork. I
don't need the frustration nor the overtime, so if you
can give me a really good excuse for your driving, that
I haven't heard before, you can go."
Jallalludin thinks for a second and says: "Last week my
nagging wife ran off with a traffic officer. I was
afraid you were trying to give her back."
We have
not instructed the (Prophet)
in Poetry, nor is it meet
for him: this is no less
than a Message and a Qur'an
making things clear: That it
may give admonition to any
(who are) alive...
1. All Islamic Event dates given above are tentative and
subject to the sighting of the moon.
2. The Islamic date changes to the next day starting in
the evenings after maghrib. Therefore, exceptfor Lailatul Mehraj,
Lailatul Bhahraat
and
Lailatul Qadr – these dates refer to the commencement of the event starting in the
evening of the corresponding day.
Topic = Tafseer lessons Venue = Masjid Taqwa, Bald Hills, Qld 4036 Day = Every Monday | Time = After Esha salah | Period =
approximately 30 minutes Presenter = Mufti Junaid Akbar Cost = free, and InShaAllah Allah will give great reward Who can come = All brothers and sisters are welcome to
attend
Please note that these recordings will be available for
downloading from our website
masjidtaqwa.org.au.
Queensland Police Service/Muslim Community
Consultative Group
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.
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.
Carland
& Aly
UK: Lord
Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury,
has called on leading British Muslims to
support the right to convert from Islam to
another religion after a court in Sudan
sentenced a woman to death for apostasy.
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011