he Telstra Business Women's
Awards are the longest
running women's awards
program in Australia. For
over two decades they have
championed women from
diverse industries ensuring
their achievements become
part of the national
conversation; women who are
passionate, courageous and
ready to challenge the
accepted way of doing
things.
Amongst this year's Telstra
Queensland For Purpose and
Social Enterprise Award
Finalists is Ms Galila
Abdelsalam, the Director of
the Islamic Women's
Association of Queensland
Inc.
After volunteering at her
local community centre in
Queensland, Galila
Abdelsalam identified a
number of unmet needs for
Muslim women, leading her to
found the Islamic Women’s
Association of Queensland
Inc (IWAQ) in 1991. IWAQ is
a not-for-profit
organisation that provides
services to meet community
needs with a specific focus
on culturally and
linguistically diverse (CALD)
communities.
IWAQ provides services to
support people with
disability, elderly people
living on their own, and
settlement services to help
newly arrived migrants and
refugees. IWAQ also offers
programs such as English
acquisition, women’s
leadership skills, early
intervention programs to
address issues such as
domestic violence, and
support to vulnerable young
people who are at risk of
becoming radicalised.
In the last five years,
Galila opened the Salam
Respite Cottage which
provides overnight and
short-term care of elderly
and disabled people,
allowing their carers to
take a break. As a carer to
her husband, Galila
appreciates the demands of
the job.
In addition, she has
recently expanded the
services to the Gold Coast
and is in the process of
setting up an office in
Sydney.
"Both my personal views
and values of IWAQ are
focused on addressing some
of the stereotypes
associated with Muslims and
breaking down some of the
barriers, which is more
important than ever."
The Somali Community of
Brisbane held a successful
fund raising dinner at
Michael's Oriental last week
and raised $30,000 towards
their funeral program.
Prime Minister Malcolm
Turnbull and Opposition Leader
Bill Shorten.
The nation's political
leaders have called out
racial and religious
discrimination as a new poll
shows that one third of
Australians believe Muslim
Australians should be
subjected to more scrutiny
than other religious groups.
The study of 1,200 people,
undertaken by the Australian
National University during
the federal election
campaign, found 59 per cent
believe counter-terrorism
policies single out Muslims
for surveillance and
monitoring. Almost half of
those said they were
bothered by that.
The survey results coincided
with a statement from Prime
Minister Malcolm Turnbull,
who said Muslim Australians
were "an integral part of
our Australian family".
Moving a motion on "equal
rights" and racial
tolerance, Mr Turnbull told
the chamber that concerns
about radical Islam should
not be dismissed, but
instead countered with
facts.
"As leaders our job is to
explain the facts, reassure
citizens and ensure that
everything we do is
calculated to keep
Australians safe," he said.
"The most effective weapon
against the terrorists is an
inclusive nation. An
inclusive nation is a safer
nation.
"It enables our security
agencies to better protect
us. It enables them to
secure the support and
assistance of the Muslim
communities without which
they cannot keep us safe."
Mr Turnbull also cited the
need for border control,
stating that "harmony and
security are not mutually
exclusive".
He also urged for tolerance
for immigrants, saying some
have been "we have not
always been as tolerant or
understanding as, in
retrospect, we ought to have
been".
Shorten: We are not being
'swamped' by anyone
Opposition Leader Bill
Shorten used his address to
take aim at divisive
comments and "coded
statements" by politicians,
calling out One Nation
Leader Pauline Hanson.
Last month, Senator Hanson
used her first speech to
claim Australia was at risk
of being "swamped by
Muslims" and tell those
unwilling to adapt to the
Australian way of life to
"go back to where you came
from".
Mr Shorten took aim at the
comments today, telling the
chamber "there is no place
in Australia for extremism,
no matter the party".
"In Australia, we are not
being 'swamped' by anyone,"
he said.
"Migrants are not filling
our dole queues, or taking
our jobs, or clogging up our
highways — or doing all
three at the same time.
Migration is not a cost, or
a burden. It is a powerful
force for our continuing
economic growth and future
prosperity."
His latter comments also
appeared to address a
statement made by
Immigration Minister Peter
Dutton, who in May voiced
concerns that an increase in
the humanitarian intake
would lead to refugees
"taking Australian jobs" as
well as "[languishing] in
unemployment queues".
Mr Shorten also noted the
level of diversity in
Parliament, saying that all
but five politicians "are
exclusively migrants or the
descendants of migrants".
MEDIA RELEASE: Graham
Perrett MP, Member For
Moreton
Bipartisan Approach To
Racial Tolerance - 20 Years
On
The Leader of the Opposition
and the Prime Minister
showed a rare moment of
bipartisanship in Parliament
House on Monday.
At the request of Labor, the
Prime Minister moved a
motion calling for racial
tolerance.
The motion was almost
identical to a motion by Kim
Beazley and John Howard 20
years ago. It was a timely
reminder then, as it is now.
As Bill Shorten said in his
speech supporting the
motion, “Diversity is not a
minor inconvenience to be
endured, it’s not an
artifice of political
correctness, it is the
collective power of our
nation, of all of us.”
“Our local Southside
community is proof of the
sentiments expressed by my
Leader, Bill Shorten; that
today’s immigrants and
refugees are tomorrow’s
community leaders, business
leaders, doctors, nurses and
teachers”, said the Member
for Moreton, Graham Perrett
MP.
“Every day as I travel
around the community I see
community leaders who have
made Australia their home.
Who are teaching by their
actions that inclusion,
openness and cohesion are
what makes our multicultural
community successful. Our
community is so much richer
for their contributions.
“This motion is a reminder
to beware of fearmongering
which unfairly demonises
minorities. Instead we can
choose to embrace the things
that bind us and understand
the things that threaten to
divide us.”
