Malek Fahd Islamic school,
which operates across three
Sydney campuses, is is danger of
closing after the Commonwealth
withdrew $19m in funding.
But Australian Federation of
Islamic Councils spokesman
Keysar Trad says we have
the best interests of the
school at heart
The Australian Federation of
Islamic Councils financial
mismanagement, governance
failings, and self-interest
has jeopardised the future
of Australias largest
Islamic school and its 2,500
students, leading figures
from Australias Muslim
community have alleged in an
open letter.
AFIC should immediately
terminate its agreements
with Sydneys Malek Fahd
Islamic school so that the
school can continue to
operate, the letter, signed
by nearly 40 prominent
members of Australias
Muslim community, says.
But spokesman for AFIC
Keysar Trad told the
Guardian that AFICs board
had been comprehensively
reformed, and that the
organisation stood willing
to help the school: we have
the best interests of the
school at heart.
Last week, the
Administrative Appeals
Tribunal upheld the Turnbull
governments 2016 decision
to pull $19m in funding to
Malek Fahd after the school
was found to be operating as
a for-profit organisation,
because of its agreements
with AFIC.
The Commonwealth is the
largest funder of the
school, and the withdrawal
of federal money may force
the school to close.
Currently, Malek Fahd, which
operates across three
campuses in western Sydney,
has more than 2,500 students
enrolled from kindergarten
to Year 12.
The open letter says AFIC
does not represent
Australian Muslims, and
said the federation must
immediately sever its
arrangements with Malek Fahd
so the schools students can
continue their educations.
The Australian Muslim
community is united with the
broader community in its
outrage over the gross
financial mismanagement,
governance failings and long
history of financial
self-interest on the part of
the Australian Federation of
Islamic Councils which
prompted the funding
withdrawal, the letter
says.
We, the undersigned, demand
that AFIC acts in the
interests of the school, the
Muslim community and the
Australian public by
immediately:
● terminating the
uncommercial lease
agreements that are
crippling the current
MFIS boards ability to
secure the future of the
school;
● returning all advanced
rental payments for
school-occupied land;
returning the $1.42m
borrowed from the school
for land purchases;
● and turning
school-occupied land
over to an independently
managed school trust.
It is our strongly held
opinion that AFIC is
continuing to operate as an
undemocratic boys club with
flagrant disregard for the
wellbeing of Australian
Muslims. AFIC does not
represent us.
The letter has several
hundred supporters online.
Trad, treasurer of AFIC,
told Guardian Australia the
organisation had democratic
processes by which its
members could seek change,
and that public petitions
were unhelpful and
uninformed.
This is an organisation
that has changed. Seven out
of nine board members of the
organisation have changed...
so that there can be no
doubt about its commitment
to fair and transparent and
proper process. This is a
different body, but the
people bringing petitions
dont seem to understand the
reforms that have been
undertaken.
This new body has done
everything in its power to
meet the requirements of the
department of education so
that the school can
continue. We have the best
interests of the school at
heart, and we remain willing
to sit down, anywhere,
anytime, to negotiate a new
arrangement to secure the
future of the school.
The Administrative Appeals
Tribunal found last week
Malek Fahd school was being
run for profit and was not a
fit and proper organisation.
Bernard McCabe, the AATs
deputy president, said Malek
Fahd appeared to be a good
school with community
support. But contractual
relationships with the
Australian Federation of
Islamic Councils means
government funding would
continue to flow from the
school to the federation.
The only appropriate course
is to affirm the decision
[to revoke federal
funding], McCabe wrote in
his ruling. That is a hard
outcome for [Malek Fahd] and
for the students and
community it serves. But the
ultimate responsibility must
be laid at the door of the
previous management of [the
school].
Simon Birmingham, the
federal education minister,
welcomed the AATs ruling to
withdraw Malek Fahds
funding, saying the school
had been operating for
profit in breach of the
Australian Education Act.
Australians rightly expect
that every taxpayer dollar
committed to school
education is genuinely
expended on school
education, Birmingham said.
School governance should be
of the highest standard and
funding should be
exclusively used for the
education and welfare of
students.
Our attention now turns to
working with the students
and their families, the
teachers and the whole
school community about how
we best support them through
this difficult time.
Malek Fahd operates over
three campuses in Sydneys
west in Greenacre, Hoxton
Park and Beaumont Hills.
Between 2012 and 2015, it
received more than $76m in
financial assistance from
the commonwealth, as well as
money from the New South
Wales government and tuition
income from parents.
It is estimated roughly
two-thirds of Malek Fahds
income in 2014-15 came from
the federal government.
Over
a year ago, the Council of
Imams NSW had established a
Centre for Arbitration and
Resolution of Disputes
(CARD).
This centre has since been
joined by qualified, capable
and well experienced Imams
and members of the Council
of Imams NSW, including the
Chairman of the National
Centre for Arbitration and
Resolution of Disputes (NCARD),
the Mufti of Australia, His
Eminence Dr. Ibrahim Abu
Mohammed.
The member Imams of the
centre are also familiar
with Australian family law
and hold two panels
accommodating both Arabic
and English speakers. The
Centre deals with personal
and family matters of
marriage, divorce,
dissolution of marriage,
Khula (termination), as
well as inheritance and
other religious matters.
Given the importance of this
matter and the extent to
which religious rights and
obligations encompass
marriage and divorce, the
Australian National Imams
Council (ANIC) advises the
Muslim community to ONLY
engage with qualified and
accredited Imams. In
particular, member Imams who
are accredited to perform
such services by the
Australian National Imams
Council from all Australian
states.
