Religious leaders across Australia have issued a message of love to Muslims, in response to a recent headline in the News Limited press misquoting former army chief Peter Leahy as saying “we’ll fight Islam for 100 years”.

 

Religious leaders across Australia have issued a message of love to Muslims, in what they hope will become a viral campaign to counter hatred, divisiveness and marginalisation.

 

The movement follows the unveiling of a proposed raft of new counter-terrorism laws by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, prompting concern from Islamic organisations that Muslims will be unfairly targeted.

 

The religious leaders issued a statement saying they will “love Muslims for 100 years” – a reference to a recent headline published by News Corp which misquoted former army chief Peter Leahy as saying “we’ll fight Islam [for] 100 years”.

 

“We believe people of Muslim faith are being unfairly smeared in the eyes of the Australian public,” the statement read.

 

“…The violence and values of extremists like ISIS are not representative of the vast majority of Muslim people in Australia, who are recognised better by their commitment to peace, community and mutual respect.”

 

The statement has signed by more than 150 members of the Christian, Jewish and other religious communities, including Rabbi Zalman Kastel.

 

He told SBS that the diverse group was “concerned about a growing atmosphere of division”.

It’s very important to provide a counter narrative.   Rabbi Zalman Kastel

“There’s a growing shrill dialogue relating to Muslims that’s infecting relationships here in Australia, from shock jocks and social media," he siad.
 

"It’s not helpful. I accept that sometimes there needs to be robust discussion, but we need to be very careful to maintain ties between communities.”

 

Rabbi Kastel said the event should act as a "reality check" for many Australians.

 

“We’ll be holding a banner that says we’ll love Muslims for 100 years, courting the other headline,” he said.

 

“It’s very important to provide a counter narrative.”

 

Former South Australian Premier, now Anglican Deacon Lynn Arnold told SBS: “We hope to be a kind of antibiotic against this virus that is spreading around the community because we all have many Muslim friends who are feeling targeted, are being targeted by this campaign of inflammation, this campaign of hate.

 

“We want to have a viral effect to have ordinary Australians stand up and say this is not the Australian way, this is not the Australian tradition.”

 

 

There have been gatherings at St Peter’s Anglican Cathedral in Adelaide, the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney and St George’s College chapel in Perth in a show of solidarity with the Muslim community.

 

Iraqi refugee Mohammed Al Khafaji says the Islamic community deserves better than a “rushed, one hour meeting” as “consultation” over the laws.

 

“The Muslim community is divided with this approach and some of them have boycotted the meeting…and this has not given them the chance to review the proposed legislation, have a think about it and actually sit down together in a round table to discuss these issues” he says.

 

“They’re basically saying you either come in, sit down and accept these proposed changes, or if you don’t we will call you names and basically you’re boycotting our meeting. “

 

The Muslim community is divided with this approach and some of them have boycotted the meeting…and this has not given them the chance to review the proposed legislation, have a think about it and actually sit down together in a round table to discuss these issues.   Mohammed Al Khafaji

Mr Al Khafaji added, “if I want to travel to Iraq to visit my family, I don’t want to be questioned by security agencies every time that I need to travel over there, under suspicion of terrorism.”

 

The gatherings follow calls by Australia's top spy for more Muslims to join the nation’s security force.

 

ASIO boss David Irvine said the government was not good at listening to the Muslim community and needed to work on communication.

 

He said he would like more members of the Islamic community to join ASIO.

 

“That will help us understand better, but this is an organisation that is designed to protect you and you should be part of it," he told Muslim community leader Jamal Rifi in an interview obtained by Fairfax Media.

 

Mr Irvine said he was "utterly outraged" by some media reports that suggested Australia was "fighting Islam".

 

The national director of Welcome to Australia, and pastor with the Activate Christian Community church Brad Chilcott says it’s unhelpful to suggest that certain elements of our community aren’t part of the team or aren’t part of what it means to be Australian, when more than half the Muslims in Australia were born here.

 

"There’s not really any other section of the Australian community that is called upon to defend themselves every time there is an act of violence overseas, or any time a member of their faith commits a crime or is associated with a violent act.

 

"We would never see a headline in an Australian newspaper that says, 'we’ll fight Christianity for 100 years', in response to sexual abuse allegations or any other. We are standing in solidarity with our Muslim friends saying that a whole faith community doesn’t need to be targeted, alienated and marginalised by the political and media conversation."

