TV News
coverage of yesterday's incident
at the Toowoomba Mosque
(click on
image to view)
TOOWOOMBA:
Police have
launched an
arson
investigation
after an
open gas
bottle was
discovered
at the scene
of a small
fire in a
mosque in
the regional
town of
Toowoomba.
Emergency
services
were called
to the West
Street
mosque about
1.30pm after
attendees
noticed a
strong smell
of gas.
Firefighters
found an
open gas
bottle
inside a
meeting room
adjacent to
the main
mosque
building.
Police said
a small fire
in a plastic
bin had
already been
extinguished
and, as the
gas failed
to ignite,
damage was
minimal.
"We're
treating it
as
suspicious,"
a Queensland
Police
Services
spokesman
said.
Toowoomba's
mosque
opened early
last year to
cater to the
regional
town's small
but growing
Muslim
community.
Islamic
Society of
Toowoomba
founding
president
Professor
Shahjahan
Khan says it
looks as
though
someone's
tried to
burn the
mosque's
office door
and leak gas
into the
main meeting
hall.
"It's just
out of
expectations
that this
kind of
attempt to
burn places
of worship
can happen,"
Professor
Khan said.
"I hope that
it's going
to unite the
community
more than
anything
else.
"If it's a
place of
worship,
it's a place
of worship -
people
should
respect it
regardless
of their
personal
beliefs."
The Islamic
Society of
Toowoomba
purchased
the former
Westside
Christian
Church
property
last year
after
extensive
fundraising
by the
Muslim
community.
Previously
local
Muslims met
in the
nearby
University
of Southern
Queensland.
New ICQ
president, Mr Ismail Cajee (4th from left) and
vice president, Prof Shahjahan
Khan (2nd from left)
Mr Ismail
Cajee, past
chairman of
the Islamic
Society of
Holland Park
Mosque, was
elected
unopposed as
the new
president of
the Islamic
Council of
Queensland
(ICQ) at its
AGM on
Sunday (18
January).
Mr. Cajee
told CCN
that his
first
priority was
to increase
the
membership
of ICQ by
inviting
other
non-Mosque
based Muslim
organizations
to join ICQ.
"This will
allow ICQ to
properly
represent
the
diversity
within the
Muslims in
Queensland
and
efficiently
provide
services
with the
help of
community
partners,"
he said.
Under his
leadership,
Holland Park
mosque took
on many
community
outreach
projects in
partnership
with faith
and
non-faith
based groups
in Brisbane
and
surrounding
areas.
"Insha'Allah,
my position
in ICQ will
allow me to
reach out to
the wider
community
across
Queensland
to overcome
the rising
tide of
negativity
attached
with Islam
and
Muslims."
Ismail Cajee
says he sees
"great
future in
our youth
and wants to
introduce
programs to
provide the
next
generation
of Muslims
with an
opportunity
to be more
productive
citizens of
our
country". In
partnership
with the
state and
federal
government,
Cajee plans
to target
youth
unemployment,
radicalization
and other
youth
related
issues.
Prof.
Shahjahan
Khan was
elected as
the
Council's
vice
president.
The Islamic
Society of
Algester
annual
Meelad-un-Nabi
(SAW)
program was
held at the
Islamic
College of
Brisbane
school hall
on Sunday
(18 January)
at which
over 600
men, women
and children
were in
attendance.
The
highlight of
the program
was the
rendition of
the Arabic
Mawid
Qasaaid by
the
Singapore
Haqqani
nasheed
ensemble.
Imam Afroz
Ali from
Sydney and
and Imam
Aslam of the
Algester
Mosque spoke
on the life
and
teachings of
the Prophet
(pbuh).
The program
ended with
salaami by
the Haqqani
nasheed
group and
dua by Imam
Ahmed
Ghazaali.
After
maghrib
niyaaz was
served.
Thirteen women
and ten men from Mackay Lutheran
Church visited the Mackay Mosque
at the invitation of the Islamic
Society. They experienced a
question and answer session,
prayers and a shared meal.
It is an
unsettling
and tense
time in the
world, and
in the media
there are
many stories
of fear and
distrust of
Muslims. But
the Mackay
Lutheran
congregation
created
their own
good news
story in
September,
trying to
learn more
about Islam
and
accepting a
surprise
invitation
to the local
Mosque.
It began
when a
parishioner
expressed
interest in
a study
comparing
Islam and
Christianity.
Pastor Tom
Jantke
thought
that,
instead of
relying on
second-hand
information-particularly
in the
current
climate -
why not see
whether
someone from
the local
mosque would
come and
talk to the
congregation?
The Muslims
of the
Islamic
Society
surprised
everybody by
inviting the
congregation
to their
mosque for
prayers, a
question-and-
answer
session and
shared meal.
They also
arranged or
a senior
imam from
Brisbane to
come up and
speak.
Local imam
Eshfaq Akbar
explained;
'The Islamic
Society of
Mackay
organises a
few events a
year, such
as open
days,
Ramadan
dinners and
he like, but
we haven't
had such a
large
audience
with those
programs.