ANIC also urges the Muslim
community not to engage with
those who are not Imams,
unqualified in conducting
marriage contracts or
solving marital disputes as
this can result in severe
legal, Islamic and social
damages and ramifications.
For further enquiries or to
make an appointment with the
English Panel of CARD,
please contact: 0403 440 993
OR email:
info@card.org.au.
For further enquiries or to
make an appointment with the
Arabic Panel of CARD, please
contact: 0478 770 587 OR
email:
info@card.org.au.
Target's Back to School
catalogue has received mixed
responses on social media
after it featured a woman
wearing a hijab and children
with disabilities.
The public has taken to
social media to both praise
and criticise Target for its
Back to School catalogue,
which features a diverse
range of models including
children with disabilities
and from various cultural
backgrounds.
Ahmed 'Shonuff' M tweeted "@Targetaus
WOW Target. A Muslim model
in your ad. Breaking
barriers. This is very
impressive. #nohate #EqualityForAll
# weareallhuman
Erina-Lea Peters added: "@Kmart_Australia
and @Targetaus taking real
people as models to a new
level. Love it! #realpeople
#realmodels" while Sheena
Punk wrote: "Bravo @Targetaus
Showing diversity in your
back2school catalogue."
But there has also been some
criticism.
On Target's Facebook page,
Vettie Marr wrote: "I look
forward to Target having a
CHRISTIAN woman wearing a
large CRUCIFIX as we
wouldn't want Target
discriminating and only
promoting one religion would
we?"
Sonia Stephenson chimed in:
"Australia is
'multicultural', can we
please see other sectors
also represented in your
advertising?" to which
Target replied: "Thanks for
taking the time to share
your thoughts with us Sonia!
We always aim to be
inclusive with our
advertising, whether it's in
relation to age, gender,
ethnicity or people with a
disability."
A SECRETIVE organisation has
promised to reduce Islam
and encourage a more human
rights version of the
religion in the wake of
terror attacks.
The mysterious Q Society is
now gaining ground and
support for the
Islam-critical Movement
across Australia and has
decided to embrace the
limelight.
It is a far cry from the
days the group insisted
members sign a nondisclosure
agreement if they want to
attend one of its meetings.
But now the anti-Islam party
is publicly promoting a
$150-a-head (£89)
fundraising dinner in Sydney
and Melbourne, which will
feature speeches from
well-known local
councillors.
Leaders say the secretive
group is gathering momentum
across the pond in the wake
of multiple Islamist terror
attacks.
Deputy president Ralf
Schumann said now is the big
moment to reduce Islam and
encourage a more human
rights friendly version of
the religion.
He said: More people are
aware, they see the problems
in their backyard, their
community. The public has
picked up on it more with
every bombing, stabbing,
forced marriage and child
bride.
If you look back 10 years,
you wont read about these
issues. Everything was
fantastic, everyone wanted a
falafel or kebab.
With Islam, the problem
grows exponentially. Were
probably 10 years behind
Britain and Europe but were
catching up fast.
The main thing is to reduce
the numbers, not let it grow
any further and take the
status out of it in our
so-called multicultural
society.
Australias newest political
partys manifesto states
that Islam is not merely a
religion, it is a
totalitarian ideology with
global aspirations.
The party is affiliated with
the Australian Liberty
Alliance and global
organisation Stop The
Islamisation of Nations (SION),
which brought right-wing
Dutch politician Geert
Wilders to speak in
Australia.
Q Society has 1,000
registered members across
Australia who donate sums of
anything from $5 (£3) to
$5,000 (£3,000).
But the organisations
popularity hasnt gone
without receiving harsh
criticism.
Keysar Trad, from the
Islamic Friendship
Association of Australia,
said Q Society spreads
disturbing baseless
Islamophobia but said some
subscribed to their message
because of a lack of good
information about Islam.
However Mr Schumann argues
Islamophobia is a bogus
concept.
He told news.com.au: Its
basic slander, the usual
stuff to shut people up.
Call them a Nazi, a bigot.
I dont think its racist.
Its concern about one
particular ideology.
You probably dont remember
how it used to be when you
boarded an aircraft, it was
like getting on a train or a
tram. The change is
certainly not because of
crazy Hindus or Jews. Terror
works.
Atheists and agnostics, Jews
and Mormons are among the
highest-scoring groups in a
32-question survey of
religious knowledge by the
Pew Forum on Religion and
Public Life.
On average, Americans got 16
of the 32 questions correct.
Atheists and agnostics got
an average of 20.9 correct
answers. Jews (20.5) and
Mormons (20.3). Protestants
got 16 correct answers on
average, while Catholics got
14.7 questions right.
The North Brisbane
Interfaith Group (NBIG) has
been actively engaged in
promoting constructive and
harmonious interfaith
relationships throughout the
North Brisbane area for over
ten years.
The Group has approximately
170 corresponding members.
Most of these members
identify with one of the
following Religious or Faith
communities Bahai,
Buddhist, Christian, Jewish,
Hindu, Muslim, Sikh.
The major NBIG event for
this year is an INTERFAITH
COMPETITION 2017.
Four prizes of $1000 each
are available for the best
entries submitted under two
categories - SECONDARY
SCHOOL STUDENTS and OPEN (see
flier for details).
Entries are welcome from
people of all ages and from
any religious community who
share a commitment to
promoting cultural and
religious goodwill and
harmony.
A man, 34, has been charged
with sexually assaulting his
child "bride" and a
Melbourne Muslim cleric is
accused of the girl's forced
marriage.