Islamic Relief Australia and
Islamic Care Queensland held
an Al-Yateem dinner on
Saturday 8 October at the
Greek Hall in Mt. Gravatt.
The event was organised to
feed, shelter, provide
education and medical aid to
orphan children in 21
countries around the world.
Imam Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh
started off the night with a
Quran recitation followed by
inspirational and
informative speeches by Nora
Amath and Imam Uzair Akbar.
The nasheeds, spoken word
poetry, buffet dinner and
MC, Ali Kadri, ensured that
the guests were
well-entertained on the
night. The evening ended
with an auction lead by
Hussin Goss.
Through the support of the
community, orphan children
will receive $75,000 in aid.
The organisers were
overwhelmed with positive
feedback. An attendee left a
comment on the 'IR Australia
Qld' Facebook Page saying,
"Well done on organising
this important event. An
inspiring, informative
evening with meaningful
words from excellent
speakers addressing the
plight of the most
vulnerable and deserving."
"The team at Islamic Relief
Qld would like to thank
everyone who made the night
possible. To our wonderful
speakers, guests, sponsors
and supporters, we are
honoured to share the
journey of delivering
goodness with you," Husna
Ghaznavi, IRA spokesperson,
told CCN.
There are 153 million
orphans around the world.
Help IRA create change for a
child in need today.
(l to r): Hussain Baba
(Secretary of ISGC), Gold Coast
Councillor Krystin Bolton,
Hussin Goss (President of ISGC),
Imam Imraan Hussain (Imam of
Gold Coast Masjid), Aslam Nabi
(Chairman of Gold Coast Mosque
Trust) and Asst. Police
Commissioner Brian Codd
On Friday morning (14
September 2016) the Gold
Coast Mosque held a Ground
Breaking Ceremony for the 'Dawah
& Youth Centre' which is
being constructed alongside
the Mosque.
This Centre will house the
following facilit1es:
Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports
Facility; Gymnasium; Revert
Program; Alim Training
Courses; Hifz ul Quran
Classes; Islamic Library;
Cultural Centre
Labor MP Anne Aly and Senator
Pauline Hanson have met for the
first time.
Anne Aly, the first Muslim
woman elected to Federal
Parliament, says she has
found some common ground
with controversial
Queensland Senator Pauline
Hanson.
The Labor MP for Cowan said
her office extended the
invitation to Senator
Hanson, who accepted almost
immediately.
Ms Aly and the One Nation
Party leader had lunch in
Canberra on Thursday
afternoon.
Ms Aly told 720 ABC Perth
that while she had known
they would not agree on
everything, they did share
common views.
"I understand the things
that she's been saying,
whatever, and if we can do
away with all of that, and
let's talk about concerns
that we both have around
terrorism and around violent
extremism and radicalisation
and, you know, let's work
from that basis as opposed
to a basis of being divided
on opinions about it," she
said.
The pair also discussed what
it was like for a first-time
MPs, with Senator Hanson
starting her first term in
the Senate.
Ms Aly said she did not
raise Senator Hanson's
speech last month, in which
she said Australia was in
danger of "being swamped by
Muslims, who bear a culture
and ideology that is
incompatible with our own".
"I deliberately didn't raise
those comments because when
I started the conversation
with her around those
things, I said, 'You know, I
wanted to talk to you
because I know we're not
going to agree on things and
I will call you up if I
don't agree on things, I
will pull it up and I will
speak'," she said.
"And she said, 'I'll do the
same for you' and I said,
'Yeah, and I expect that'.
"She would say something
that I don't agree with and
I'd say, 'Look, I understand
where that's coming from but
I don't agree with it, and
here's why I don't agree
with it, and here's some of
the research that I've done
and this is my experience'."
Ms Aly said the conversation
was cut short by a
parliamentary call for a
division, so she and Senator
Hanson made plans to have
further discussions,
specifically about section
18C of the Racial
Discrimination Act.
The Labor MP said she also
shared a joke with the One
Nation leader about how it
was possible to put on
weight in Canberra, despite
spending so much time
running to the parliamentary
chamber whenever the bells
rang calling for a division.
Summer
reminds us of the beach and
its activities, halal fun
and catching up with
friends. In other words,
‘AMYN Annual Summer Camp‘!
Australian
Muslim Youth Network (AMYN)
invites you to be part of
our 6th Annual AMYN Summer
Camp scheduled end of this
year for 3 days and 3 nights
starting from Friday 16th
Dec to Monday 19th Dec 2016.
Take out the
time for this adventurous
camp to strengthen the
brotherhood and to enjoy the
summer activities while
having your imaan boosted,
speaking from 5-year
experience in AMYN summer
camp organisation!
Are you ready
to experience this year’s
AMYN Annual camp InshaAllah?
The survey found that women
are more concerned about the
impact of increased surveillance
on Muslims.
It may well be, as recent
headlines claimed, that half
of Australians support a ban
on Muslim immigration, but
those wanting a less
simplistic view of
Australians' attitudes to
terrorism and Islam should
take a closer look at the
latest ANUpoll.
We set out wanting to
establish the limits of
Australians' support for
national security policies
in the face of diminishing
civil liberties. To this
end, we surveyed a randomly,
probability-based sample of
1,200 Australians – not
people who had signed up to
answer survey questions for
money – and explored a range
of their attitudes.
We found that many adult
Australians are anxious
about terrorism, and that
anxiety leads to support for
government policies such as
the retention of
telecommunications data, and
the justification of strict
border protection regimes as
a counter-terrorism measure.
For instance, 45 per cent of
Australians are either
'very' or 'somewhat'
concerned about either
themselves or a family
member being the victim of a
terrorist attack in
Australia.
