The bag, left at the front
gate of the Islamic College of
Brisbane, was removed before
students arrived but staff were
shaken. .
Muslim schoolchildren were
targeted in an early-morning
attack in Brisbane's south
on Wednesday, when a bag
featuring a swastika and
containing a severed pig's
head was left at a school's
front gate.
Islamic College of Brisbane
staff removed the bag before
students arrived at the
school in outer suburb
Karawatha, acting school
chairman Ali Kadri said, but
staff and students had been
left shaken.
"They're worried because,
while it's a minor thing,
there are really young kids
who go to that school,
because it goes from Prep to
year 12," he said.
"It's about the safety of
the kids. If somebody's
going to do this, given the
climate, anything else could
happen as well.
"So it's really scary."
Prominent identity Yassmin
Abdel-Magied, a former
student of the school, took
to Twitter to speak of her
disgust at the attack on the
college in which she spent
her primary education.
"How is a parent supposed to
explain to a kid why people
hate them?" she said.
"I'm just so sorry. I'm so
so sorry we have to live in
a world where kids can't go
to school in Australia
without being shamed and
threatened."
Mr Kadri said some young
males in a Subaru WRX were
caught on school cameras and
that footage, which included
a partial numberplate, had
been passed on to police.
"The camera footage is quite
clear," he said.
"(Police are) finding
evidence and I'm sure
there'll be arrests out of
this."
Students had been informed
of the attack, Mr Kadri
said, and counselling had
been made available.
"Luckily, the staff were out
before school and they were
able to clear it and they
were able to get the kids in
without distress," he said.
Mr Kadri said the police
response had been
"phenomenal" and he had no
doubt what had led to what
he described as a "hate
crime" against Muslims.
"Right wing extremists,
including some politicians
and shock jocks who demonise
Islamic schools, are
responsible for this," he
said.
It was the first time the
Islamic College of Brisbane
had been targeted in such a
matter, Mr Kadri said,
although there had been a
similar incident at the
Holland Park Mosque.
A Queensland Police Service
spokesman confirmed an
investigation was underway.
"A call was received from an
educational facility on
Acacia Road, Karawatha,
shortly before 9am this
morning, about a backpack
containing decaying meat,"
he said.
The spokesman said police
were keen to speak to any
witnesses.
Parents at a primary school
on the Gold Coast are
opposing a push from their
P&C President to ban Muslim
girls from wearing a hijab
as part of their uniform.
Benowa State School P&C
President Brooke Patterson,
who is also a member of the
LNP (Liberal National
Party), on the weekend
passed a motion at the state
party conference to ban
girls under the age of 10
from wearing headscarves at
schools.
“It's something we need to
debate otherwise within
three years there will be a
Muslim uniform in all state
schools in Queensland,” Ms
Patterson said.
Principal of Benowa State
School Michael Josey would
not comment to 9News, but
it’s believed he wants Ms
Patterson to resign from her
position.
It is also understood Mr
Josey has accused her of
having a conflict of
interest and misusing her
political position.
LNP member Brooke Patterson
debates a resolution at the
Liberal National Party (LNP)
state convention in Brisbane.
Outside the school today,
parents told 9News that
"every culture is different"
and "people should be able
to decide what they want to
wear."
“I don’t think it’s fair at
all they’re trying to
promote cultural
togetherness and to stop
them from honouring their
culture I think that’s
wrong," one parent said.
“Every religion should be
able to do what that
religion needs.”
Under Education Department
guidelines, uniform rules
can be bent to accommodate
cultural and religious
beliefs.
Brooke Patterson, the Liberal
National party member who moved
the motion to call for a ban on
headscarves for children under
the age of 10.
The Liberal National party
state conference in
Queensland has
overwhelmingly voted against
a limited Muslim immigration
ban but has voted to call
for headscarves to be banned
for young children.
The main resolution had
called for the federal
government to ban
immigration from countries
with sharia law, with those
in favour saying it was was
“culturally incompatible“
with Australian values.
However, those arguing
against it said that
immigrants should be judged
on a case-by-case basis and
are often fleeing
persecution under sharia in
those countries.
Ultimately the resolution
was defeated by what the LNP
president, Gary Spence,
described as an
“overwhelming” majority of
attendees.