The assault is alleged to
have occurred less than two
days after, the Melbourne
Magistrates' Court heard on
Friday.
Mohammad Shakir of
Springvale, is charged with
being a party to a forced
marriage and sexually
penetrating a child under
16, between September 30 and
October 1 last year. He
faced court via videolink.
Imam Ibrahim Omerdic, 61, is
charged with conduct that
caused a minor to enter into
a forced marriage at Noble
Park on September 29 last
year.
A DVD of the ceremony being
conducted at a mosque may
form part of the evidence,
the court was told.
Omerdic's bail was continued
and Shakir was further
remanded in custody until
the case resumes on February
3.
In recent years, Islam has
been thrust into world
spotlight for a number of
reasons starting with 9/11
and ISIS to anti-refugee
sentiments in Europe and a
certain US Presidential
candidates anti-Muslim
campaigns. In this
hullabaloo, we have
forgotten that some of the
coolest famous people we
look up to from Muhammad
Ali to Zayn Malik and Aziz
Ansari are all Muslims.
Would you believe it if we
told you there were many
more Muslims in the celeb
world?
This week's celebrity
Dr. Oz
Mehmet Oz, a household name
in the United States, has
admitted that he struggled
with his Muslim identity in
a household where his mother
was secular in her beliefs
while his father was
traditional. Dr. Oz
emphasizes the spiritual
aspect of his religion, and
has also stated as being
influenced by the mystical
element of his wifes
religion Swedenborgian
Christianity.
A memo to the
president-elect
about the people
he fears. BY
LAWRENCE PINTAK
An Idiots
Guide to Islam
in America
ARGUMENT
Islam hates us.
That was a
recurring theme
of your
campaign, Mr.
President-elect.
And who can
blame you? After
all, your top
advisors on
Muslim affairs
Ann Coulter,
Frank Gaffney,
and Walid Phares
are
card-carrying
Islamophobes.
Your incoming
national
security
advisor, retired
Army Lt. Gen.
Mike Flynn,
wants Muslim
leaders to
declare their
Islamic ideology
sick, and your
special advisor,
Steve Bannon,
has been accused
of using his
Breitbart News
Daily radio show
to instigate
fear and
loathing of
Muslims in
America.
But now that
youve announced
its time for
America to bind
the wounds of
division, it
might be useful
for you to learn
a little bit
more about one
of the most
alienated
segments of the
nation you now
lead: American
citizens who
also happen to
be Muslims.
I get that
youre worried
about what you
call radical
Islamic
terrorism. Ive
been reporting
on extremists
who claim to
represent Islam
since I covered
the first
anti-American
suicide bombings
in Beirut in the
early 1980s, so
I share your
concern. Ive
seen friends die
and others waste
away in
captivity at
their hands. And
Ive come
awfully close to
being a victim
myself a few
times. But Ive
also learned
that Muslims
come in many
colors
literally and
figuratively
and my doctorate
in Islamic
studies helped
me understand
that the
religion itself
is interpreted
in many
different ways.
In fact,
Americas 3.3
million Muslims,
the other 1
percent, are
developing their
own take on what
it means to
follow Islam.
The jihadis are
already
rejoicing at
your election
because their
words here, not
mine it
reveals the
true mentality
of the Americans
and their racism
toward Muslims
and Arabs and
everything. But
what do they
know?
When Bill
OReilly asked
you whether you
thought American
Muslims fear
you, you
replied, I hope
not. I want to
straighten
things out.
So, in a similar
spirit of good
tidings, this
memo about how
good ol
American values
are influencing
Islam in the
United States
might help make
that whole
straightening
out go a little
easier. Since
its not likely
that much beyond
references to
Islam as a
cancer is going
to make it into
your briefing
papers anytime
soon, I thought
Id toss this
out into the
webosphere in
the hope that
you might trip
across it late
some night while
prowling the
net.
(Its OK to just
read the stuff
in bold print.)
An American
accent does not
automatically
mean someone is
a good person.
Anwar al-Awlaki
is the poster
child for that.
Born in New
Mexico, Awlaki
grew up to
become a leading
ideologue and
recruiter for al
Qaeda, with a
vast social
media presence.
It was that
American accent
that made him so
compelling. Even
though he was
assassinated in
2011 by a U.S.
drone in Yemen,
online videos of
his lectures
continue to
inspire a new
generation of
extremists.
Awlaki is a
reminder that
the tiny subset
of homegrown
extremists is a
very real threat
and must be
identified and
distinguished
from the vast
majority of
Muslims in
America.
Of course,
not all American
imams ride
motorcycles or
play in punk
rock bands
like Saad
Tasleem, who has
his own clothing
line and is an
instructor at
AlMaghrib
Institute, which
bills itself as
a place that
doesnt turn
learning Islam
into a
snoozefest.
Many imams
from places like
Egypt, Pakistan,
and Malaysia
still hew to an
approach more in
keeping with the
societies from
which they
emigrated. At
the most
religiously
conservative
(thats not a
synonym for
political
extremist) end
of the spectrum,
bodies like the
Assembly of
Muslim Jurists
of America are
fighting a
rearguard action
with an approach
that would be at
home in the most
fundamentalist
Pakistani
madrasa.
Emblematic is
the
organizations
recent
Recommendations
of the
Conference on
Contemporary
Dawah Issues in
the West, which
included this
ruling on the
fiqh, or
understanding,
of the
fundamentals of
Islam: Music
that excites the
desires and
leads one to
immoral acts is,
by agreement,
unacceptable. As
for other types
of music, there
is a difference
of opinion. The
majority are of
the opinion that
they are all
forbidden and
that is the
strongest view
from a fiqh
perspective. The
least that could
be said is that
it is from the
doubtful matters
and it is safest
to avoid it.