More than half – 56 per cent
– think the Government could
do more to protect such an
attack.
Where your views on
terrorism fit
These eight questions will
help you understand how your
views compare to what other
Australians think.
Almost half – 46 per cent –
believe the Government's
counter-terrorism policies
have not gone far enough to
adequately protect the
country, compared with 28
per cent who believe they
have gone too far in
restricting Australians'
civil liberties.
A full two thirds believe
the retention of
telecommunications data is
justified as a
counter-terrorism measure.
Only one third of
Australians believe the
measure goes too far in
violating citizens' privacy.
We also found that 41 per
cent of Australians are not
bothered if Muslims are
singled out by increased
surveillance policies as
part of counter-terrorism
measures. Elsewhere we found
that 71 per cent are
concerned about a possible
rise of Islamist extremism
in Australia. Asked whether
current border protection
policies are necessary to
protect the country from
Islamist extremism and
terrorism, 80 per cent of
respondents agree.
All of these findings –
however understandable,
surprising, uncomfortable,
or even lamentable –
represent complex attitudes
and outlooks. If we really
want to understand community
opinions towards national
security – and their effects
on attitudes towards ethnic
diversity, civil liberties,
and immigration – we need to
look more closely at the
data.
We reveal that this is at
least partially a story of
gender: 51 per cent of women
in the sample are concerned
about the prospect of
themselves or a family
member being a victim of a
terror attack, compared with
40 per cent of men.
Men, on the other hand, are
more concerned than women
about the potential erosion
of civil liberties by
counter-terrorism measures.
Almost three-quarters of
women – 74 per cent –
approve of
telecommunications data
retention, compared with 65
per cent of men.
At the same time, women are
more concerned about the
impact of increased
surveillance on Muslims.
Among those who believe that
Muslims are singled out by
counter-terrorism policies,
72 per cent of women express
either 'a lot' or 'some'
concern, compared with 56
per cent of men. Similarly,
75 per cent of women do not
think Muslims should be
subject to additional
scrutiny, a full ten points
higher than male respondents
(65 per cent).
It is also a story of age,
and lifecycle. Older
Australians are the most
anxious about experiencing a
terror attack on Australian
soil.
........
Finally, these findings tell
a story of education. As
respondents' educational
qualifications increase,
their concern about a
possible rise of Islamist
extremism in Australia and
support for border
protection policies as a
counter-terrorism measure
both decrease.
However, even the most
highly educated Australians
express broad support for
current counter-terrorism
measures. Almost seven in 10
(69 per cent) of respondents
with a postgraduate degree
believe telecommunications
data retention is justified.
One third of this group are
concerned about terror
attacks, and 62 per cent
still express 'a lot' or
'some' concern about
Islamist extremism in
Australia.
It may be true that one in
two Australians want to
prevent Muslims from
settling in Australia. It
may also be in polling
companies' interest to
incite outrage and
indignation.
What we find, in a less
incendiary look at
Australians' opinions, is
that fear of terrorism is
genuine and prevalent, and
that it leads to widely held
but nuanced attitudes
towards national security,
civil liberties,
immigration, and Islam.
Packing a punch: Muslim boxer
Raianne Alameddine (in blue) had
her first fight last week. She
was banned from fighting last
year for wearing a hijab
NSW: An aspiring teenage
Muslim boxer had to fight
for her right to wear a
hijab in the ring.
Last year Raianne Alameddine
was banned from fighting
because her hijab was
'unsafe' and the leggings
that covered her knees were
deemed to be a hazard.
Having trained months for
the bout while juggling
school and family
commitments, the 17-year-old
was devastated to see her
hard work wasted.
Despite the setback, Raianne
was determined to test
herself in the ring and last
Saturday became the first
amateur boxer in NSW to
fight wearing a head scarf.
Speaking to Daily Mail
Australia in-between her HSC
exams, Raianne described the
obstacles she had faced as a
female Muslim fighter.
'I signed up to my first
boxing match almost a year
ago and prepared for four
months prior to my fight,'
she said.
'However, two weeks before
we got a letter saying we
weren't allowed to fight if
we wanted to wear our hijabs
under our head gear, or if
we were to wear skins that
covered our knees.
'It seems pretty funny when
you think about it, because
there is no hazard that
could come from wearing a
scarf or skins, but they
said it was ''unsafe'' and
the rules didn't allow it.
Determined: Despite being
knocked back for her first
fight, Raianne never gave up
hope of stepping into the ring
'You could imagine our
reaction to this - to have
trained so hard and for
everything to become
official, then to be told we
weren't allowed to fight
because of something we need
to wear and can't just take
off for a match.'
Raianne continued training
in the months that followed
and was finally given the
green light to have her
first fight last week.
She fought in front of a
600-strong crowd in a fierce
bout last Saturday, although
no winner was declared
because it was an exhibition
fight.
'Thankfully I was lucky
enough to be accepted and
was able to fight last week
which is a massive relief
and thrill,' she said.
'It just goes to show. The
fact I came out safe and
there were no hazards with
me fighting with my scarf on
proves it should be allowed
all around the world and in
every book of rules.'
Sydney Cycling Sisters is a
group made up of Muslim women
from across Sydney.
NSW: A few years ago Cindy
Rahal was sitting in a
shopping centre with her
sister and a friend when a
man approached her yelling:
"There are so many f***ing
Muslims around."
He threatened her with a
crowbar before leaving and
causing damage elsewhere in
the centre.
"He basically stood over me
... and said, 'have you ever
seen a crowbar' in a really
menacing way," Ms Rahal
recalled.
"It was a Thursday night — I
thought I was safe.