An emergency resolution
calling for a general ban on
clothing that obscures the
face was also defeated,
however a second emergency
resolution calling for a ban
on headscarves for children
under the age of 10 was
passed.
The delegate moving the
motion to adopt the
resolution, Brooke Patterson
from the Southport State
Electoral Council, said she
was a P&C member at a local
school and had been asked to
design appropriate uniforms
for young girls that
incorporated “sexual modesty
coverings”.
“We need to debate this now,
otherwise in three months
there will be a Muslim
uniform in state schools in
Queensland,” Patterson said.
Another delegate, Wendy Ko
from the Surfers Paradise
SEC, argued against the
resolution, saying the
Liberal National party
should be in favour of
freedom of religion.
“We shouldn’t even be having
this discussion,” Ko said.
“I don’t think anyone has
the right to tell an Islamic
family how to raise their
daughter.”
Ultimately the resolution
was passed.
The Queensland Labor
government frontbencher
Leeanne Enoch later on
Sunday said she was
disappointed by that result.
“I think it’s absolutely
appalling, we live in a
multicultural society,”
Enoch told reporters.
“They’re talking about what
children should wear in
schools – that is the dark
ages.”
In recent times prejudice,
negative stereotypes and
discrimination have been
contentious topics of debate
in many political, social
and educational circles.
The proposition of “Should
Immigration be restricted
from certain countries?” was
debated affirmatively by The
Gold Coast Australian
International Islamic
College (AIIC) and the
Emmanuel College against
restriction. External
Adjudicators Ms Lynne Walsh
former head of Australian
Curriculum and Assessment
Program (ACARA) Queensland;
and Dr Michelle De Villiers
from Qld Debating schools.
Students debated aspects
pertaining to economics,
agriculture, health,
national security policies
and rethinking Australian
multiculturalism.
Haadia Mohammed, member of
the debating team, expressed
that the exchange ’ was a
great opportunity to work
with another school, and no
matter how small, our
interactions is an
opportunity to shape
people’s minds and hearts
and possibly help change the
world around us’.
The debate was well received
and extremely competitive
scoring 9-10 to Emmanuel
College, Lynne Walsh
expressed her amazement for
the AIIC students saying
’the students were very
skilful and convincing in
the debate and reflected
some of the most factual and
pressing issues our
Australian community is
grappling with’.
The students from the
Emmanuel College and the
AIIC Gold Coast continue to
work towards establishing
better grassroots change,
understanding, and promoting
positive social engagement.
AIIC proposal at Durack has
received conditional approval
from Brisbane City Council.
Significant parts of an
Islamic school's proposal
for a masterplanned hub in
Brisbane's south-west has
been rejected by the
Brisbane City Council, with
the site restricted to
educational purposes.
The Australian International
Islamic College (AIIC) at
Durack lodged a development
application, with the
council in February 2015
proposing a childcare
centre, mosque, a
multi-storey residential
building, medical centre and
aged care facility be built
on the school's site at 724
Blunder Road.
On Thursday afternoon the
council issued conditional
approval, which did not
allow the proposed
residential building, aged
care or shops on the school
grounds.
The council permitted
boarding facilities for
students who lived outside
of Brisbane, similar to
facilities at many other
independent schools, but
said no to non-educational
residential buildings.
The council's city planning
boss Julian Simmonds said
most of the feedback council
received was about the
school expanding into
non-education related
activities.
"Council has heard this
feedback and this approval
specifically prevents the
college from expanding into
an exclusive gated
community."
The application received 50
official submissions from
the public, of which 18 were
valid and 15 of those
objected to the proposed
masterplanned development.
Residents raised concerns
about the scale of the
design and associated
traffic impacts as well as
concerns that an Islamic hub
could create segregation in
the community.
Cr Simmonds said the
approved masterplan was
assessed against the
Sustainable Planning Act.
"Under state planning laws,
council is required to
assess all development
applications without
discrimination on the basis
of race, religion, politics
or personality," he said.
"Several new classrooms have
been approved for the
college and a preschool
childcare centre.
"A place of worship has also
been allowed in line with
the previous approval, which
will also be used by
students and the school
community."
Cr Simmonds said the
approval of a place of
worship was in line with the
"common practice" across
Australia's independent
schools.