But the
greybeards of
the old guard
are losing their
influence. Those
advocating for
an evolution of
Islam in the
United States
say the
emergence of a
new generation
of American
Muslims
children of the
immigrants of
the 1980s and
1990s raised
on social media
and hip hop,
means that to be
relevant, the
cultural mores
of the religion,
though not the
core values,
must likewise
adapt.
CONTINUING THE
LESSON NEXT WEEK
IN CCN:
At the heart
of this
evolution of
American Islam
is the question
of religious
authority.
Cory Bernardi is
reportedly set
to attend a
dinner to raise
funds for an
anti-Islam group
Why Australia
needs a
commissioner for
political
pluralism
We are at risk
in Australia of
creating a
political
climate where
extremists like
Holland's
anti-immigration
activist Geert
Wilders or
Greece's
communist leader
Dimitris
Koutsoumpas are
electable,
writes Mike
Bird. We must
rise to defend
our pluralism.
Burning anger
has, lamentably,
become the
dominating
feature of the
Australian
political
climate.
Walking through
Melbourne's
Brunswick
recently, I
noticed Sex
Party signs that
say "Tax the
Church" trying
to create the
impression that
all churches are
contemptible
multi-million
dollar
mega-complexes
built on the
moral bankruptcy
of a
televangelist.
Meanwhile,
Liberal MPs Cory
Bernardi and
George
Christensen are
reportedly set
to attend a
dinner to raise
funds for an
anti-Islam and
anti-immigration
group called the
Q-Society, whose
views can be
easily
characterised as
xenophobic.
How did this
happen? How did
we come to the
point where
disdain for
others was the
new normal in
Australian
politics?
The rancorous
debates over
same-sex
marriage,
immigration,
refugees, and
climate change,
combined with
people's fatigue
with the
two-party
system, has
created the
perfect storm
for some
political
monster to
emerge from the
abyss of
communal
fragmentation
and political
opportunism.
Or if not a
monster, someone
from the extreme
left or right,
far from the
mainstream.
Who's laughing
now?
..............
Confident
pluralism argues
that we can and
must live
together
peaceably in
spite of deep
and sometimes
irresolvable
differences over
politics,
religion,
sexuality, and
other important
matters. We can
do so in two
important ways
by insisting on
constitutional
commitments that
honour and
protect
difference and
by embodying
tolerance,
humility, and
patience in our
speech, our
collective
action, and our
relationships
across
difference.
An Australian Muslim convert
invites people to discover real
Islam and warns people not to
learn Islam from doubtful
sources like the media.
Exhibit
illuminates the divine art of
the Quran
PBS NewsHour
A major exhibition on the art of
the Quran is being billed as the
first of its kind in the U.S.
Sixty-eight of the most
important and exquisite Qurans
ever produced are on view now at
the Smithsonians Sackler
Gallery in Washington, D.C.
Jeffrey Brown reports on the
vast variety of the manuscripts
on display and the beauty,
history and hard work behind
each masterpiece.
JUDY WOODRUFF: In the
charged atmosphere at this time
around the role of Muslims in
America comes what is billed as
the first major exhibition on in
the United States on the Quran.
Jeffrey Brown reports.
MASSUMEH FARHAD, Arthur M.
Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian
Institution: This is one of the
great highlights of the
exhibition. Its a Quran from
the early 14th century, from
about 1330, signed by a great
master.
JEFFREY BROWN: Signed?
MASSUMEH FARHAD: Signed.
JEFFREY BROWN: Yes.
A holy book, as a work of art,
the Quran, sacred to some 1.6
billion Muslims around the
world. A new exhibition at the
Smithsonian Institutions
Sackler Gallery in Washington,
D.C., presents 68 of the most
important and exquisite Qurans
ever produced.
Dating from the late 7th to
early 17 centuries, they come
from many parts of the Islamic
world and are part of the
collection of the Museum of
Turkish and Islamic Arts in
Istanbul. Thats where Sackler
chief curator Massumeh Farhad
first saw them.
MASSUMEH FARHAD: I
realized that these were true
works of art, that every single
one of them was astounding in
its sort of mastery of
calligraphy, of the styles, and
also of the scale of the works.
And that is something that, to
me, was very important, and
motivated me in trying to
organize this exhibition,
because I thought it really
shifted my perception of what
these works are. And Im hoping
that it will also shift the
perception of the visitors who
come to the museum to see the
exhibition.
JEFFREY BROWN: For
Muslims, the Quran is a divine
text, a series of revelations
transmitted from the angel
Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed
between 610 and 632. It includes
references to earlier figures,
including Abraham, Moses and
Jesus.
The term itself means
recitation. The Quran stems from
an oral tradition. But the text
was written down and codified in
a fixed form not long after the
death of Mohammed.
Maria Dakake teaches Islamic
religious thought and history at
George Mason University.
MARIA DAKAKE, George
Mason University: One of the
things that is rather striking
about the Quran when people read
it for the first time is that it
often takes the form of direct
address.
So, it will say sometimes, oh,
you who believe. Sometimes, it
will address all human beings,
oh, humankind. It is a series of
moral exhortations, exhortations
to virtue. It includes many
stories of prophets before the
time of Mohammed.
It is an attempt to grab the
listener, or grab the reader, to
wake them up, to make them think
about their life, about the
world around them. Its a lot of
passages with rhetorical
sentences, right? Did you not
consider this? Didnt you think
about this? How did you get
here?