This incident, as well as
other verbal and physical
confrontations experienced
by her friends, prompted Ms
Rahal to start a cycling
group.
The Sydney Cycling Sisters
are a group of Muslim women
who gather for weekly riding
sessions.
On Sunday, more than a dozen
Cycling Sisters will get on
their bikes for their second
Spring Cycle race from North
Sydney to Homebush.
Their message?
"Muslim women are the same
as any other women," Ms
Rahal said.
Challenging 'negative
rhetoric'
The occupational therapist
and mother of four said the
"negative Islamic rhetoric"
in the past decade following
terrorist attacks had scared
a lot of people in the
Muslim community.
"You watched TV and saw Tony
Abbott saying: 'You've got
to be on Team Australia',"
Ms Rahal said.
"What does that mean? It
means there's going to be
some people who are not
going to be included on this
team.
"Even though it's a very
small minority that do it,
it's enough to scare women.
Cindy Rahal says the cycling
group has given the women
confidence.
"I found that a lot of women
stopped doing things for
leisure, like going out and
riding a bike.
"Muslims are tired of saying
this is not our religion. We
are frustrated with not
being heard."
It was a sentiment she put
to Pauline Hanson during the
ABC's Q&A program and
accused the senator of
proliferating fear about
Muslims.
"With this cycling group,
we're trying to eliminate
some of that fear," Ms Rahal
said.
"We're saying we're Muslim
women and we're free, we're
going to ride our bikes and
we're not going to
assimilate the way you want
us to assimilate.
"It doesn't make us bad
people and it doesn't make
us terrorists, it makes us
people who enjoy life who
don't want to be criticised
for what we wear."
Ms Rahal said she hoped more
women of all fitness levels
and ethnic and religious
background would join the
Cycling Sisters.
Sunshine Coast Muslim
community leader Imam Zainadine
Johnson has explained how he
lives his life by Sharia law.
THE new leader of the
Coast's Muslim community has
given insight into how he
lives by Sharia law while
complying with Australian
law.
The Sunshine Coast Daily
received a number of queries
about Imam Zainadine
Johnson's connection to
Sharia law after it ran a
story on his new role on the
Sunshine Coast.
Imam Zainadine said he
preferred to explain his
approach in person but was
willing to put it on the
record.
"Sharia law teaches that if
I have a covenant or
contract I must fulfil that
contract with whomsoever I
deal with whether an
individual or a nation,"
Imam Zainadine said.
"Here my covenant is with
the Australian government so
I must live my life without
breaking the laws of
Australia.
"There are aspects of Sharia
law that go against
Australian law so according
to Sharia law I am not
permitted to practice those
aspects of Sharia law here
in Australia."
He said this had been the
law for Muslims around the
world for more than 1400
years.
"Any Muslim who breaks the
law here has broken
Australian law as well as
Sharia law.
Imam Zainadine said some of
the aspects of Sharia law he
practised in Australia were
fasting during the month of
Ramadan, praying five times
a day, telling the truth,
respecting other people's
religions, not stealing, not
murdering, not cheating, not
committing adultery and not
drinking alcohol.
He said aspects of Sharia
law he was not allowed to
practice in Australia
included cutting off the
hand of a thief, whipping
Muslims who drank alcohol or
stoning to death married men
or women who committed
adultery.
"These aspects of Sharia are
against Australian law so it
is against Sharia law for me
to do that.
"Even in a country that does
have Sharia law it is the
job of the courts and not
the local Imam to implement
(justice)."
He said many people
misunderstood how Sharia law
worked.
"That is why I invited
people to come and talk
about it as dialogue is
always best."
He said section 116 of the
Australian Constitution
stated "the Commonwealth
shall not make any law...
for prohibiting the free
exercise of any religion".
"My choice to live my life
by Sharia law in this
country is not illegal.
"Nor does it affect anyone
else's daily lives except in
a positive way- that there
is one less drink driver,
one less ice addict, one
less thief, swindler or
killer on the streets.
"My message to everyone is
peace and let's live in
harmony."
The Imam of the Gold
Coast, Imraan
Husain, played in
the winning Gazelles
team, to take the
Plate Finals in the
soccer Gold Coast
Masters during the
weekend.
An engaging conversation
between a Christian Pastor
and a Muslim Imam, "Out of
Context" is a 14 part
Interview series answers
pressing questions about
Islam and gives valuable
insight into the spirit of
the faith.
In Part 3 of the interview
with Dallas-based Pastor
Mike Baughman, Imam Omar
Suleiman debunks erroneous
interpretations of what has
become popularly known as
“the verse of the sword”
from chapter nine of the
Quran, Surat At-Tawba. That
verse (loosely translated as
“slay them wherever you find
them and fight them until
they say there is no God but
Allah”) was specifically
addressing certain bedouin
tribes who had reneged on
their peace treaties with
the Muslims, according to
Suleiman. He explains that
Prophet Muhammad’s actions
contradict this false
interpretation of this
verse, which is abused in
exactly the same way by both
the Islamophobes and the
religious extremists.
Conveniently
Located a short walk from
Underwood Market Place is
this Executive 3 bedroom +
study (can be used as 4th
bedroom) home which is
available now
for Rent
Features 2
Large Lounges, Internal
Iaundry, Double Lock-up
Garage with built-in storage
cupboard. 3 Large Bedrooms
all fitted with built in
robes and brand new Fans
with lights and remote
controls. Master Bedroom has
large WIR and AC as well as
Fan with light and remote
control. Upstairs lounge and
family area also fitted with
Fan with light and remote
control and an AC. There are
2 Timber Decked Balconies
upstairs and downstairs
offering beautiful views to
the parklands and stream
across the road. Perfect for
the coming summer months as
the breeze is just beautiful
on the decks. Plenty of
storage space throughout the
home. Kitchen is fitted with
cooktop (gas) oven and
dishwasher.