"By reducing the scale and
uses on the site, council
has also minimised noise and
traffic impacts and ensured
that the allowable
development is consistent
with site's zoning for
education."
Cr Simmonds said the council
assessed the proposal for a
shop on the school site but
determined it could not be
part of the school and would
have to be separate.
Local councillor Steve
Griffiths said the council's
decision was good for the
community, but he had
concerns about the
development.
"I still have concerns that
it's still allowing
education land be rezoned
for development of retail
and medical centre," he
said.
"They are still allowing
that to occur but from a
traffic point of view it's
more sensible."
Cr Griffiths said the actual
number of submissions
received for the application
were 193, with that figure
including all submissions,
not just those received
during the official public
comment period.
Cr Simmonds said the shop
and the medical facility had
been approved hard up
against Blunder Road.
"They will be open to the
public and accessible to the
public," he said.
"Durack is a growing area
and what the planning
officers have considered is
there is a need for that
kind of facility in Durack
that's open to the public,
but I would stress they are
separate and outside of the
gates of the school and open
to all residents."
It is entirely up to the
school if it acts as a
landlord to the shop and
medical centre or runs them.
Opposition city planning
spokeswoman Shayne Sutton
said the planning outcome
was a hard-fought win for
the local councillor and the
community.
"We have always argued that
the application be
considered on planning
grounds alone," she said.
"It doesn't matter who makes
an application. If it
doesn't accord with the city
plan, it shouldn't go
ahead."
The school and people who
made submissions during the
community consultation stage
were entitled to appeal the
council's decision.
Under the masterplan, 2.7
hectares of wetlands and
bushland would be protected
and transferred to public
ownership.
Mohamad Abdalla & Dylan Chown, Centre
for Islamic Thought & Education (CITE),
UniSA
L- R – Mr Muhammad Abdullah;
Dr Nadeem Memon; Mr Dylan Chown;
Prof Seema Imam; Prof Mohamad
Abdalla, Dr Ibrahima Diallo; Dr
Muhammad Zuhdi; Lester-Irabinna
Rigney; Ms Aynur Simsirel
Educators, policy makers and
thought leaders gathered on
the 11th and 12th of July
for the second Annual
Australian Islamic Schooling
Conference held at
picturesque Yurebilla, known
also as MT Lofty in Adelaide
Hills. The theme explored at
the conference was that of
curriculum in Islamic
schooling.
These now whole-of-field
gatherings hosted by the
Centre for Islamic Thought
and Education (CITE) aim to
assist in the transition
from the establishment phase
in the field of Islamic
schooling to an exciting
phase of renewal, bolstering
the momentum needed to forge
best practice across the
sector. So far, the response
to our call for renewal has
witnessed the gathering of
minds from Australia, the
USA, Canada, the Sultanate
of Oman, Indonesia,
Singapore, Canada and from
around Australia.
The two-day learning and
networking fest was a
stunning success with many
delegates expressing how
insightful and motivating
the plenary session
presentations and panel
discussions were.
A defining moment on this
path toward renewal was of
course the first annual
Islamic schooling conference
in 2016, where more than 220
stakeholders gathered in
Melbourne. From this
watershed event, a 10-year
roadmap was proposed to
shape and operationalise the
process of renewal. Top of
the agenda list was to
explore the theme of
curriculum renewal in
Islamic schooling which was
realised across these
inspiring two days.
The
Australian National Imams
Council (ANIC) strongly
condemns the
closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem, Palestine on
Friday by the Israeli
security forces in response
to a tragic and deadly
shooting incident.
The unprecedented closure of
the third holiest Mosque in
Islam is unjustified and
unwarranted. Friday prayers
and the five daily prayers
have been performed in this
mosque revered by Muslims
globally for centuries. This
holy precinct is one of the
sacred sites to Muslims,
Christians and Jews.
The Australian National
Imams Council (ANIC) calls
upon the immediate opening
of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. All
nations of the world must
exert extra effort to fairly
resolve the long-standing
and devastating
Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
On
4th – 6th August, long time
Palestinian advocate David
Forde, is taking part in the
180km Big Bike Ride from
Brisbane to Bryon Bay to
raise funds for an education
project to support
Palestinian children in the
occupied Palestinian city of
Hebron.
The project is also
supported by the Hebron
International Resource
Network.