JEFFREY BROWN: The
exhibition includes furniture,
stands to hold manuscripts, and
chests to store them.
Many of these Qurans were
originally commissioned and
donated or collected by rulers.
Early manuscripts, on parchment,
feature plain ink and simple
designs. Later, artists and
calligraphers developed ever
more elaborate and ornate
script, illumination, and
geometric patterns, in light of
Islams proscription against
figurative images, to make each
manuscript a singular work.
MASSUMEH FARHAD: Its how
they sort of use their
individuality is really quite
remarkable. And the greater
master, the better they can sort
of manipulate the style without
breaking the rules, because you
could not break the rules of a
particular style of calligraphy,
but you could sort of stretch
them, and sort of introduce your
own sort of touch to a
particular style or a particular
type of writing.
JEFFREY BROWN: Some of
these masters are well known to
scholars, like the maker of this
Quran, Abdullah Sayrafi, who
spent most of his life in Tabriz
in Northwestern Iran.
MASSUMEH FARHAD: What is
remarkable about Abdullah
Sayrafi is the fact that he was
able to write in more than one
style of calligraphy, because,
usually, most calligraphers
specialized in one style and one
particular size alone.
It was clearly a Quran that was
meant for display. It is so
lavish in its use of both
illumination, in terms of that
very rich black ink, the fact
that every gold line is outlined
in black. I mean, this is a
visual feast, and its supposed
to be viewed and looked at. So,
it was meant as a display copy.
JEFFREY BROWN: How long
would it take to do something
like this?
MASSUMEH FARHAD: Many
years.
JEFFREY BROWN: Years for
each one?
MASSUMEH FARHAD: For each
one.
JEFFREY BROWN: Even amid a
highly contentious and
politicized atmosphere today
concerning Muslims in America,
the curators say this exhibition
was long in the works, and the
timing is coincidental.
For her part, Maria Dakake hopes
it will shine a different kind
of spotlight on Islam and the
Quran.
MARIA DAKAKE: You will hear
sometimes Islamophobic comments
about Islam. And they will say,
well, you know, why would I want
to know anything about this
text? I see what kinds of things
it produces, right? It produces
people who behave in these
violent ways or something like
that.
But when you come here, you see
the larger reality of what it
produced, right? It produced
beauty. It produced scientific
inquiry. It inspired literary
endeavors.
And in a time of Islamophobia, I
think whats so valuable about
this collection is to see the
kind of artistic elements, the
beauty that the Quran really
brought.
JEFFREY BROWN: The Art of the
Quran is on exhibition through
February.
From the Sackler Gallery in
Washington, D.C., Im Jeffrey
Brown for the PBS NewsHour.
British AND
Muslim?
Malik El-Shabazz
Initiative
Bilal Hassam: on
the British Muslim identity,
life as a Muslim in the UK, and
reflections on the current
political climate.
The
Australian International
Islamic College- Durack is
open to applications for
Health and Physical
Education teaching positions
for Secondary College (HPE
7-10, HE/PE 11-12).
Positions will be available
for the start of Term 1 2017
(23rd January 2017).
Applicants must have
teachers registration with
the Queensland College of
Teachers to be eligible for
an appointment.
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU!
Excellent communication
skills to deliver the
curriculum
Well-developed management
skills
A passion to enrich
childrens learning
Enthusiasm
The
Australian International
Islamic College was
established in 2002 to meet
the growing needs for
children of the Islamic
faith in the Brisbane area.
The college has 3 campuses;
Durack (Main), Carrara and
Buranda. The Durack Campus
has a population of 500
students of which most
students live in
neighbouring suburbs of
Durack.
US: Rex Tillerson,
President-elect Donald Trump's pick to
lead the State Department, did not rule
out the creation of a national registry
of Muslims during his Wednesday
confirmation hearing.
But Tillerson did say he would not
support a "blanket-type" ban on all
Muslim immigration into the United
States.
Trump has regularly floated using a
registry to track Muslims in America as
a way to protect the country against
potential acts of terror. But his staff
regularly tries to tamp down those
concerns in statements.
When pressed on the registry by Sen.
Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tillerson
punted.
I would need to have a lot more
information around how such an approach
would even be constructed, he said.
If it were a tool for vetting, it
obviously extends to other groups as
well that are threats to the U.S.
Tillerson went on to add during the
hearing that America will need to rely
on peaceful Muslims across the world in
its fight against terror, saying his
travels throughout Muslim countries
across the world have helped him to gain
an appreciation and recognition of this
great faith.
Trump's call for a Muslim registry
echoes a George W. Bush
administration-era program, the National
Security Entry-Exit Registration System
(NSEERS), which created new check-in
requirements for citizens of certain
countries while in the United States.
With the exception of North Korea, all
of the countries had Muslim-majority
populations. Many of the NSEERS
requirements were suspended in 2011,
with the program eliminated entirely
last December.
Two Trump Cabinet picks have already
raised concerns about the proposed
registry in their hearings. Homeland
Security pick and retired Gen. John
Kelly said Tuesday that he wouldn't
agree with a religion-based registry,
while Trump's attorney general pick,
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), said the
registry would create constitutional
issues.
Montreal Eatery Offers
Free Food for Those Without Money
Broke and
hungry? This Montreal eatery
will feed you. Marchι Ferdous
provides food for those who
cant pay for their meal, and
finds their regulars want to
help too.