Mona Siddiqui:
Islam in the
West is not a
simple issue
Most Muslims
living in
Britain and
Australia are
neither enemies
of Western
civilisation nor
blameless
victims of
Islamophobia, a
leading public
intellectual
says.
Mona Siddiqui,
the chair of
Islamic and
Interreligious
Studies at the
University of
Edinburgh, is in
Australia to
deliver a series
of lectures for
The Centre for
Public and
Contextual
Theology.
Speaking to RN's
Religion and
Ethics Report,
she issued a
call for a more
complex
understanding of
the relationship
between Muslims
and the liberal
democracies they
live in.
"I said
post-9/11 and
the London
bombings that
what we're
seeing is
actually the
thick end of the
wedge," said
Professor
Siddiqui.
"A lot of things
were going on,
festering away
in these
communities that
have spilled
over into
violence.
"But there's
also a cultural
amnesia in many
communities and
in much of the
media debate
that sees this
as an isolated
thing.
"Why would
Muslims want to
create havoc in
peaceful liberal
democracies
where they have
everything? That
is a really
profound
question which
none of us can
answer."
The limits of
multiculturalism
Once they were
living in the
West, Muslims
felt the only
way they could
preserve their
cultural
heritage was
"thinking and
living only one
way", Professor
Siddiqui said.
"For decades,
nobody
interfered with
that," she said.
"That's where
the problem
started, that
laissez-faire
attitude that
the Brits, the
Australians and
the North
Americans have
towards
multiculturalism:
that pluralism
is a great thing
that everybody
knows how to
negotiate.
"Actually, it
isn't. For it to
work, you have
to sustain it,
you have to
negotiate it.
"What does it
mean for
everybody to be
part of the
public space?
What does it
mean to have
communities
living
together?"
Islamic
terrorism is
Islamic
Professor
Siddiqui said
there was no
denying that
ISIS was an
Islamic
organisation, as
their vocabulary
was rooted in
Islamic
terminology.
"Although it's
very easy to say
any violent
jihadist or any
ISIS member or
anyone who joins
ISIS is not a
Muslim anymore,
simple and
simplistic
denials of
things don't
actually move
the
conversation,"
she said.
"The problem now
is that we're
looking at
everything from
the prism of
terror ... so
even things that
are not linked
to violence give
off the
impression that
ultimately they
will lead to
violence.
"It's become
very easy for a
lot of Western
societies to
perceive the
Muslim presence
as a real
threat."
The problem
with the veil
debate
Professor
Siddiqui said
her concern
about with the
veil was that it
reduced Islam to
a dress code.
"The veil has
become this
iconic image of
everything that
the West has
struggled
against," she
said.
"It struggled
against
segregation, it
struggled
against
inequality. It
has tried to
create a space
of at least some
equality where
women have
autonomy.
"The veil, which
was once seen as
all the
exoticism of the
East, is now
everything the
West detests.
"When my parents
came in the 60s,
my mother and
all her peers
never covered
their hair. They
dressed in
cultural
clothing.
Covering to that
extent as a
visible sign of
piety was not
important to
them.
"It wasn't until
the mid-80s that
the hijab took
on, and it was
in a political
context.
"I know these
conversations
are extremely
potent for a lot
of people.
People are
reluctant to
politicise them.
People [are also
reluctant] to
see that there
are bigger
issues in Muslim
communities than
who covers their
head or not."
ABC News
Islamophobia
Will Never Be
the New Black
When The Islamic
Monthly
published an
article titled
“Islamophobia is
the New Black,”
I could feel my
stomach turn
with both rage
and disgust.
Even before I
read the
article, I knew
it would be
another example
of those in
privileged
positions in the
Muslim community
denying the
intersections of
being both
Muslim and
Black.
Individuals who
hold both of
these identities
are subjected to
anti-Black
sentiment within
the Muslim
community as
well as outside
of it, while
simultaneously
being subjected
to Islamophobia.
Although the
editors at The
Islamic Monthly
have since
changed the
wording of the
title, the issue
extends far
beyond
semantics. The
Muslim
community’s
larger habit of
denying the
existence of
identities of
being both Black
and Muslim is an
act of violence;
it is an act of
violence to
erase our
multitude of
experiences and
trauma.
As a Black
Muslim,
ethnically
Somali, I have
experienced an
intense amount
of
discrimination
on both levels.
I remember my
mother (during a
period while I
was wearing the
hijab) telling
us to be back
home before a
certain time —
not only because
she did not want
her children to
become victims
of Islamophobic
attacks, but
also to protect
my brothers (who
love to wear
their hoodies)
from being
killed by
another
Zimmerman or
targeted by the
police that
patrolled our
neighborhoods.
As a visibly
Muslim woman
growing up, I
endured the
stares of
commuters on the
train in the
mornings, the
random frisking
at airports and
the questioning
of my feminism.
I was raised to
believe that
being Muslim
comes before
everything else,
and so I never
thought much of
the anti-Black
comments that
would come from
my non-Black
peers at the
mosque. I didn’t
question why our
mosques in
Boston were
segregated by
ethnic and
racial
backgrounds. The
casual throwing
around of the
N-word from Desi
and Arab teens
did not bother
me. The stories
that my Desi and
Arab friends
told me when we
giggled about
future husbands,
when they’d
casually say,
“My family would
never allow me
to marry a Black
person” — none
of these
experiences
really fazed me.
I mean, we were
all Muslim,
right? What does
it matter that
the only time
Black Muslims
were ever talked
about was either
Bilal (RA) or
Malcolm X? We
were all Muslim,
monolithic in
our faith.