He will undertake the
challenge 5 days after
participating in the
Magnetic Island to
Townsville open water swim.
The
Sisterhood Empowerment (SHE)
Campaign is an Islamic
not-for-profit organisation
based in Melbourne,
Australia. Run by women for
women,
The SHE Campaign aspires to
unite, inspire and empower
women from all walks of
life, unbiased of race,
religion, age and
background.
We aim to create a
supportive and tolerant
community, in which all
women are given equal
opportunities to reach their
full potential.
Through charity work,
education & advocacy, The
SHE Campaign intends to
focus on issues affecting
women in today's society.
With the efforts and support
from the local community, we
envision a future whereby
The SHE Campaign will become
global and support women in
developing countries who are
subjected to war, violence,
famine, drought and disease.
We need your support to make
this dream a reality.
Peter Gould (peter-gould.com)
is a celebrated designer,
creative entrepreneur and
artist. His innovative,
award-winning work is highly
sought after globally and it
has touched millions with
positive, inspirational
creative projects.
He has won several awards,
launched his own apps &
games, created popular
online platforms, teaches
workshops internationally,
and has work published in
several books.
His journey toward exploring
the world of Islamic
creativity began in 2002
when he embraced Islam while
studying graphic design. He
travelled to cities with
deep historical and artistic
connection to Islamic
tradition, which inspired
him to create a series of
personal artistic projects
resulting in a fusion of
classical Islamic design
elements and his signature
vibrant, fresh graphic
style.
With an interest in
contributing to the space of
contemporary Islamic
creativity, Peter started
Gould Sydney (www.gould.sydney),
a branding and design studio
specialising in building
brands, creative projects,
events, and initiatives
particularly in the space of
the Islamic economy.
Gould Sydney is a unique
influence behind many of the
brands that have helped
define the role and reach of
modern Islamic brands. The
founder of Hadith of the Day
says, “Peter and his
creative team have been our
strategic design partners
for over 5 years. We started
working together when our
content was reaching 2-3
million people per week and
now with his creative
direction we are reaching
over 30 million people per
week.”
In 2016, Peter joined
Dubai-based Zileej (zileej.com)
as Chief Creative Officer to
develop a new generation of
lifestyle brands, products
and creative experiences for
Muslims.
One of these brands is
5Pillars which is a series
of games that are also
Islamic educational tools
for the whole family to
enjoy. Incorporating the
best elements of classic
boardgames, trivia,
charades, and technology,
the 5Pillars games provide
thousands of learning
opportunities for people of
various levels of Islamic
knowledge.
Peter says, “my hope for
Zileej is to help set new
standards in imaginative,
fun, creative products and
brands for Muslims, that
will inspire a new
generation of entrepreneurs.
It’s a truly exciting space
to be a part of.”
A 15-year-old girl was angry
there's no hijab emoji. So she
got one made.
US tech giant Apple has
previewed forthcoming emojis,
including one that depicts a
woman wearing a hijab.
More than 12 animated
symbols were unveiled on
Monday to celebrate World
Emoji Day and will be
released on Apple devices
later this year, the company
said.
"The new Emoji make it
easier for users to express
themselves with greater
diversity, additional
animals and creatures, new
smiley faces and more,"
Apple said in a statement.
The headscarf-wearing
character was approved by
Unicode, a non-profit
international consortium, in
November last year after a
Saudi teen living in Germany
campaigned for its
inclusion.
Fifteen-year-old Rayouf
Alhumedhi submitted a
proposal to Unicode in
September 2016, pointing out
that there was no image that
represented her.
Her online campaign, the
Hijab Emoji Project, noted
that some Christian and
Jewish women also wear
headscarves, along with
hundreds of millions of
Muslims.
The hijab is a headscarf
worn by many Muslim women
who feel it is part of their
religion.
Apple's preview of the hijab
emoji sparked some negative
reaction online, with one
Twitter user calling it a
sign of "creeping Sharia"
law.
'Meet A Muslim' campaign
members, from Baitul Huda Mosque
in Marsden Park, are encouraging
one-on-one contact with the
community.
A new campaign by an
Australian Muslim community
is encouraging people to
"meet a Muslim" over coffee
and cake.