So, we were
surprised
and
impressed by
Pastor Tom's
request to
learn about
our faith,
as we are
always ready
to engage
with other
faiths but
not sure how
to initiate
the
interaction.
We were
delighted
and honoured
to make a
night of
it.'
In two
Sundays, the
event was
organised.
Initially,
twelve to
fifteen
people were
expected to
attend, but
by the time
the day
arrived
thirteen
women and
ten men were
ready for
the visit.
Before they
visited the
mosque, the
congregation
was given
information
about the
etiquette
involved.
Guidelines
included
wearing
modest
clothing,
observing in
silence,
removing
shoes, and
women
wearing a
head
covering.
During the
visit, women
entered the
mosque
through
their own
room and sat
separately
from the men
at the back.
The men sat
in the front
row, with
some younger
men sitting
on the
floor. Imam
Eshfaq spoke
about Islam,
and special
guest,
Brisbane-based
Imam Peer,
spoke later,
taking
questions
about Islam
and current
tensions in
the Middle
East and
Australia.
Afterwards
congregation
members ate
what Pastor
Tom
described as
a
magnificent
meal of
curries and
salads.
'Everyone
was so
friendly and
it was a
wonderful
night',
remembers
Pastor Tom.
He described
how members
recognised
several of
the Muslim
people from
work and
life in
Mackay.
'There were
farmers and
a lot of
young
professionals,
including
doctors from
the hospital
and a head
of
department
from the
Mackay
Regional
Council.
There were
Muslims who
had been in
Mackay for
years and
years and
were firmly
part of the
community.'
Pastor Tom
said that
the Lutheran
women had a
different
experience
to the men
but enjoyed
their visit
very much.
They did not
feel like
second-class
citizens
because of
that
difference,
and some
felt they
were better
able to
appreciate
the gospel
afterwards.
Imam Eshfaq
echoed these
feelings:
'It was a
chance for
both parties
to
understand
the strong
connection
between
Christianity
and Islam.
That night
the Muslim
community
also learnt
a Jot about
their own
faith. For
example,
Imam Peer
mentioned
that the
religion
that has the
strongest
connection
to ours over
all other
religions is
Christianity!'
Pastor Tom
said it was
vital to
have
inter-faith
conversations
at this
time. 'It is
important to
reach out to
fellow
Australians.
We need to
respect each
other and
work
together to
make a
better
Australia.'
In turn, the
members of
the mosque
were so
pleased to
have someone
ask to talk
with them.
Imam Eshfaq
stated,
'Another
reason that
we were so
happy for
Pastor Tom
to contact
us was that
with all
that is
going on in
the Middle
East, and
especially
because of
the way it's
being
portrayed in
the media,
we can't
help feeling
very
misunderstood
and
misrepresented.
For Pastor
Tom to
actually
come to us
to learn
about our
faith and
views etched
a deep love
and respect
in our
hearts.'
An update
from Pastor
Tom: 'The
Mackay
congregation
followed up
the visit
with three
studies. The
first was a
debriefing
and talk
about Islam.
The second
looked at
comparing
the God of
Islam and
our
Christian
God and a
comparison
between the
Koran and
the Bible.
And the
third was
looking at a
way to be
saved in
Islam and by
grace
through
faith in
Jesus
Christ.
'We are now
talking
about how we
can invite
the Muslims
to come to
us, so we
can tell
them what we
believe and,
if possible,
share a meal
with them
and
basically
continue the
fellowship
we have
started.'
Rebecca
Hunter
Eastgate is
part-time
reporter for
LCA
Queensland
District.
This story
was first
published in
the
Queensland
Lutheran.
Freedom of
speech: Sydney Muslims gather at
a rally to show their support
for the Prophet Muhammad.
SYDNEY:
Hundreds of
people
gathered at
a rally in
Sydney's
west
yesterday
(Saturday)
in protest
over
negative
coverage of
Islam and
treatment of
the prophet
Mohammad.
While police
said more
than a dozen
people were
moved on
from the
rally for
breaching
the peace,
the event
was
peaceful.
Among the
800-strong
crowd in the
Muslim
enclave of
Lakemba,
placards
were held up
with the
slogan: "Je
Suis Muslim"
or "I am
Muslim",
evoking the
same
sentiment
that became
a touchstone
for many in
the wake of
attacks in
Paris.
Organisers
of the Our
Prophet, Our
Honour rally
said it was
intended to
be "a
peaceful and
respectful
event" to
counter
negative
coverage of
Islam and
the
lampooning
of the
Prophet by
French
satirical
magazine
Charlie
Hebdo.
Speaking at
the rally,
outside the
Lakemba
train
station,
local Muslim
leader
Sufyan Badar
told the
crowd it was
also in
response to
the waves of
protests in
the wake of
the Charlie
Hebdo
attack.
Mr Badar
said the
protests in
the name of
free speech
had nothing
to do with
freedom.
"We also
gather to
place the
politics of
the events
in France in
the correct
context," he
said.
"Freedom is
the
smokescreen
with which
Western
politicians
and media
conceal the
underlying
issues.