As I entered my
twenties and
chose to remove
my hijab, I came
to realize that
while
discrimination
based on my
Muslim identity
was no longer as
prominent, the
sight of police
officers would
still make my
skin crawl, and
the
uncomfortable
stares
persisted. In
the uproar of
the Black Lives
Matter movement,
I had to
confront my
Blackness more
than ever
before. The
microaggressions
became more and
more pronounced
as I became more
vocal on the
importance of
Blackness, and
oftentimes those
aggressions came
from friends and
peers —
including
Muslims. You can
imagine the
exhaustion I
feel when I have
to tell
privileged
Muslims that
using #MuslimLivesMatter
is unfairly
co-opting a
Black movement,
and then also
have to explain
why it was
appropriate to
use #BlackMuslimLivesMatter
when a community
member was
killed by the
Boston police.
Yes, he was
Muslim, but he
was also a
another Black
body that was
targeted and
labeled as the
aggressor
instead of a
victim.
So here is my
point: When a
Desi editor
decides to write
an article
called
“Islamophobia is
the New Black,”
it is yet
another case of
the Muslim
community
drowning out our
voices and our
experiences as
Black Muslims.
Even though the
title of the
article was
changed, its
discussion of
President Barack
Obama and Ahmed
Mohamed (the
teen who was
arrested for
allegedly
bringing a bomb
to school to
when it was in
fact a homemade
clock) dismissed
the fact that
these
individuals are
also Black. The
article may have
been trying to
accuse society
in the U.S. for
its bigotry
towards American
Muslims, but it
has instead
actually proven
the much more
salient point
that the wider
Muslim community
continues to
deny Blackness.
It’s interesting
that Black
people and our
experiences are
brought up only
when it is
convenient to
get a point
across, but our
voices are
silenced when
advocating for
our own stories
of existence
within the
Muslim
community.
The reality is
that Muslims are
not monolithic.
The Qur’an
acknowledges our
vast diversity,
but even if
Muslims are
forbidden from
blatantly
discriminating,
there still
remains the
reality that
non-Black
Muslims continue
to be completely
ignorant of the
reality of the
unique Black
Muslim
experience. Here
is what the
Muslim community
must understand:
when it comes to
getting a point
across about
Islamophobia, do
not deny the
intersections of
our identities.
Allow us to tell
our stories
without being
forced to choose
one over the
other.
I am Black and I
am Muslim, and
my identities
exist together.
A Muslim mother in Sydney
fears her grandchildren will
end up in a concentration
camp. A Victorian father
won't tell his football team
he is Muslim so he doesn't
have to explain himself. To
be Muslim is to be judged
for everything you do, says
a Brisbane woman. An
international student living
in Melbourne says she feels
segregated in class.
What is it to be Muslim in
Australia today?
Fairfax Media asked readers
who are Muslim to speak of
their experiences and how
they explain extremism and
Islamophobia to their
children. Dozens of people
responded.
CCN publishes one response
each week:
"I haven't done
anything wrong"
Rodoshi Hassan, 21, Sydney,
Bangladeshi
I have a lot of bottled-up
anger. Every time I see my
religion being vilified in
the media, I have to look
away or shut it down. I want
to do something, say
something, defend my
religion, but I also don't
want to have to do
something. I shouldn't have
to say something. I haven't
done anything wrong.
Lindsay Lohan
on the Reactions to Her Reading
the Quran
Last year in New
York, Lindsay Lohan was
photographed carrying a copy of
the Quran after her first day of
community service in Brooklyn,
New York.
Long Story
Short: Islam
Huffington Post
Sharia! Jihad!
Hijab! These words might sound
familiar to you, but don't judge
a Quran by its cover. Wajahat
Ali breaks down the
misperceptions around Islam.
24 of the
Most Influential Black
Muslims in History
21. Elijah
Muhammad (Oct. 7, 1897 –
Feb. 25, 1975)
Elijah Muhammad was an
African-American religious
leader who led the Nation of
Islam (NOI) from 1934 until
his death in 1975. Working
to achieve the NOI goal of
improving the spiritual,
mental, social and economic
condition of
African-Americans in the
United States, Muhammad’s
impact is still felt today.
Barack Obama Just
Nominated A Muslim To Be A Federal Judge.
That's A First.
Abid Qureshi
would fill a seat on the U.S.
District Court for the District
of Columbia.
WASHINGTON ― President
Barack Obama made history on Tuesday by
nominating the first Muslim person to
the federal judiciary, Abid Qureshi.
“I am pleased to nominate Mr. Qureshi to
serve on the United States District
Court bench,” Obama said in a statement.
“I am confident he will serve the
American people with integrity and a
steadfast commitment to justice.”
It’s unlikely Qureshi’s nomination to
the U.S. District Court for the District
of Columbia will go anywhere. With just
months left in Obama’s term, Senate
Republicans have all but stopped
confirming his judicial picks.
But the nomination carries a symbolic
value: It lands in the midst of a
chaotic presidential campaign in which
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump
has said that a Muslim federal judge
wouldn’t treat him fairly because of his
calls for banning Muslims from entering
the country. Trump made similarly
bigoted charges that a Latino federal
judge would be biased against him
because he has advocated for building a
wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Muslim advocates hailed Qureshi’s
nomination.
“I commend President Obama for taking
this important step in continuing to
pick the best and brightest from every
community to serve as part of our
nation’s judiciary,” said Farhana Khera,
executive director of Muslim Advocates,
a legal advocacy organization. “A
judiciary that reflects the rich
diversity of our nation helps ensure the
fair and just administration of the law,
and it is vital for American Muslims to
be included. Mr. Qureshi’s profound
commitment to the rule of law and
justice for people of all backgrounds
makes him an exceptional nominee.”