CANADA: A Canadian
eatery is offering free meals to the
hungry while also setting an example
for how a gesture of generosity can
make a difference. Marchι Ferdous, a
small Middle Eastern restaurant in
downtown Montreal, implemented a new
policy those without money can
dine for free five months ago,
reports CBC News.
Restaurant co-owner Yahye Hashemi
came up with the idea after he
noticed how frequently people came
in asking for spare change. While he
initially gave people money to use
at the restaurant, he realized it
would be easier to serve free meals.
Now, a sign written in both English
and French is pasted outside his
restaurant reading: "People with no
money welcome to eat for free."
"We do not ask any questions; we do
not judge people," Hashemi, who
co-owns the joint with Ala Amiry,
tells Global News. "They want to
eat, [we] give them the food. That's
it, that's all."
The Iranian-born businessman
estimates his restaurant feeds four
to five people a day. As far as
finances are concerned, Hashemi says
he considers it a business expense.
"We don't think about how much it
will cost us," he tells CBC News,
adding that it is in his faith to
help people and that he wants to
give back to the country that has
given him so much.
News of the restaurant's policy made
headlines after a customer tested
out the sign's claims. After
successfully receiving a free meal,
Sean Jalbert took to Facebook to
share his experience. "Curious
enough I walked in and pretend I had
no money and asked for food," writes
Jalbert. "She didn't ask anything,
but said we welcome you and pick
whatever you like, including
anything I wanted to drink. Made me
smile and warm inside I paid for my
food and told them they were awesome
for doing this."
Hashemi's generosity has proved to
be contagious, as diners at the
establishment have started donating
money to feed the less fortunate.
"They come here, they donate $20,
$30, $50 and they say, 'OK, the next
few people are on me,'" Hashemi
says.
Despite inspiring their customers
with their goodwill, the
restaurant's chef, Abdelkader
Bejaoui, maintains what they're
doing is "not a big deal." Bejaoui
told CTV News: "It doesn't matter,
because at night if you still have
leftover food you end up throwing it
out, so why not give to those in
need? It's not a big deal."
The good-faith free-meals policy
will remain at Marchι Ferdous
indefinitely and the team hopes to
inspire other Montreal restaurants
to follow suit.
Former refugee Ahmed
Hussen takes over immigration ministry
Ahmed Hussen,
centre, poses with Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau, right,
and Gov.-Gen. David Johnston
after being sworn in as Minister
of Immigration, Refugees and
Citizenship during a cabinet
shuffle at Rideau Hall in Ottawa
on Tuesday.
CANADA:
Hussen came to Canada from
war-torn Somalia when he was
16, and now takes over
immigration and refugee file
for Justin Trudeau.
Ahmed Hussen, centre, poses
with Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau, right, and
Gov.-Gen. David Johnston
after being sworn in as
Minister of Immigration,
Refugees and Citizenship
during a cabinet shuffle at
Rideau Hall in Ottawa on
Tuesday.
OTTAWAIn 2004, Ahmed Hussen
was proclaimed a Person to
Watch in the countrys
biggest city for his
community work in Regent
Park. He told the Star at
the time: I dont think I
could handle the life of a
politician . . . I dont
want to be front and
centre.
Flash forward to Tuesday,
and there was Hussen, front
and slightly to the right,
swearing an oath to serve
the Queen in front of a
cluster of clicking cameras
as he officially joined the
reshuffled Liberal cabinet
of Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau. The rookie MP for
York-South Weston has leapt
from the backbench of the
party to become Minister of
Immigration, Refugees and
Citizenship, a position made
all the more noteworthy for
Hussens own story. He came
to this country as a refugee
from war-torn Somalia,
settling on his own in a
foreign land as a
16-year-old in 1993.
Just hours after formally
assuming his new post,
Hussen who has been a
lawyer, human rights
advocate and community
activist said the
trajectory of his life would
affect how he approaches the
job, just like it would for
anyone else.
I am extremely proud of our
countrys history as a place
of asylum, a place that
opens its doors and hearts
to new immigrants and
refugees, and Im especially
proud today to be the
minister in charge of that
file, Hussen told reporters
outside the House of Commons
on Tuesday.
The story of Canada is the
story of immigration, and
Im especially proud and
humbled that the prime
minister would task me with
this important role.
Hussen was first elected in
2015, part of the surge of
votes that saw the Liberals
nearly sweep Toronto and
much of the surrounding
area. Since coming to Ottawa
as Canadas first
Somali-born MP, he has
served on the Justice and
Human Rights Committee as
well as the Canada-Africa
Parliamentary Association.
Prior to being elected,
Hussen worked as a lawyer,
practicing criminal defence,
immigration and refugee law.
He also served on the board
of the Global Enrichment
Foundation, which helps
women in East Africa go to
university and colleges in
the region, as well as the
board for the Toronto-based
Journalists for Human
Rights.
Speaking to the Star for
after his election in 2015,
Hussen described how he
arrived in Canada as a
solitary teenager and went
to high school in Hamilton.
After graduation, he moved
in with one of his brothers,
who lived in subsidized
housing in Torontos Regent
Park neighbourhood. To put
himself through school at
York University, Hussen
commuted nearly two hours to
pump gas in Mississauga.
It was his experience living
in Regent Park that drew him
into politics. Hussen
co-founded the neighbourhood
association that pushed for
the inclusion of more public
housing in the $500-million
redevelopment of the
community, and eventually
became a prominent voice as
president of the Canadian
Somali Congress.
In 1999, the newly elected
George Smitherman who went
on to be a provincial
cabinet minister and Toronto
mayoral candidate met
Hussen in Regent Park.