"In reality
free speech
is one of
the many
political
tools that
are used to
maintain
dominance
over the
Muslims."
Earlier,
Prime
Minister
Tony Abbott
warned
against the
rally being
used to
incite
terrorism,
saying he
hoped few
people would
attend.
Mr Abbott
said called
on more
Muslim
leaders to
distance
themselves
from "evil
things that
are done in
the name of
Islam".
Hamzah
Qureshi, a
spokesman
for the
controversial
group Hizb
ut-Tahrir,
which helped
organise the
event,
questioned
the prime
minister's
comments and
the
suggestion
the event
could incite
violence.
Prayers ...
Sydney Muslims gather at a rally
to show their support for the
Prophet Muhammad in the suburb
of Lakemba
"No one
should be
asked to
apologise
for or
distance
themselves
from
something
they are not
responsible
for," Mr
Qureshi
said.
"I would,
however,
mention that
it's
interesting
that the
question of
whether a
Muslim event
will be
peaceful or
violent
consistently
seems to
come up."
Police later
said in a
statement
that the
event had
been
concluded
peacefully,
although 14
people were
removed for
breaching
the peace.
No charges
were laid.
Muslim
Funeral
Services Ltd
provides
funeral
director
services to
the Muslim
community
across South
East
Queensland.
We have
positions
available
for male
assistant/s
to work on a
part-time,
on-call
basis, with
our team to
facilitate
with the
funeral
arrangements.
Duties will
include
driving for
all
transfers,
assist with
the
preparation
of the
grave,
assist with
the Ghusl
and liaise
with the
family of
the
deceased.
No specific
experience
is necessary
but the
ability to
work with a
team, be
available
on-call, be
empathetic
and have a
driver’s
licence are
essential.
For further
details,
including
remuneration
please
contact Dr.
Mohammed
Iqbal Sultan
on 0412 845
786 or via
email
admin@mfs.asn.au.
A SUNSHINE
Coast
supermarket
has become
caught up in
an anti-halal
protest
after
offensive
stickers
were placed
over product
tags.
Woolworths
Beerwah
(Glass House
Mountains)
became
involved in
the
controversy
after a
resident
posted
photos on
Facebook
'gloating'
that they
had stuck
anti-halal
stickers
over the
price tags
of more than
100 halal
certified
products.
The offender
was not an
employee of
Woolworths.
The offender
posted
photos of
the incident
on the
Boycot Halal
in Australia
Facebook
page
stating:
"Doing our
bit to help
boycott
halal
certification.
Just spent
about an
hour placing
these notes
at our local
Woolworths.
Marked about
100
products.
Funny how
most of them
were on
special,"
the post,
which has
since been
deleted
read.
The stickers
read "This
product is
Halal
certified
(possibly
funding
terrorism.)"
Members of
opposition
Facebook
group,
Boycott
Halal in
Australia?
No Way
reported the
product
vandalism to
Woolworths.
The page
also shared
the original
post by the
offender.
"The manager
has the name
of the
person who
placed them,
a big thank
you to those
who took
swift
action," the
post read.
A Woolworths
spokesman
told the
Daily the
supermarket
aimed to
offer
customers
the range of
products
that they
want at the
cheapest
possible
prices.
"No
Woolworths
own brand
product, be
it Homebrand,
Select, Gold
or Macro is
Halal
certified
and we pay
no Halal
certification
fees as a
result," the
spokesman
said.
UPDATE:
AN ANTI-halal
protester
placed more
than 100
offensive
stickers on
halal
products for
sale at
Woolworths
Beerwah.
Woolworths
found itself
in the
middle of
controversy
on Saturday
when the man
posted
photos on
Facebook
gloating
about what
he had done.
The man, who
claimed to
be a
supporter of
the group
Boycott
Halal in
Australia,
used
homemade
stickers on
halal
certified
products
which read:
"This
product is
halal
certified
(possibly
funding
terrorism)."
While it was
unclear why
the man
targeted
Woolworths,
it was
confirmed he
did not work
for the
company.
The culprit
said he was
"doing their
bit to help
boycott
halal
certification".
"Just spent
about an
hour placing
these notes
at our local
Woolworths.
Marked about
100
products.
Funny how
most of them
were on
special," he
said in the
post.
Opposition
group
Boycott
Halal in
Australia?
No Way soon
spotted the
post and
reported the
vandalism to
Woolworths
and the
stickers
were
removed.
A spokesman
for
Woolworths
refused to
comment but
said the
supermarket's
own products
were not
halal
certified.
"No
Woolworths
own brand
product, be
it Homebrand,
Select, Gold
or Macro, is
halal
certified
and we pay
no halal
certification
fees as a
result," the
spokesman
said.
A police
spokesman
said no
complaint
was made on
behalf of
Woolworths.
It is not
the first
time that
halal
controversy
has flared.
Last year an
online post
by Maleny
Dairies
sparked a
storm of
comments -
both against
halal
certification
and in
favour -
after it
declared the
certification
catering for
Muslim
consumers
was "not for
us".