It’s not necessarily a dead end for
Qureshi. There’s always a chance his
nomination could move in the lame duck
Congress, when chaos tends to erupt. And
if Democratic presidential nominee
Hillary Clinton wins in November, she
could very well re-nominate him to the
same seat in 2017. There have been
rumblings about Qureshi’s nomination for
months. He is currently a partner in the
Washington D.C. office of Latham &
Watkins LLP.
By choosing
assimilation, China’s Hui have
become one of the world’s most
successful Muslim minorities
CHINA: THE faithful are
returning from the haj. Waiting for
prayers outside the Great Mosque in
Tongxin, a remote town in the western
province of Ningxia, Li Yuchuan calls
his pilgrimage a liberation: “Our
prayers are just homework for it.” His
84-year-old friend (pictured, right)
leaps up and twists himself with lithe
agility into the shape of a pretzel. “We
Muslims pray five times a day,” he says.
“We are flexible and tough.” China’s
Muslims need to be.
China has a richly deserved reputation
for religious intolerance. Buddhists in
Tibet, Muslims in the far western region
of Xinjiang and Christians in Zhejiang
province on the coast have all been
harassed or arrested and their places of
worship vandalised. In Xinjiang the
government seems to equate Islam with
terrorism. Women there have been ordered
not to wear veils on their faces.
Muslims in official positions have been
forced to break the Ramadan fast. But
there is a remarkable exception to this
grim picture of repression: the Hui.
China has two big Muslim groups, the
Uighur of Xinjiang and the more obscure
Hui. Though drops in the ocean of
China’s population, they each have about
10m people, the size of Tunisia. But
while the Uighur suffer, the Hui are
thriving.
The number of mosques in Ningxia (cradle
of the Hui, as one of their number puts
it) has more than doubled since 1958,
from 1,900 to 4,000, says Ma Ping, a
retired professor at Northern
Nationalities University. New ones are
being built across the province. The Hui
are economically successful. They are
rarely victims of Islamophobia. Few
Muslim minorities anywhere in the world
can say as much.
The Hui’s religious practices reflect
the waves of Islam that have washed over
China. According to Ma Tong, a Hui
scholar, just over half of them follow
the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, which
was brought to China centuries ago. At
the Najiahu mosque south of Yinchuan,
Ningxia’s capital, banners adorn the
entrance saying “ancient and authentic
religion” and “cleave to the original
path”. A fifth of the Hui follow the
more austere code of Wahhabism brought
to China in the 19th century (there are
also a handful of more extreme Salafist
converts resulting from recent contacts
through the haj). And a fifth follow one
of three Sufi schools of Islam, an
esoteric and mystical branch derided as
apostate by hardline Salafists. The
Hui’s religious diversity makes it
easier for the party to tolerate them.
Divide and rule.
KB says:
These delicious bite-size falafels have a
wonderfully nutty texture and so much taste and
flavour. They are just as good on their own, but
I suggest, why not to make a falafel wrap? A
wrap full of salad, some vegetables, tzatziki
sauce and falafel balls… Yum! Everything sounds
so tasty!
If you have never tried falafel, you are missing
out on something AMAZING!! This falafel wrap
recipe makes a great dinner option or a filling
lunch.
Falafel in a Wrap
Ingredients
2 cans chickpeas
which you need to drain well and blend.
Add
1 ˝ tsp salt
˝ tsp pepper
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup flour
1 tsp crushed garlic
1 tsp crushed dhana (coriander)
1 tsp. crushed jeeru (cumin)
1 tsp crushed green chillies
1 tab lemon juice
Mix thoroughly until well combined. (I find
using my hands the best)
Then separately add 1 small onion (chopped
finely by hand) and gently mix in.
Then cover the mixture with plastic wrap and
allow to rest in the refrigerator for an hour.
Once the falafel mixture has chilled, shape it
into small balls. Heat the oil in a large
saucepan over medium heat, and fry the balls in
batches, without crowding, until nicely browned,
turning as necessary (about 2-3 minutes) and set
aside on paper towels to drain.
To Assemble
Heat the Wraps in
the microwave for 20-30 seconds, or until warm.
Place desired amount
of lettuce on a wrap.
Layer the tortilla
with cut up tomatoes, cucumber pieces, grated
red cabbage, some slices of red onion, 3-4
falafel balls and some yoghurt but I prefer the
Tzatziki sauce.
Roll up the
tortilla. Repeat process with the remaining
tortillas.
Optional inclusions
in the wrap: grilled slices of eggplant or
zucchini or any other vegetables you prefer.
Why not organise a
girls night in or arrange a get- together to
increase awareness of the disease and maybe even
raise some funds for research into the cause and
possible prevention.
Take the time this month to have yourself
checked & find out what you need to know about
breast cancer awareness.
Highlighting the importance of a healthy
lifestyle is always a plus - so start making
some positive changes to your fitness regime.
A Mexican was on television with Australian TV host
Allied Wally when he used the word "mańana" pronounced
manyana.
Wally asked him to explain the word.
He explained the term means "Maybe the job will be done
tomorrow, maybe the next day, maybe the day after that.
Or perhaps next week, next month, next year. Who really
cares?"
The host turned to Jallalludin who was also on the show
and asked if there was an equivalent in his home
language.
Jallalludin replied : Where I come from, we do not have
a word to describe that degree of urgency.
You be foremost (in seeking)
forgiveness from your Lord,
and a Garden (of Bliss), the
width whereof is as the
width of heaven and earth,
prepared for those who
believe in Allah and His
Messengers: that is the
Grace of Allah, which He
bestows on whom He pleases:
and Allah is the Lord of
Grace abounding.