Muslims Down Under, a group
of volunteers from across
Australia, are willing to
answer any and all questions
members of the public may
have about their faith when
they book in for a
one-on-one coffee with a
practising Muslim through
their website.
Imam Mohammed Atae Rabbi
Hadi, a leader at Baitul
Huda mosque at Sydney's
Marsden Park and the
national spokesperson for
the group, says the
initiative is designed to
counter misinformation about
Islam and an increase in
extremism "not only on the
side of Muslims, but also on
the other side, in the far
right".
"Why not meet an Aussie
Muslim, and get to know them
and see you have so much in
common?"
The group has previously run
Q&A sessions at Western
Sydney University's
Parramatta and Lithgow
campuses. While some people
are interested in Islam's
history and theology, Mr
Hadi says most ask questions
about "what they see on
television."
"They ask: Is Islam really a
violent religion? If it's
not, why has violence
happened? What does 'jihad'
mean?"
The "meet a Muslim" concept
is not new, with Muslim
communities in the US using
the phrase to brand public
information sessions.
Locally, Canberra-based
group Muslims for
Progressive Values have held
a number of Q&A sessions
this year.
Mr Hadi will travel to
Mudgee in NSW's Central West
next week to run a Q&A
session for residents.
Relations between Australian
Muslims and their local
communities were in the
spotlight this week, with
the release of a Charles
Sturt University study of
reports to the Islamophobia
Register of Australia.
The study, which analysed
the 243 verified reports
made from September 2014 to
December 2015, found women
were overwhelmingly the
target of Islamophobic
attacks, being the sole, or
one of, the recipients of
harassment in 79 per cent of
the reported attacks where
the victim's gender was
reported.
Najm Sehar, national
coordinator of the Muslims
Down Under campaign and one
of the volunteers
Sydneysiders might meet if
they sign up for a coffee,
says she has overwhelmingly
had a positive experience
with members of the public,
and these experiences should
also be discussed.
The 29-year-old mother of
two and master's graduate
says people often smile at
her in public, where her
religious beliefs are "very
visible".
"To tell you the truth, from
9/11 happening while I was
in high school, through the
seven years I spent
commuting from the western
suburbs to Sydney Uni for
study, I really only had one
incident when I was at
school which could be
described as 'Islamophobia',"
she says.
While she appreciates the
importance of talking about
instances of harassment,
Sehar says focus on the
negative aspects of
interactions between Muslims
and their local communities
can make Muslims "scared" of
those around them, which is
isolating and unhelpful.
"When you hear about these
reports, it almost
encourages us to have
phobias of each other."
'I
believe Islam is about peace
and inclusion': Meet Miss
World Australia 2017 - a
criminal profiler and Muslim
who says a lot of things
have been 'misconstrued'
about her religion
A criminal profiler from
Melbourne with an incredible
life story has been named
Miss World Australia 2017.
Esma Voloder, 25, has come a
long way from the refugee
camp she and her family
escaped in the midst of the
Bosnian war more than two
decades ago.
The seasoned pageant
competitor, who practices
Islam, hopes to use the
title to help break down the
prejudices that surround her
religion.
'The Islam that I know, that
is in the Koran, I don't
associate that with any acts
that are occurring around
the world,' she said after
taking the crown.
'People tend to blame
religion for the atrocities
that are happening, but if
we do that we take
responsibility away from the
individuals.'
'A lot of things have been
misconstrued about Islam,'
she said.
'I feel that a category has
been created that is not
really what the Koran
actually promotes. I believe
Islam is about peace, unity,
prosperity and inclusion.'
Esma moved to Australia when
she was just five months old
and in 2008 was named Miss
Teen Australia.
She went on to compete in a
number of pageants as well
as pursue fashion and
modelling, but education was
always her number one
priority.
Esma earned a degree in
psychology and is now works
as a criminal profiler in
Melbourne.
But the Bosnian beauty said
she hopes she can inspire
unity with her platform.
'Despite what your personal
beliefs are, if we all
believe in what is good, we
can work together and make
this world a beautiful and
liveable place while we are
here.'
The UK Muslim News Awards
for Excellence event was
held 27 March 2017 in London
to acknowledge British
Muslim and non-Muslim
contributions to the
society.
Malcolm X YOUNG
PERSON’S Award for
Excellence:
For an Individual,
organisation or
initiative run by
young people 16-25
years, whose
principal aim is to
support and create
opportunities for
their peers.