 

Young Islamic community leader Manal Younus says the portrayal of Islam in media and politics in Australia is hurtful.

 

"Myself and many other Muslims in Australia… we feel we’ve integrated into this community and for us to constantly be picked out because of these headlines, because of these actions that people are committing overseas, that’s very disturbing and it’s unsettling for Muslims in Australia."

 

On social media, users have coined the hashtag #love100years to show their support.

 

Source: SBS

 

RELATED ARTICLE:

The Guardian: Christian and Jewish leaders campaign to support Muslim community

 

 

At the Islamic College of Brisbane we are constantly thinking of new initiatives that will enhance our Islamic environment for our children.

 

A recent project we have undertaken was to create a more spiritual atmosphere in our prayer hall.

 

We were able to limit other activities in the hall and confine the space for Salaah only.

 

Special curtains were fitted for the female’s area and a special Wudhu Facility is currently being built.

 

A Mimbar and artwork has also been ordered.

 

The idea is to instil within our students the importance of salaah and give them the experience of praying in a real mosque.

 

The highlight of this huge project was the lovely Musallah (Prayer Mats) we ordered from Turkey.

 

Mashallah the students find it so much more comfortable to perform salaah upon.

 

We would be happy to see everyone share in the reward of these Musallahs.

 

As long as anyone will perform salaah on these musallahs the donors will receive the full reward inshallah.

 

Besides the daily Zohr and Asr salaah the venue is also used for Jummah and Taraweeh salaah during the month of Ramadaan.

 

There were 863 Musallahs fitted. 363 Musaalahs have already been sponsored.

 

You can have your share in this ongoing reward by sponsoring a musallah or as many as you wish in the remaining 500 Musallahs.

 

The total price of a musallah including the freight, levies and fitting costs is $50.

 

You may forward your donations to the admin office at the College or transfer it to the school account directly.

Account Name: Islamic College of Brisbane
BSB Number: 034-069
Account Number: 116592
Please enter ‘Carpet Building Fund’ as reference.

Enrolments are now open for the Al Kauthar course, Prayer Makes Perfect – September 20th and 21st.

The first thing to be judged on the Day of Judgement will be the Prayer -The soundness of one’s Prayers will dictate the soundness of the rest of one’s deeds. (Nawawi’s 40 Hadeeth Qudsi no.9, originally in al-Tirmidhi.)

Join us for the amazing opportunity to learn about all aspects of prayer and how we can improve our prayer to improve our life.

Enrol now here.
 

The following discount codes apply
SCHOOLSAVER - $50; UNISAVER - $60; PREPAIDSAVER - $80

If you would like to apply for full or partial sponsorship to attend the course, email Brisbane@alkauthar.org.

Also, if you would like to give the gift of knowledge, the reward for which is great, and become a sponsor, also email the address above.

Muslim leaders across Australia have denounced as unjust, unjustified and hypocritical proposed new counter-terrorism laws and they have refused to "rubber-stamp" them for the government.

In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, more than 60 individuals and organisations, including 10 sheikhs, said that the threat from the ostensible target of the laws - about 150 "radicalised" Muslims returning from Iraq or Syria - had been "trumped up".

"There is no solid evidence to substantiate this threat. Rather, racist caricatures of Muslims as backwards, prone to violence and inherently problematic are being exploited," the statement reads.

"It is instructive that similar issues about Australian troops travelling abroad to fight or Jews travelling to train or fight with the Israeli Defence Force are simply never raised."

The Muslim leaders also pointed out the official terrorism threat level has remained the same since 2001.

The statement was released just two days after Prime Minister Tony Abbott set about selling the sweeping changes and met with Muslim community representatives in Sydney.

At the time, he said his message to Islamic leaders was that everyone should be on "Team Australia".

Australian Muslim Women's Association head Silma Ihram (pictured right) attended the meeting with 20 or so others but said invitees were only told about the Monday morning consultation the preceding Friday evening.

There was no agenda for the one-hour meeting and those invited were not given access to any draft legislation, she said.

"We don't even know what we're speaking about," she said. "A productive consultation has an agenda. There was no agenda."

Ms Ihram is a signatory to the statement from Muslim leaders, which vows not to rubber-stamp the laws.

"The Muslim community is being asked to sign off on laws and policies that have already been decided," it reads.

"Prime Minister Tony Abbott is merely seeking approval under the cover of consultation."