At the time
Maleny
Dairies
owner Ross
Hopper said
he refused
to take the
post down as
it would be
"bowing to
the
minority".
The debate
was also
fuelled when
anti-Islamic
group
RestoreAustralia,
whose CEO
lives on the
Sunshine
Coast, sent
out a public
message
which
encouraged
supporters
to buy halal
certified
product,
take it
home, then
return it
for a
refund.
The Office
of Fair
Trading
ruled that
those asking
for refunds
would not be
entitled to
one.
Boundaries:
Ibrahim Abu Mohammed, the Grand
Mufti of Australia, said the
Muslim community believed in
freedom of expression.
Australian
Muslims have
been urged
by the
nation's
highest
Islamic
office
holder to
maintain
civil
behaviour in
the wake of
the
controversial
Charlie
Hebdo
magazine
cover, but
he also
criticised
the magazine
for its
double
standards in
publishing a
provocative
cartoon that
was
religiously
offensive.
Ibrahim Abu
Mohammed,
the Grand
Mufti of
Australia,
said the
Muslim
community
"deplored
the sad and
tragic
events in
Paris" after
17 people
were killed
by Islamic
State
terrorists
two weeks
ago and
Muslims
stood
together
against
terrorism.
But he told
Fairfax
Media the
magazine
overstepped
the boundary
in
publishing a
cartoon of
Muhammad
following
the attack,
and he said
it had in
the past
been forced
to apologise
for mocking
national
leaders and
being
anti-Semitic.
He said that
targeting
more than a
billion
Muslims
around the
world by
abusing what
they hold
sacred "is
unethical
behaviour"
and "angers
masses at
home and
abroad".
"And when we
see a
million
copies being
published
you have to
ask are they
not going to
provoke more
negative
sentiments?
Are they not
going to
push more
moderate
Muslims to
begin to
think is
this a
freedom of
speech? Or
is it a
provocation
intended to
cause more
turmoil?"
asked Dr Abu
Mohammed.
He said the
Muslim
community
believed in
freedom of
expression
without
violating
general
ethics and
without
disrespecting
the beliefs
of others.
"Anyone who
claims that
the Muslim
community in
Australia
accepts such
a practice
does not
truly
understand
the nature
of the
community."
The latest
cover of the
satirical
magazine
features a
drawing of
the prophet
Muhammad
crying and
the headline
"All is
Forgiven".
It has
sparked
criticisms
in the
Muslim
community
about the
magazine's
using free
speech to be
offensive.
Pope Francis
and other
religious
leaders
around the
world have
said last
week there
are limits
to freedom
of
expression.
The Grand
Mufti In
Egypt,
Shawki Allam,
had warned
the magazine
that
publishing
the cartoon
was likely
to incite
hatred and
upset
Muslims
around the
world.
A total of
17 people
were killed
in three
days days of
violence
this month,
starting
with gunmen
opened fire
on the
magazine
staff in
revenge for
its past
publication
of images of
the prophet,
and
including a
siege at a
Jewish
supermarket.
It sparked a
worldwide
campaign for
freedom of
speech
marked by
the slogan
"Je suis
Charlie".
But Dr Abu
Mohammed
said the
Muslim
community
but did not
have to say
"Nous sommes
Charlie" to
demonstrate
they are
against
terrorism,
or the
absence of
justice.
"We do not
have to say
'nous sommes
Charlie' to
declare we
are against
double
standards.
Freedom of
speech
should not
come at the
expense of
our ethical
national
values. It
should not
undermine
our
multiculturalism.
It should
not
compromise
our gains as
a civil
society."
Dr Abu
Mohammed
said in the
past the
magazine had
been forced
to apologise
for
criticising
former
French
leader
Charles De
Gaulle and
was closed
down. He
said it had
also
apologised
and axed a
cartoonist
over an
image
mocking the
son of the
former
French
president
Nicolas
Sarkozy,
which was
widely
considered
anti-Semitic.
"These
events in
the life of
the magazine
show that
freedom of
speech has
boundaries
and that
these
boundaries
must not be
violated,"
he said.
"There are
boundaries
for national
leaders and
there are
boundaries
for Jewish
people, whom
we respect.
Why is it
then when it
comes to
Islam there
are no
boundaries?"
He said that
society had
also
displayed
its own
double
standards by
immediately
making the
religion of
the
perpetrators
an issue,
but not
immediately
making clear
the religion
of two of
the victims,
Ahmed and
Mustapha,
and the
religion of
the hero of
the
supermarket
siege – a
Muslim man
who saved
his Jewish
customers.
Dr Abu
Mohammed
said
although he
had been
asked to
comment
about the
Paris
attacks "we
don't want
to comment
on the sad
events in
Paris
because we
don't have
the need to
comment or
to apologise
on every
insane act
that a
criminal of
Muslim
background
commits
around the
world".
"Precisely
as the
Church does
not have the
obligation
to apologise
for any
Christian
criminal,
precisely as
the Jews and
the
spiritual
leaders of
the Jews do
not have the
obligation
to
apologise.