Winner: Shaheen
Mamun
Shaheen Mohammed Al
Mamun has quickly
made his mark as a
young lawyer and
using his advocacy
to further human
rights and civil
liberties.
He is a trustee of
the Habeas Corpus
Project, which
provides pro-bono
legal representation
in challenging
unlawful detention
of migrants in the
UK.
He has already
received recognition
for his work and his
potential. He was
conferred with the
University of
Westminster Student
Achievement Award
and was shortlisted
for numerous awards
including the Junior
Lawyer of the Year
by the Law Society
Excellence Award
2016.
Outside his
profession, Shaheen
was elected the BME
Officer for the
London Green Party
and serves his local
community at the
Holborn Muslim
Community
Association.
..........The UK Muslim News
Awards for Excellence CONTINUES IN NEXT
WEEK'S CCN
What's
Islamic Law
Doing at Sydney
University? An
Open Letter to
the Daily
Telegraph By Randa
Abdel-Fattah
(Randa
Abdel-Fattah is
an award-winning
author and an
Honorary
Research Fellow
in the
Department of
Sociology at
Macquarie
University)
Dear Daily
Telegraph,
It has recently
come to the
attention of
your readers and
people with
Google alerts
for Islamophobic
and racist media
coverage that
you are
extremely
concerned about
a current law
course being
taught at
Australia's
"most
prestigious law
school": Muslim
Minorities and
the Law.
What a
remarkable piece
of investigative
journalism! I
can only imagine
how your
journalist
stumbled across
this breaking
news?
Even more
incredible was
your scoop that
the prescribed
set text for the
course is about
- wait for it -
Muslim
minorities and
the law. I was
shocked too. A
law course that
actually seeks
to teach
students about
how citizens
interact with
the law?
I recall the
days I studied
law. We, too,
were
indoctrinated
with courses
teaching us
about law. What
is Australia
coming to?
Perhaps I'm
being facetious.
Because the text
is clearly more
sinister than
that. Entitled
Accommodating
Muslims under
Common Law: A
Comparative
Analysis, it is
written by
Sydney
University
academics Dr
Ghena Krayem and
Associate
Professor Salim
Farrar. And it
is published by
one of the
world's most
renowned and
reputable
academic
publishers,
Routledge.
Somebody should
have a word with
them. They've
obviously been
recruited as
shari'ah law
propagandists
and are seeking
to infiltrate
Australia and
shake the very
foundations of
our legal system
with ... a law
textbook.
Maybe your
reporter hasn't
been around
legal textbooks.
Take it from me,
a former law
student and
practising
lawyer: most
academic law
books are lucky
to attract a
readership of a
few dozen people
(including
Krayem's and
Farrar's
families, who
would have
likely bought
the book to show
their support
and read the
acknowledgments
and blurb for
good measure).
Of course, we
shouldn't
dismiss the
possibility that
even one reader
can make a
difference. That
appears to be,
after all, the
essential
message of the
article (your
entire
newspaper's
philosophy,
actually), which
is that our
society and
education system
are no place for
provocative,
challenging,
even
controversial
arguments and
ideas. Perish
the thought.
Was the fear of
a society of
thinking,
critical,
well-informed,
global citizens
possibly what
led your
reporter to
contact Sydney
University and
ask it to
comment "on
running a course
that teaches
students about
Sharia Law"?
Though I'm
wondering if the
term "common
law" and the
word
"comparative" in
the book's title
confounded your
reporter?
Perhaps your
reporter is not
aware that
university law
courses all over
the world teach
comparative law
courses,
including
courses on
Islamic Law. You
can take an
"Introduction to
Islamic Law"
course at
Harvard
University, for
example. (I
mean, that
university is so
damn prestigious
that Mike from
Suits pretends
to have
graduated from
it!)
Australia could
get rid of
comparative law
units, remove
all
international
legal systems
and contexts
from the
curriculum and
simply offer a
single unit-
Australian
common law. The
settler colonial
origins of our
common law
system might
make it
difficult to
teach this unit
without
mentioning the
words "British,"
"colonialism,"
"indigenous
law," "legal
pluralism" and,
heck,
"genocide." But
I'm sure
Australia's
"most
prestigious law
school" will be
able to bring
together some of
the finest legal
minds in the
country to
achieve your
paper's goal
that our
education system
remains as
parochial,
insulated and
globally
irrelevant as
possible.