Q:I am
spending money on my garden
but am not happy with the
outcomes.....
My pomegranates (5 years old
tree) are splitting and
mango (5-6 year old tree)
not doing well, most of the
flowers fall or then the
baby mangoes drop off.
Salam and thanks for your
great comments in CCN.
Amar
I visited this truly amazing
garden and offered some
suggestions for future
success.
Mango trees:
• They are very susceptible
to fungus and the key is to
spray with copper
oxychloride in late winter.
• It is worth mulching and
watering in early Spring
then fertilising as soon as
the flowers appear. The best
fertilisers are
superphosphates, chook
manure and a general slow
release fertiliser. These
can be applied generously
again when the small fruit
begin forming. The trees
also respond positively to
seaweed solution either
sprayed onto the leaves or
fed into the root zone.
• Generally, a mango tree
will provide a bumper
harvest every alternate
year.
Pomegranate trees:
For fertilizing, treat
exactly the same as a citrus
tree.
Only
allow one or
two stems to
develop
–remove
suckers
Fruit rot
is caused by
excessive
damp fungus
or fruit fly
Fruit-splitting
might be
caused by
inadequate
watering.
Fruit can
still be
eaten if no
worms
Logan West
Community Centre
Wineglass Dve, Boronia Heights
3pm
25 April 2017
(tentative)
Tuesday
LAILATU MIRAJ (27 RAJAB 1438)
12 May 2017
(tentative)
Friday
NISF SHA'BAAN /LAILATUL BAHRAT (15 SHA'BAAN 1438)
28 May 2017
(tentative)
Sunday
RAMADAAN STARTS
(1 RAMADAAN 1438)
23 June 2017
(tentative)
Friday
LAILATUL QADR/NIGHT OF POWER (27 RAMADAAN 1438)
26 June 2017
(tentative)
Monday
EIDUL FITR / RAMADAAN ENDS
(1 SHAWWAL 1438)
2 September 2017
(tentative)
Saturday
EIDUL ADHA
(10 ZUL-HIJJAH 1438)
22 September 2017
(tentative)
Friday
ISLAMIC
NEW YEAR -1439 (1 MUHARRAM 1439)
PLEASE NOTE
1. All Islamic Event dates given above are supplied by
the Council of Imams QLD (CIQ) and are provided as a guide and 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.
Nuria Khataam
Date: Every last Wednesday of the month
Time: After Esha Salaat
Venue: Algester Mosque
Contact: Yahya
Ph: 0403338040
Sisters Support Services - On going
Activities
Tafsir
Class
– By Umm Bilal. Held every Tuesday at 10am -
Kuraby area
Halaqah –
By Um Bilal. Held every Thursday &
Saturday at 10am
( Saturdays at Runcorn location)
Arabic classes
– Taught by Umm Bilal Wednesdays 1 – 2pm
Kuraby Masjid
Tuesdays 1 – 2pm
Kuraby area (after Tafsir Class)
Sisters Support Social Group -
1stWednesday of every
Month - Kuraby Location
YOUTH GROUP-
- Muslimah Girls Youth Group
for 10+ Girls
School Holiday Activites
- Contact : Aliyah 0438840467
Amir Boys Club
for Primary School Boys – MONTHLY & HOLIDAY ACTIVITES
Contact : Farah
0432026375
We also run a volunteers group to assist
Muslim women with food rosters and home visits for sisters
who need support or are isolated. We refer Sisters in need
for counselling, accommodation, financial assistance and
other relevant services.
To join our volunteer group or for any other
details for activates please call the numbers below…
Aliyah : 0438840467
Khadijah: 0449268375
Farah: 0432026375 Iman
: 0449610386
Al-Mustapha
Institute of
Brisbane
39 Bushmills Court, Hillcrest Qld 4118
• Zikr - every Thursday
7pm, families welcome
• Hifz, Quran Reading & Madressa - Wednesday & Friday
4:30 - 6:30pm, brothers, sisters and children
• New Muslims Program - last Thursday of every month,
6:30 - 8:30pm
• Salawat Majlis - first Saturday of every month.
Starting at Mughrib, families welcome
• Islamic Studies - one year course, Saturday 10:00 -
2:00 pm, brothers and sisters
• Ilm-e-Deen, Alims Degree Course - Three full-time and
part-time nationally accredited courses, brothers
Quran Reading Class For Ladies (Beginners
or Advanced)
Every Saturday 2 - 4pm
Lady Teacher
On Going Activities
1. Daily Hadeeth reading From Riyadusaliheen,
After Fajar and after esha .
2. After school Madrassah for children Mon-Thu 5pm to 7pm
3. Adult Quran classes (Males) Monday and
Tuesday after esha for an hour.
4. Community engagement program every second Saturday of the
Month, interstate and overseas speakers, starts after
margib, Dinner served after esha, First program begins on
the 15 August.
5. Monthly Qiyamulail program every 1st
Friday of the month starts after esha.
6. Fortnight Sunday Breakfast program. After Fajar, short
Tafseer followed by breakfast.
7. Weekly Tafseer by Imam Uzair after esha followed by
dinner. Starts from 26 August.
For all activities, besides Adult Quran,
classes sisters and children are welcome.
For further info call the Secretary on
0413669987
Click on images to enlarge
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
Queensland Police Service/Muslim Community
Consultative Group
Next Meeting
Time: 7pm Date: MONDAY 24 OCTOBER Venue: Islamic College of Brisbane - 45 Acacia Road
Karawatha
Guest speaker - Dr Tim Soutphommasane
- Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner.
Articles and
opinions appearing in this newsletter do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the CCN Team, 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 CCN
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 us..
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.
Births, Marriages,
New Migrants and
Condolences
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011