These people
are to be
held
responsible
individually
for their
crimes."
He said that
with the
international
situation
and the
world
turmoils and
the war in
the Middle
East with
thousands of
people being
assassinated,
the level of
sensitivity
across all
nations and
all peoples
was very
high.
"We should
protect our
civil
society. We
should
protect
ourselves
from the
epidemic of
hate and
hate speech
and hate
provocation,
which is
coming
across the
continents
whether it
is from the
east or the
west," he
said.
I
wrote this letter to Ms Janel Albrechsten in
response to her
piece in the Australian in which she suggested
that in talking about Islam "you can expect to be
treated in polite circles as offensive and insulting
" and calls for a "much bigger ideological debate'.
Dear Janet,
My name is Ali Kadri, president of a 108 years old
Mosque in Brisbane’s suburb of Holland Park and one
of the spokesperson of the Muslim community in
Queensland.
In your recent column, you suggested that to solve
the problem of extremism in the name of Islam, we
have to offend Muslims by debating it “openly”,
“robustly” and “rationally” in the West. There are
two major issues with such a drastic conclusion;
first to assume that no such debate exists is
completely false as regular columns by people like
you, Andrew Bolt and discussions on talk back radio
are a clear example of this debate. The fact that
many Western governments have started engagement
programs with Muslim scholars within their own
countries and outside is also a clear example of one
of the outcomes of such a debate.
Secondly, what follows from a debate is a scholarly
research to establish clear links between the cause
and the problem. To suggest that extremism is not
studied or Islam is somehow not researched during
these studies is a very naďve assumption. A recent
government funded, Australia wide study on Muslim
attitudes towards terrorism conducted by Dr. Adrian
Cherney and Associate professor Kristina Murphy
among many other such studies across the world is a
clear example of link between Muslims (Hence Islam)
and terrorism.
To link instances of miscarriage of Justice in some
Muslim majority countries to the activity of
terrorists is a weak attempt to paint Islam as a
culprit. The clerics who Raif Badawi criticized in
his blogs are the descendants of the same clerics,
who through their religious verdicts provided the
British Empire with a very strong ally to defeat the
Ottoman Empire and till today continue to provide
the West with a very reliable and compliant energy
source. As far as Pakistan is concerned the
blasphemy law is a hot topic of debate on various
national TV shows and amongst various political
parties. However, both these instances have no links
to the actions conducted by ISIS or Boko Haram. The
goals of ISIS and like-minded groups are political
and terrorism is a tactic they use to reach the
goal.
While the so-called “lone wolves” decide to attack a
Jewish grocery store in Paris, the group that
inspires them has shown very little interest in
attacking Israel or gaining ground in region
surrounding Golan Heights. In return, Israel has not
even once attacked ISIS, in fact in the most recent
attack Israel targeted forces opposing ISIS
including the Assad forces. This disparity makes it
very clear that the driving force behind the
motivations of the “lone wolf” and ISIS are
different and it is not Islam. A recent BBC article
quotes Erin Miller of Global Terrorism Database (GTD)
suggesting that an overwhelming majority of the
victims of terrorism are Muslims.
Besides, the majority of the opposing forces to
groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, Al Shabab are Muslims
too. The police officer who died defending Charlie
Hebdo was a Muslim and so was the worker at the
grocery store who risked his life to protect the
lives of his non-Muslim customers. So if you were to
blame Islam for the attack on Charlie Hebdo , why
don’t you give credit to Islam for Muslims risking
their lives in trying to protect the victims of that
attack? Terrorism in its current form is relatively
recent phenomena and Islam is a 1400 years old
religion. If Islam ordered Muslims to kill every
non-believer in its path, I don’t think millions of
Coptic and maronite Christians would have prospered
in Middle East or India would have almost a billion
Hindus.
To truly discuss and defeat terrorism, people on
right including yourself will have to see the world
outside a little box of hate and fear. The
preconceived notion of western cultural superiority,
which drives most of the conservatives, makes you
dishonest and a hindrance in the fight against
extremism. Terrorism is a political phenomena and
its solution will come through politics and
international relations. I suggest instead of
putting the onus on Muslims in Ausralia, why don’t
you look closely into the historical and current
political discourse in the post war Islamic world.
Thank you very much for reading my response.
Kind Regards,
Ali Kadri
Dear Editor
Thank you for profiling three strong women in last
week's edition…Dr Gul-E-Rana in Rockhampton, Shifa
Mustapha in Gympie and the women in the Hervey Bay
Muslim Society. I would like to follow up with them
about their issues…..thank you, Claire
Senator Claire Moore
Labor Senator for Queensland
Dear CCN Readers
Asalaamualikum Wrb
Unfortunately due to council restrictions, Brisbane
City Council has rejected our application to host
our fundraising event at Svoboda Park, Kuraby,
We apologize for any inconvenience caused and please
pass on this message to others.
I
am a reader of Crescents of Brisbane, i am just
wondering with all the news that is gathered I did
not see anything about what happened in Peshawar
Pakistan.