I want to
commend you on a
particularly
effective part
of the report in
which quotes are
cobbled together
to add
authoritative
weight to this
fear-mongering
rant - sorry, I
mean your
"exclusive
report."
Federal
Education
Minister Simon
Birmingham is to
be commended for
honouring his
ministerial
profile,
reminding
readers of the
importance of
facts over
hysteria and the
need for
universities to
provide
world-class
courses that
equip law
graduates with
the skills and
knowledge that
will make them
competitive in a
global context.
Or maybe I
dreamt that.
Instead, we had
the Federal
Education
Minister
essentially
suggesting that
the teaching of
shari'ah law
amounts to an
effort to
undermine the
principle of
equality under
the law and
subvert
Australia's
legal framework.
Even more
disconcerting
was the
minister's
office
responding to
the report by
issuing a
cautionary tale
to warn
universities
that they must
"keep in touch
with Australian
community
expectations and
that includes
respect for and
adherence to
Australian law,"
and issue a
reminder that
"taxpayer
funding" to
universities is
"used to deliver
benefits to all
Australians."
The coding
behind this
warning appears
to be: a course
on Islamic law
taught to around
less than thirty
students is an
attack on
Australia's
legal system, is
anathema to
expectations in
the Australian
community (the
implication
being that
Muslims clearly
don't belong to
the Australian
community) and
delivers no
benefits.
And I love how
you also quote
Ali Kadri from
the Australian
Federation of
Islamic Councils
(AFIC) - which
is of course the
leading
national,
respected
organisation
representing the
entire Muslim
community
(that's sarcasm,
by the way).
It's always a
good idea to get
a "Muslim
spokesman" to
provide a story
with some
authority from
the natives.
Kadri points out
that he doesn't
"think we need
to have
religious
connotations
with any law
because we are a
secular
country." I
guess AFIC
missed the memo
on that one with
its halal
certification
system, which
operates within
the bounds of
Australia's
legal system.
And finally, you
quote "family
law expert
Robert Balzola"
who is concerned
about public
funding awarded
to academic
research into
the "Response of
Australian
Family Law to
Islamic
Community
Processes." It
might be a good
thing to inform
your readers
that Robert
Balzola has a
few more
credentials up
his sleeve
beyond "family
law expert" - he
also represented
opponents of the
construction of
the mosque in
Bendigo.
Lastly, I have a
confession to
make. In my
first year of
law at Melbourne
University in
1997, I wrote an
essay on legal
pluralism and
argued for the
recognition of
parts of Islamic
inheritance law
into Australia's
legal system. My
queer, atheist
law lecturer
gave me a
distinction. I
know this gives
you no comfort
as this is
merely further
evidence that
the left has
sold out to
jihadists. But
the moral of the
story for me is
what a narrow
escape. You were
after "Asians"
then, or
goodness knows I
would have been
all over the
pages of the
press too!
With
unprecedented access, this
documentary gets inside one of
Europe's biggest Muslim
communities, giving a unique
insight into the people who make
up its congregation.
"Kindness is a mark of
faith, and whoever is not
kind has no faith." (Muslim)
Our every action
communicates the essence of
our faith to the world. Let
us always aim to do good for
Him and through Him. #ThisIsForAllah
A different side of Islam
Nowhere Men
Spend 10
minutes of your day with us,
The Nowhere Men, and we'll
show you a side of being
Muslim the news media will
NEVER show you...
Saana is an African-American
Muslim who grew up in New
York City.
She invited us to spend some
time with her during the
holy month of Ramadan to
show us the life of average
Muslims, in a time when
Muslims in America are under
attack.
We can't thank Saana and her
friends and family enough.
We learned so much in the
making of this video- above
all, we confirmed our belief
that People Are Good, no
matter who they are or what
they believe.
Sydney Lawyer, Gray Connolly
ABC THE DRUM
"Islam is not
the only religion with its
own laws!"