The government's plans reportedly include softening the definition of terrorism, retaining internet and phone data, making it easier to detain and question suspects returning from overseas and reversing the onus of proof for people coming home from terrorism hot-spots.
 

Source: SMH

A broad cross section of Muslim community leaders were invited to a meeting with the Prime Minister Tony Abbott (during the week). The meeting provided the community with an opportunity to air their concerns and engage in discussion about recent statements on anti-terrorism and other global issues.

 

The Mufti led the discussion by stating that "safeguarding and protecting Australia's safety and security is part of our creed." He went on to say that "keeping Australia safe means working within different channels" but that it was also "important to preserve the value of freedom while maintaining the country's security".

 

The following items were discussed:

The community is concerned about the language and rhetoric that has been used in relation to security in the light of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Concern was expressed about the continuing use of divisive language when the majority of the Muslim community is Australian born and raised.

 

It was stressed that Australian Muslims have a vested interest in the ongoing safety and security of the country. Violence and extremism, whether in Australia or abroad, will never be endorsed nor supported.

 

The community stressed the need for strategies which focused on research-established causes for some young people being tempted to join overseas conflicts.

 

The community is committed to working collaboratively towards outcomes that do not infringe the civil liberties of any member of the Australian public and to ensure that no policies are hastily implemented without due and thorough consideration.

 

In the recent past considerable funds have been allocated towards policies that are aimed at reducing the potential for extremism in the community, but have not been effective in resolving the issue. Those attending made it clear that much of the expertise and scholarship that the government and the community needs for more effective solutions has not been adequately accessed or developed.

 

Attendees stressed the need for appropriate risk assessment of any measures proposed in order to ensure that they do not result in the further marginalisation or victimisation of any members of the Muslim community.

 

Any policies or statements should be fair and balanced without being perceived as targeting the Muslim community, when the issues affect all Australians equally.

 

It was highlighted that Australia needs to maintain its ethical and moral leadership in tackling global issues and devise sound foreign policies that uphold human rights, are balanced and do not negatively impact on any section of the Australian community.

We welcome the Prime Minister’s initiative in listening to the community's concerns and we stress the utmost need to continue the process of sustained engagement and consultation.

 

Those who attended included:

Office of the Grand Mufti of Australia Australian National Imams Council Affinity Intercultural Association Australian Muslim Women’s Association Ashabul Kahfi Centre for Islamic Dakwah and Education Islamic Council of NSW

Islamic Women’s Welfare Association Lebanese Muslim Association Majlisul Ualamaa of Australia Muslims Australia (AFIC) United Muslims of Australia United Muslim Women’s Association Zetland Mosque

From Somalia to Kuraby, Amina Diamond

Brisbane’s new multicultural faces – the new refugees and asylum seekers from Africa, Afghanistan, Burma, Iraq and Iran – make up the new faces of Brisbane.

You will see the faces as you walk through the Queen Street Mall. You will see them playing soccer on Saturdays.

Gail Ker is the chief executive officer of Logan’s Access Community Services and the deputy chair of both the Australian Multicultural Council and the Migration Council of Australia.

Ms Ker says since 2001 the emerging nations in Greater Brisbane have come predominantly from the African continent, she said.

“Some Middle East countries also, and in the last six or seven years, the Burmese community,” she said.

“So the Chin, the Karen, the Rohingya, and some of the Bhutanese communities.

“In more recent years I would say we are seeing maybe a one-third split in the humanitarian program between African, Middle Eastern and Burmese cohort.”

The Karen people come from the hilly, southeast Burma, comprising about seven per cent of Burma’s five million people, while the smaller Burmese minority group, the Chin straddle the Indian and Burmese border. The Rohingya people are persecuted Muslims, living in Burma.

 

Full article

1. The resettlement of Iraqis and Syrians who have fled their home country remains a priority within Australia’s offshore Humanitarian Programme.

 
2. The Australian Government is responding to the current crises in Iraq and Syria by providing targeted places in this year’s Humanitarian Programme.

3. The Government has set aside at least 4400 places within the 11 000 place offshore Humanitarian Programme for 2014–15 for these two groups:
a. a minimum of 2200 places for Iraqis who have fled their home country
b. a minimum of 2200 places for Syrians who have fled their home country.

4. A significant number of these places will be for the Special Humanitarian Programme (SHP).
a. The SHP allows people in Australia to propose their family members overseas who have fled their home country and who are in need of resettlement.