This was a sad loss to muslins all over the world
about 150 students and teachers were murdered in
cold blood. Our hearts go to the parents of these
children, and the teachers who lost their lives.
There seems to be news about many other stories but
perhaps i missed this. Correct me if I am wrong. The
16 December was a tragic for anyone who has
children, as these children were merrily attending
school, not knowing this would be their last day of
life. The 15th January marks 40 days since this
barbaric act happened.
Please think of these children, teachers, and the
families left behind. Plus those who remain injured
due to mental health, and associated with this
traumatic event. Perhaps an article to show that
they are not forgotten
Thank you.
wassalam.
(Name Withheld)
[CCN Editor] Thank you for your email and for
your observations. No one hearing of this tragic
event would not have been deeply saddened and
shocked by it. Most of our readers would have read
and seen the details of this atrocity through our
mainstream media. As a community newsletter our aim
is largely to report on commentary, opinions and
alternative narratives rather than actual events
themselves. We would not have hesitated in
publishing any initiative in our community for the
victims of Peshawar or press release or statement
had they been forthcoming. Having said that, we have
made mention of the incident though two local events
here and
here. I hope this explains our position and
thank you for bringing this to our attention and
those of our readers.
King Salman makes top
appointments and vows to walk the kingdom's
straight path as King Abdullah is buried.
King Abdullah,
who died early on Friday after a
short illness, was buried in an
unmarked grave
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia's
King Salman has pledged continuity and moved
to cement his hold on power, shortly after
becoming the new king following the death of
his half-brother King Abdullah.
King Abdullah died early on Friday aged
about 90. He was later buried in an unmarked
grave in keeping with local religious
traditions.
In his first public statement since taking
over as the new monarch, King Salman, 79,
vowed to "remain, with God's strength,
attached to the straight path that this
state has walked since its establishment".
He called for "unity and solidarity" among
Muslims and vowed to work in "the defence of
the causes of our nation".
Moving to clear any uncertainty over the
transition to the next generation, he named
his nephew, Interior Minister Prince
Mohammed bin Nayef, 55, as second in line to
the throne behind Crown Prince Moqren, 69.
That helps to solidify control by his
Sudayri branch of the royal family.
King Salman also appointed one of his own
sons, Prince Mohammed, as defence minister
of the world's top oil exporter and the
spiritual home of Islam.
Simple funeral
World leaders praised Abdullah as a key
mediator between Muslims and the West, but
campaigners criticised his human rights
record and urged Salman to do more to
protect freedom of speech and women's
rights.
Gulf rulers and leaders
including Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif joined King Salman for a simple
funeral at Riyadh's Imam Turki bin Abdullah
mosque on Friday.
Abdullah's body, wrapped in a cream-coloured
shroud, was borne on a simple litter by
members of the royal family wearing
traditional red-and-white checked headgear.
The body was quickly moved to nearby Al-Od
public cemetery and buried in an unmarked
grave, in keeping with tradition.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak
arrived later to deliver condolences.
In the evening hundreds of Saudis queued to
enter a royal palace where they rubbed
cheeks and kissed the hands of their new
leaders, in a symbolic pledge of allegiance.
Officials did not disclose the cause of
Abdullah's death, but the long-ailing ruler
had been hospitalised in December with
pneumonia.
Oil prices jumped in an immediate reaction
as news of Abdullah's death added to
uncertainty in energy markets.
Speedy appointments
The speed with which King Salman announced
the appointments startled Saudis, who have
been used to a delay of up to several months
before top appointments are made following
the deaths of their monarchs.
The choice of Mohammed bin Nayef was seen by
some as a reflection of his strong record in
counter-terrorism in his role as interior
minister.
"Times are dangerous," said Joseph
Kechichian, a scholar of Gulf Arab ruling
families. "Mohammed bin Nayef's appointment
shows Salman feels it's important to speak
quickly with a single determined voice in
the face of all these threats."
US President Barack Obama, moving to cement
Washington's long alliance with Saudi
Arabia, was expected to speak to King Salman
in the coming days.
Reputedly pragmatic and adept at managing
the delicate balance of clerical, tribal,
royal and Western interests that factor into
Saudi policy making, King Salman appears
unlikely to change the kingdom's approach to
foreign affairs or energy sales.
Thembelani
Mbhele ka Ncanywa and Yousuf
Deedat with a copy of the first
edition of the Zulu Qur an which
was published more than two
decades ago.
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA: While
there has been much interest in the Zulu and
sign language Bible translations currently
being undertaken, very few seem to know much
about the Zulu Qur’an, despite its first
being published in 1993.
The first abridged version was published by
the late famous Muslim cleric Ahmed Hoosen
Deedat, who was funded by the controversial
Bin Laden family.
According to Deedat’s son, Yousuf Deedat,
their Zulu Qur’an was inspired by the Bin
Ladens, who also donated a substantial
amount to the project, after a meeting in
Saudi Arabia in 1986.
“Umar Moleleki (a Zulu- speaking Muslim)
started working on the translation and he
was later joined by Thembelani Mbhele ka
Ncanywa, who is also fluent in Zulu and
Arabic – the original language of the
Qur’an,” said Deedat.