Smitherman became a kind of
mentor for Hussen,
eventually helping him land
a gig working in former
premier Dalton McGuintys
office.
Smitherman told the Star
Tuesday that he was thrilled
to see Hussen vaulted to
cabinet after such a short
period on Parliament Hill.
Thats the beauty of
politics. If your leader
sees your talent, you have
the opportunity to ride the
express elevator to the
top, he said.
Hes got an impressive
energy and an irrepressible
sprit and I think those
things are going to serve
him extremely well and serve
Canada well.
Hussen takes over the
immigration department that
was previously headed by
veteran Markham MP John
McCallum, who shepherded
nearly 40,000 refugees from
Syria into Canada during his
14 months on the job.
McCallum is leaving his post
to be Canadas ambassador to
China and told reporters
Tuesday that he feels the
department is in good
hands with Hussen.
News media say law due to
take effect soon also prohibits
import and marketing of garment
in "all cities and towns".
Most women in Morocco prefer
the hijab without the face veil,
but in some conservative regions
the niqab is not uncommon
MOROCCO: Morocco has banned
the production and sale of
full-face veils apparently
for security reasons,
according to local media
reports.
While there was no official
announcement by authorities
in the North African nation,
the reports said the
interior ministry order
would take effect this week.
"We have taken the step of
completely banning the
import, manufacture and
marketing of this garment in
all the cities and towns of
the kingdom," the Le360 news
site quoted a high-ranking
interior ministry official
as saying on Tuesday.
It said the measure appeared
to be motivated by security
concerns, "since bandits
have repeatedly used this
garment to perpetrate their
crimes".
Most women in Morocco, whose
King Mohammed VI favours a
moderate version of Islam,
prefer the hijab, or
headscarf, which does not
cover the face.
Hammad Kabbaj, a preacher
who was barred from standing
in parliamentary elections
in October over his alleged
ties to "extremism",
denounced the ban as
"unacceptable".
In comments on Facebook, he
mocked the "Morocco of
freedom and human rights"
which "considers the wearing
of the Western swimsuit on
the beaches an untouchable
right".
But Nouzha Skalli, a former
family and social
development minister,
welcomed the ban as "an
important step in the fight
against religious
extremism".
The High Council of Ulemas,
the country's top religious
authority, has yet to
comment on the issue of
banning full-face veils.
Thanks to this Afghan
woman, 6,000 imams have taken
gender-sensitivity training
Saudi women have now become
an integral part of the airport
staff
AFGHANISTAN: JANUARY 5, 2017
KABUL, AFGHANISTANIt is
Friday noon in Kabul,
Afghanistan, and men dressed
in traditional clothes hurry
to mosques to pray in
congregation. Friday prayers
are usually mens business,
and during the Taliban rule
in the 1990s, women were not
allowed in mosques. But in
one neighbourhood in the
city, an imam has kept the
doors of his mosque open to
women for 12 years now. He
often preaches about womens
rights in Islam that women
are equal to men and have
the right to work and study.
This is all because of a
woman named Jamila Afghani
and the gender-sensitivity
training program she has
created.
Ms. Afghani has a friendly
smile that hides all that
she has had to endure in
life. A womens rights
activist and Islamic scholar
in Afghanistan, she has
battled discrimination, as
well as disability, since
childhood. But it was access
to education and being able
to read the Quran herself
that made her realize Islam
could be used to empower
women in Afghanistan.
Today, according to Afghani,
about 20 percent of Kabuls
mosques have special prayer
areas for women, whereas
only 15 years ago there were
none. The sermons delivered
by imams about the
importance of education have
also helped many women
persuade their families to
let them study. In fact,
some 6,000 imams in
Afghanistan have
participated in Afghanis
training program.
Afghani was born in Kabul in
1974, a few years before the
Soviet invasion of the
country. When she was only a
few months old, she
contracted polio, which left
one of her legs disabled.
But for Afghani the
disability became a blessing
in disguise. Her family was
conservative and did not
approve of education for
girls. Her sisters played
outside, but Afghani was not
able to; she became easily
bored and spent her days
crying. Finally, at the
suggestion of her doctor,
her father enrolled her in
first grade.
I became very happy. When I
got to school, it was my
whole world, she says.
Afghani was in fifth grade
when the fighting between
the mujahideen and the
Soviet Union became so
fierce that her family left
Afghanistan for Pakistan. In
Peshawar, she enrolled in
masters-level classes in
Islamic studies and began
learning Arabic. Once there,
she came to see an Islam
that was not what she had
been familiar with.
When I started learning
Arabic and studying by
myself, I found out that
Islam is totally different
from what my family was
saying, what my environment
was teaching, she says.
Everything was always a
discrimination in our
family, says Afghani, who
observed how her brothers
behaved with their wives.
They were educated women,
but my brothers stopped them
from continuing their
education and working, she
recounts. I thought, if [my
brothers] can go outside,
why not my sisters-in-law?
German police quash
Breitbart story of mob setting fire to
Dortmund church
Tens of
thousands clicked and shared the
Breitbart.com story with the
headline Revealed: 1,000-man
mob attack police, set Germanys
oldest church alight on New
Years Eve.
GERMANY: German media and
politicians have warned
against an election-year
spike in fake news after the
rightwing website Breitbart
claimed a mob chanting
Allahu Akbar had set fire
to a church in the city of
Dortmund on New Years Eve.
After the report by the US
site was widely shared on
social media, the citys
police clarified that no
extraordinary or
spectacular incidents had
marred the festivities.
The local newspaper, Ruhr
Nachrichten, said elements
of its online reporting on
New Years Eve had been
distorted by Breitbart to
produce fake news, hate and
propaganda.