 
5. Other places will be for refugees referred to Australia for resettlement by UNHCR.

6. There are already a significant number of applications from Iraqis and Syrians who have applied for Australian visas, proposed by relatives in the SHP.
a. Priority in processing will be for those with the closest links to Australia (siblings, parents, children, spouses).
b. Although these applications will have priority, it may still take some time for these applications to be finalised.

7. All applicants must satisfy standard health, good character and national security requirements.
a. Processing of applications can take longer than applicants and their Australian proposers may wish, however visas cannot be granted until all requirements are met.

Government source

SYDNEY: THE Lakemba Hotel is one of the last Anglo holdouts in Sydney’s otherwise Middle-Eastern south-western suburb. Frankly, the old joint — it opened in 1928 — isn’t putting up much resistance. Most nights the bar is closed by 8.30pm or so, because by then what few customers it attracts are insufficient to cover running costs.

Still, it’s friendly and hospitable. Staffer Poppy helpfully showed me to my $50-a-night room, which is the only option in Lakemba for anyone seeking short-term rented accommodation.

There are no other hotels or motels. In fact, there are no other rooms besides number 15 in the hotel’s residential wing. All the others are taken by boarders, one of whom has been here for 20 years.
It isn’t exactly luxurious. The room has a sink, which is nice, but nothing else by way of amenities. There isn’t even a Gideon’s Bible. Instead, reflecting certain demographic changes in the area, there is a Ramadan eating schedule.

Lakemba may be only 30 minutes from the centre of Sydney, yet it is remarkably distinct from the rest of the city. You can walk the length of crowded Haldon St and not hear a single phrase in English. On this main shopping strip the ethnic mix seems similar to what you’d find in any Arabic city. Australia may be multicultural, but Haldon St is a monoculture.

This does have its advantages. If you’re ever in need of groceries at 3am, head to Lakemba, where shopkeepers keep unusual hours, particularly during Ramadan.

The food is delicious, of course. I recommend La Roche and Al Aseel, but all restaurants in Haldon St are good. If you’re unfamiliar with Lebanese food, just go for anything with the word “mixed”.

Well, that might explain a few things. “The History of the Jews” seems a bland enough title, but the back cover quotes lines from Martin Luther that were used by the Nazis: “The sun never did shine on a more bloodthirsty and revengeful people as they.”

The book offers this view, on page 16: “No one can deny the fact that the Jews are the worst kind of barbarian killers the world has ever known!!! The decent great Adolf Hitler of Germany never killed in the manner of the Jews!!! Surely only mad people or those who love killing infants, pregnant women and the infirm will think differently.”
It goes on and on. Another extract: “Humor and jokes are strictly forbidden by the Jewish religion.” This will come as a surprise to just about every Jew on earth.

Another must-read is Mansoor Abdul Hakim’s charming 2009 text, “Women Who Deserve to go to Hell.” Turns out there are quite a lot of them.

“Some people keep asking about the denizens of Hell and the reason why women will go to hell in large numbers,” writes Hakim in the book’s foreword before listing various types of hell-bound females, including the grumbler, the quarrelsome woman, women with tattoos and women who refuse to have sex during menstruation.
“Men’s perfection is because of various reasons: intelligence, religion, etc,” Hakim explains. “At most, four women have this perfection.”

Mix this level of ignorance and loathing with the Islamic community’s high rate of unemployment, and conflict is inevitable. The Islamic riots of 2012 ended up in central Sydney but began here in Lakemba and surrounding suburbs, where seething young Muslims formed their plans, including printing signs reading “Behead all those who insult the prophet”.

One of the men arrested in those riots was Ahmed Elomar, who was subsequently convicted for bashing a police officer with a flagpole.

His lawyer claimed that Elomar was “overcome with the occasion”. The occasion continues. Lately, Elomar’s brother Mohamed has posed with severed heads in Iraq, where he is fighting alongside fundamentalist Islamic State extremists.

Back at the pub, a staffer mentions rare moments of cultural overlap. “Sometimes the young blokes will come in here to buy Scotch,” she says. “They try to hide themselves under hoodies.”

But when the staffer sees them later in the street, they don’t return her greeting. The hotel is haram — sinful and forbidden. Those early closing hours will eventually become permanent.

Source: Daily Telegraph

 

A small but growing number of young Muslims are heading overseas and gaining combat experience that some fear may be used against Australia. Meanwhile, a navy cadet program in Western Sydney is training young Muslims who may one day fight for Australia.