They printed 100 000 copies which were
distributed freely to Zulu-speakers as
mandated by their sponsors.
Islam is not
just for
those who
speak Arabic
and English,
that is why
it’s been
translated
into so many
languages.
It’s only
right that
South
African
Muslims also
have the
Qur’an in
their mother
tongue
Mbhele
ka Ncanywa
“In the Qur’an Allah says: ‘I
have placed warners amongst all nations that
they may convey the message to the people in
their own languages,’ so we clearly had a
responsibility to do the translation,” said
Mbhele ka Ncanywa.
They were planning to do a comprehensive
version in the 2000s, but lack of funding
delayed the project which Mbhele ka Ncanywa
plans to resume soon, only without Moleleki,
who died two years ago.
“Islam is not just for those
who speak Arabic and English, that is why
it’s been translated into so many languages.
It’s only right that South African Muslims
also have the Qur’an in their mother
tongue,” said Mbhele ka Ncanywa.
The second comprehensive Zulu-only Qur’an
was published by the Islamic Interfaith
Research Institute (IIRI) in 2006. It was
translated by Newcastle’s Moulana Cassim
Mohammed Sema and his friend, known only as
Mr Mabaso, in the 1980s.
Sema’s nephew and head of the IIRI, Rafeek
Hassen, said his ailing uncle told him about
the translation and asked him to get it
published.
“It needed a lot of work because Mr Mabaso
was not a Muslim and did not understand the
Islamic context of the Qur’an, plus they had
translated it from English,” said Mbongiseni
Khumalo who edited the text by
cross-referencing it to the Arabic Qur’an.
In 2009 they released a second edition with
Zulu and Arabic alongside each other, like
the 1993 version.
While Mbhele ka Ncanywa has criticised the
IIRI versions, saying they use words that
are allegedly offensive to Zulu women,
Hassen and Deedat say sincerity is a
priority.
“Our intention was never to insult anyone
but use the words that we believed were
appropriate and as close to the source text
as we could get,” said Khumalo.
Chinese city bans Islamic
beards, headwear and clothing on buses
Uighur Muslim
men outside a mosque in the
Xinjiang region of China.
Uighur people in
Karamay appear to be the target of
restrictions as unrest simmers in mainly
Muslim Xinjiang region
CHINA: A city in China’s
mainly Muslim Xinjiang region has banned
people with large beards or Islamic
clothing from travelling on public
buses, state media said, prompting
outrage from an overseas rights group.
Authorities in Karamay banned people
wearing hijabs, niqabs, burqas or
clothing with the Islamic star and
crescent symbol from taking local buses,
the Karamay Daily reported.
The ban also covered “large beards”, the
paper said, adding: “Those who do not
co-operate with inspection teams will be
handled by police.”
Xinjiang, a resource-rich region that
abuts central Asia, is the homeland of
China’s mostly Muslim Uighur minority
and has been hit by a wave of clashes
between locals and security forces that
have killed hundreds in the past year.
China has blamed several deadly attacks
on civilians outside the region in
recent months on “terrorists” seeking
independence for the region.
Rights groups say restrictions on
Uighurs’ religious and cultural freedoms
have stoked tensions.
In July China banned students and
government staff from Ramadan fasting,
while officials have also tried to
encourage locals in Xinjiang not to wear
Islamic veils.
The Karamay restrictions are “a typical
discriminatory measure … which add to an
increasing confrontation between Uighurs
and Beijing”, Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman
for the exiled World Uyghur Congress (WUC),
told Agence France-Presse.
Chinese state media said on Sunday that
nearly 100 people including 59
“terrorists” had been killed in an
attack in Xinjiang the previous week.
The report came days after the
government-appointed head of the largest
mosque in China, in one of the region’s
oldest cities, Kashgar, was killed after
leading morning prayers.
China announced a year-long terrorism
crackdown following a deadly bombing
attack in Xinjiang’s capital, Urumqi, in
May, and hundreds of people have been
arrested on accusations of terrorism.
Security on public transport has also
been tightened.
The Karamay ban would apply for the
duration of a sports competition ending
on 20 August, the report said.
Authorities in Urumqi in July banned bus
passengers from carrying a range of
items including cigarette lighters and
yogurt, state media said.
A Muslim's Response to the
25,000 Anti-Islam Protesters in Germany
Dear 25,000 Anti-Islam Dresden Protesters
and Pegida,
I hear you marched in your thousands against
my religion. Last week, and last month. You
marched against immigrants, foreigners, and
anyone a shade darker. I will not draw
comparisons to Nazi Germany. I will not call
you bigots, I will not insult you, and I
will not label you. But we do have a
problem.
You marched with banners claiming your city
is overcrowded with Muslims. Yet 0.1% of
Dresden are Muslim. You marched claiming
immigrants are cramming your schools and
leaving your children to travel miles for an
education. Yet 2.5% of Dresden are
foreign-born.
You claim that Germany is being invaded by
Muslims. Yet only 5% of Germans are Muslim.