The justice minister of
Hesse state, Eva
Kόhne-Hφrmann, said that
the danger is that these
stories spread with
incredible speed and take on
lives of their own.
The controversy highlights a
deepening divide between
backers of German chancellor
Angela Merkels liberal
stance toward refugees and a
rightwing movement that
opposes immigration, fears
Islam and distrusts the
government and media.
Tens of thousands clicked
and shared the Breitbart.com
story with the headline
Revealed: 1,000-man mob
attack police, set Germanys
oldest church alight on New
Years Eve.
It said the men had chanted
Allahu Akbar (God is
greatest), launched
fireworks at police and set
fire to a historic church,
while also massing around
the flag of al-Qaida and
Islamic State collaborators
the Free Syrian Army.
The local newspaper said
Breitbart had combined and
exaggerated unconnected
incidents to create a
picture of chaos and of
foreigners promoting
terrorism.
Stray fireworks did start a
small blaze, but only on
netting covering scaffolding
on the church and it was put
out after about 12 minutes,
the paper reported. The roof
was not on fire and the
church is not Germanys
oldest.
Dortmund police on Thursday
said its officers had
handled 185 missions that
night, sharply down from 421
the previous year. The
forces leader judged the
night as rather average to
quiet, in part thanks to a
large police presence.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine
Zeitung daily said Breitbart
had used exaggerations and
factual errors to create an
image of chaotic civil
war-like conditions in
Germany, caused by Islamist
aggressors.
It said the article may be
a foretaste of what is to
come before parliamentary
elections expected in
September as some websites
spread misinformation and
distortion in order to
diminish trust in
established institutions.
Justice minister Heiko Maas
warned in mid-December that
Germany would use its laws
against deliberate
disinformation and that
freedom of expression did
not protect slander and
defamation.
Bild, Germanys top-selling
daily, also predicted
trouble ahead pointing to
the fact that Breitbarts
former editor Steve Bannon
had been appointed as US
president-elect Donald
Trumps chief strategist.
It warned that Breitbart
which plans to launch German
and French language sites
could seek to aggravate the
tense political climate in
Germany.
KB says:
A treat for the children as the holidays come to
an end .
This recipe was kindly shared by Bilkees Jadwat.
Churros
Ingredients
1 cup of water
80 grams of butter
3 tablespoons brown sugar
teaspoon salt
1 cup flour
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Method
1. Bring water butter and sugar to boil in a
saucepan
2. Once it boils remove from the heat and add
flour and stir quickly till it forms a ball.
3. Put it back on the heat and stir for about a
minute then remove from heat .
4. Once mixture is a little cooler, beat in eggs
one at a time.
5. Add vanilla and beat till nice and smooth.
6. Place into a piping bag and using a star
nozzle pipe into hot oil and use a scissor to
snip batter into the oil and fry till its
golden.
In a separate bowl mix
½ cup castor sugar
Half tsp cinnamon powder
As churros come out of the oil, drain and roll
in the cinnamon sugar. Serve with chocolate
ganache and fresh cream.
Note: When cooled, individual wrap each piece in
clingwrap for a quick on the go snack.
Substitute ½ quantity of sugar with honey for an
even tastier alternative.
Q: Dear
Kareema, what is interval training and how will
it benefit me?
A: HIIT, or high-intensity interval
training, is a workout in which you go all-out,
one hundred percent effort through quick,
intense bursts of exercise, followed by short,
sometimes active, recovery periods.
This type of training gets and keeps your heart
rate up and burns more fat in less time. A
high-intensity workout increases the bodys need
for oxygen during the effort and creates an
oxygen shortage, causing your body to ask for
more oxygen during recovery, This afterburn
effect is the reason why intense exercise will
help burn more fat and calories than regular
aerobic workouts.
The recompense for an injury
is an injury equal thereto
(in degree): but if a person
forgives and makes
reconciliation, his reward
is due from Allah: for
(Allah) does not love those
who do wrong.
Youth activities for primary
school aged children (both
boys and girls) are being
organized on behalf of
Sisters House Services.
It is called the Young
Muslims Club. (Previously
called the Young Amirs Club
but changed to include girls
in the activities and not
just boys).
There's no cost to be a
member of the club. There
are monthly activities doing
different fun social and
educational activities in
usually in the Kuraby-Logan
area or sometimes all around
Brisbane.
Weekly activities take place
in the school holidays.
All activities are run by
professional organisations.
Parents only have to pay the
cost of the activity if
their child wants to
participate, which is
usually $15-20 (cost price
is charged only because this
is a not for profit club).
Parents are welcome to stay
with the kids while they
participate.
Everyone is welcome to join
in with the activities.
Older and younger siblings
are welcome to join. For
most activities the minimum
age is 3.
Parent info session, student assessments,
registration will be held
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
HOLLAND PARK MOSQUE
Queensland Police Service/Muslim Community
Consultative Group
Minutes from the QPS/Muslim Community
Reference Group meeting held on
Monday 24 October 2016 at the Islamic College of Brisbane [ICB]
are available
here.
Next Meeting
Time: 7pm Date: TBA Venue: Islamic College of Brisbane - 45 Acacia Road
Karawatha
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
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Births, Marriages,
New Migrants and
Condolences
Over
a year ago, the Council of
Imams NSW had established a
Centre for Arbitration and
Resolution of Disputes
(CARD). 
Tillerson
won't rule out Muslim registry
Jabar
Jr. came to the the Madressa class at the start of the
term as a first time student.
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August 2011