 

A small but growing number of young Muslims are heading overseas and obtaining combat experience that could one day be used against Australia.

At the same time, a navy cadet program in Western Sydney is training young Muslims who may one day fight for Australia.
At Provisional Training Ship Australia in Sydney's west, teenage girls wear black headscarves under their camouflage caps, and boys have full, dark beards.

Until their cadet unit was established in March, neither of those things would have been allowed under Navy cadet rules.

The organisation’s openness to catering for young Muslims is one of the keys to the program's success, cadets say.

"To have the same opportunities without shaving my beard, keeping my religion, it's a big relief,” one teenage cadet said.

Another highlighted the importance of accommodating cadets during Ramadan.
“I knew that they would take care of needs like halaal food and prayers, and during the month of Ramadan, fasting," he said.

Training Ship Australia was set up in Lidcombe in March as a way to reach out to the area’s multicultural - particularly, Muslim - youth.

The entire Australian Defence Force has just 98 people who identify as being of Islamic faith.

Already Training Ship Australia has nearly half that amount.

Cadets don't always go on to serve in defence, but some are considering it.

One 18-year-old girl said she felt the unit was paving the way for other young Muslims.

"I think we've all proven to a lot of people that young Australian Muslims can be part of the Australian force,” she said.

Most of the cadets at the Training Ship attend Islamic schools and go home to Islamic communities.

Navy Islamic Affairs Advisor Captain Mona Shindy said a recent weekend away with Training Ship Hawkesbury was an eye-opener for all involved.

"They got to experience first-hand a whole bunch of people fasting and they were so wonderful and so flexible in terms of trying to understand and cater for that," Captain Shindy said.

"They got up early with us when we were eating before sunrise. Having dinner at exactly sunset so everyone could eat together."

“I had one girl I sat down with and she said 'I thought it would be different from this.' And I said, 'what do you mean?' and she said, 'they're just like us'."

Professor Greg Barton from Monash University's Global Terrorism Research Centre said programs like this could also help combat isolation and extremism among young Muslims.

“Anything we can do to offer structure, discipline, and purpose and belonging, and affirm people in a positive way will yield benefits,” he said.

Professor Barton said there should be more investment in medium- to long-term outreach programs like this.

"There's no silver bullet here but this is one of the essential elements of what we have to do,” he said.

 

Source: SBS

Amira Abayas in conjunction with Islamic Relief Australia will be co- hosting a Women-only Fashion Show and Fundraising Dinner on Saturday 27th September, 6pm at Michael’s Oriental. Tickets are $60 per person (including children, unless they are babies in arms).
 

All proceeds from the dinner will go to support home-based education and training programs in Afghanistan for women as well as local projects here in Brisbane to empower women and their families.
 

Come along and join us for a great night of beautiful fashion by Amira Abayas, delicious food and great company. Tickets are limited and will sell out so book yours TODAY! Tickets can be purchased from Amira Abayas- Shop 3/1307 Beenleigh Road, Kuraby or from Rima 0452 217 747, Susan 0433 182 520 or Nora on 0422 349 786.
 

Amira Abayas in conjunction with Islamic Relief Australia will be co- hosting a Women-only Fashion Show and Fundraising Dinner on Saturday 27th September 2014, 6pm at Michael’s Oriental. Tickets are $60 per person (including children, unless they are babies in arms).
 

All proceeds from the dinner will go to support home-based education and training programs in Afghanistan for women as well as local projects here in Brisbane to empower women and their families.
 

Come along and join us for a great night of beautiful fashion by Amira Abayas, delicious food and great company. Tickets are limited and will sell out so book yours TODAY! Tickets can be purchased from Amira Abayas- Shop 3/1307 Beenleigh Road, Kuraby or from Rima 0452 217 747, Susan 0433 182 520 or Nora on 0422 349 786.

click on the button to   click on the button to     Young Crescents' Cubs preparing loom bands for sale on CresWalk2014 Race Pack Pick-up Day (6 September) and on Race Day (7 September)  to raise funds for the orphans of Gaza

 

CresWalk2014 Run for Gaza! is proudly sponsored by

 

The collection drive at the Gold Coast Mosque on Friday raised $47,000 in cash and a substantial number of pledges, bringing the cash raised to $260,000

 

Bank details for donations: Suncorp Bank; BSB: 484 799; A/C No: 509 169 377; Al Furqan Charitable Islamic Trust

 

Gold Coast Mosque

Eid Reunion at proposed premises