You march "against the Islamization of the
West". Yet within a century containing two
World Wars, the decolonisation process,
countless civil conflicts, foreign
intervention, globalisation, and further
displacement, Muslims remain a fringe
minority in Europe. Less than 6%. A pretty
lousy colonisation process, no?
"What are
Muslims to you, anyway? Arabs? Less
than 20% of us are Arab. Indian or
Pakistani? Again, less than 20%.
Turkish? Less than 5%. Nothing else?
That is more than half of us you
cannot identify.
Q: Dear Kareema, I find
that every time I get on the scale and the
numbers hasn’t shifted I give up and then slowly
try to get back into exercise after a while.
What can I do to keep going?
A: Ignore the numbers. Don’t rely on
numbers on the scale shifting all the time.
Instead, focus on eating whole, unprocessed
foods and continue to push yourself every time
you work out.
Consistency is key, so set small positive goals
for yourself that will be easy to stick to.
Focus on what you can achieve, rather than what
you haven’t.
Commit to at least 3 solid workout sessions a
week and go just a little easier on the other
sessions.
Remember lots of colourful foods (fruit and veg)
and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
All the best and N-JOY!
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: Figs are
naturally rich in much health benefiting phyto-nutrients,
anti-oxidants and vitamins. Figs (in Brisbane)
are plentiful and very cheap at this time of the
year
Beetroot and Fig Salad
Ingredients
2 medium beetroots
2 figs quartered
1 tab walnuts or toasted pine nuts
Feta cheese
A handful of pomegranate seeds
Lettuce or baby spinach leaves
Method
Preheat
oven to 200degrees
Peel and
quarter beetroot.
Place on
a tray and sprinkle on salt and pepper and
drizzle with olive oil.
Roast
till tender.
Place
lettuce or baby spinach on a platter.
Top with
beetroot and the remaining ingredients.
Drizzle
over balsamic glaze or dressing
Serve as a meal with wrap bread or as an
accompaniment for a meal or at a BBQ
Whoever
recommends and helps a good
cause becomes a partner
therein: and whoever
recommends and helps an evil
cause, shares in its burden:
and Allah has power over all
things.
"The thinking man must
oppose all cruel customs, no
matter how deeply rooted in
tradition and surrounded by
halo. When we have a choice,
we must avoid bringing
torment and injury to the
life of another, even the
lowliest creature; but to do
so is to renounce our
manhood and shoulder guilt
which nothing justifies."
Lailatul Qadr - Night of Power 1436 (27th Ramadaan
1436)
18 July
Saturday
Eidul Fitr 1436 (1st Shawwal 1436)
25
July
Saturday
Eidfest
Eidfest QLD
Rocklea Showgrounds
0418 722 353
All day
24 September
Thursday
Eidul Adha 1436 (10th Zilhijja 1436)
26
September
Saturday
Eidfest
Eidfest @ Dreamworld
Dreamworld
0418 722 353
Evening
15 October
Thursday
Muharram 1437 – Islamic New Year 1437 (1st Muharram
1437)
PLEASE NOTE
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.
2pm
Sunday 18 January
Location to be advised when contacted
Topic for January : Riba: what is it, what is the
punishment, how to avoid it in a western society
Please contact Ayesha on 0409 875 137 or
ayesha_lea@yahoo.com.au
IPDC
Lutwyche Mosque
Weekly classes with Imam Yahya
Monday: Junior Class
Tuesday: Junior Arabic
Friday: Adult Quran Class
For more information call 0470 671 109
Holland Park Mosque
All programs are conducted by Imam
Uzair Akbar
DAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
PROGRAM
Tafseer Program
Basics of Islam
Tafseer Program
AUDIENCE
Men
Ladies
TIME
after Maghrib Salat
Taleem Programe at Kuraby Mosque
Every Thursdays 10.30-11.30am
Bald Hills Mosque Weekly Tafseer
Day
Event
Time
Monday
Tafseer
after Isha
Tuesday
Dars Nizame (Urdu)
after Isha
Wednesday
Seerath
after Isha
Thursday
Dars Nizame (Urdu)
after Isha
Friday
Biyaan
after Isha
Sunday
Joula
after Maghrib
Sunday
Biyaan
after Isha
The Tafseer gets recorded and uploaded on to our website end
of each week, please visit our website to download these
recordings at
www.masjidtaqwa.org.au.
The Tuesday and Thursdays Dars Nizame program is in Urdu,
these sessions too are recorded as well as webcasted live.
For webcast details please contact us via our website
“contact us” page. The recordings are sent via a download
link, if you are interested please again contact us via our
website “contact us” page.
Queensland Police Service/Muslim
Community Consultative Group
Meeting Dates & Times
Time: 7.00pm sharp Date: Wednesday 11 February 2014 Venue: Islamic College of Brisbane - 45 Acacia Road
Karawatha
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.
Share your
thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our community through CCN.
If there is
someone you know who would like to subscribe to CCN please
encourage them to enter their details
here.
.
Mbhele
ka Ncanywa
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011