Gray Connolly says these
rules on how to live are not
a threat and makes a case for
pluralism #TheDrum
Muslim Aid Australia
Annual Report
MAA
CEO
Sheikh Hassan Elsetohy takes
you through the 2016 MAA
Annual Report. Learn about
MAA’s key achievements and
figures in 2016; find out
how your donations were
spent, and what
differentiates us from other
Australian charities.
MAA is your trusted partner
in charity since 1989. We
provide humanitarian aid in
Australia and over 50
countries worldwide during
Emergencies, in Orphan Aid,
Sustainable Development,
Water Aid and more. To know
more, visit
www.muslimaid.org.au or call
1800 100 786. You can also
follow us on Instagram (instagram.com/charitymaa).
Doctor raps for a cause
CNN
A doctor in
New Mexico (US) named Umar
Malik has released an online
rap video to support Muslims
and immigrants.Source: CNN
\
The Parable of the Good
Muslim OnePath
Network
Sunday Reflection: I am
convinced that if Jesus were
to tell the parable of the
Good Samaritan in Australia
today he would tell it as
the parable of the Good
Muslim.
Parables are
designed to present us with
a choice, a movement of the
heart either towards unity
of towards disintegration.
Every time we
open our ears and our eyes
we are presented with living
parables and we are given a
choice to monitor the
movement of our hearts. Fr
Rod.
ISLAMIC EDUCATION VIDEOS
The True
Companion | Yazeed Zee Islam In Focus Australia
A comparison
between a good riding camel
and a righteous person.
PLEASE
NOTE
It is the usual policy of CCN to
include notices of events, video links and articles that
some readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices
are often posted as received.
Including such messages/links or
providing the details of such
events does not necessarily
imply endorsement or agreement
by CCN of the contents therein.
British
Muslim woman demands apology after being
detained for reading Syrian art book on
plane
Faizah
Shaheen was detained at
Doncaster Airport last July
UK: A British woman is
demanding an apology one year after
counter-terrorism police detained her
for reading a Syrian art book on a
plane.
Muslim NHS worker Faizah Shaheen says
she is being forced to go to court to
get the apology after she was questioned
under terror laws last July.
She had been returning from her
honeymoon in Turkey when was stopped at
Doncaster Airport.
A Thomson Airways cabin crew member had
reported her for reading Syria Speaks:
Art and Culture from the Frontline on
the outbound flight.
Ms Shaheen, whose work in mental health
care involves looking for the signs of
radicalisation in young people, was
questioned for around 30 minutes, during
which she was asked about the book, her
work and the number of languages she
spoke, the BBC reported.
She told the corporation: "I felt upset
and distressed, followed by anger. I
struggled to accept that I was being
singled out for reading a book on art
and culture.
"One year on, Thomson Airways has failed
to provide an explanation or apology
despite legal involvement.
"This attitude has left me with no
option but to seek a declaration from
the court under the Equality Act."
The Spaniards rediscovering their
nation's long-lost Islamic heritage
SPAIN: As he
meanders through
the spectacular
Alhambra Palace
in Granada,
Spain, tour
guide Yasin
Maymir hones in
on a section of
ornate
patterning on
the interior
walls.
"Arabic letters,
Arabic phrases.
There are more
than 10,000 all
around
Alhambra," he
proudly says of
the
inscriptions.
Maymir continues
through
perfectly
manicured
gardens and
grandiose rooms,
occasionally
stopping to
speak of Islamic
philosophies and
architectural
techniques
incorporated
into the design.
His fascination
is obvious. Yet
he believes the
finer details of
this history may
be unfamiliar to
many Spaniards.
"In Spain, in
the schools,"
Maymir says,
"they would
never teach you
about the
(country's)
Islamic
history."
While the
Spanish
government has
taken steps to
enable school
students to
learn about the
Islamic faith in
recent years,
Maymir -- whose
Italian mother
and Cuban father
were converts to
Islam and moved
to Granada
because of its
rich Islamic
past -- says he
began to
understand this
other side of
his country's
history by
studying the
secrets of the
Alhambra.
With its
exquisite marble
columns and
elaborate
horse-shoe
arched windows,
the Alhambra is
one of the most
notable
surviving
examples of the
Islamic
influence on
Spain.
Visitors to
Granada,
meanwhile, can
still wander
through the
former Arabic
and Jewish
quarters located
in the shadow of
the building.
Al Andalus
Islamic forces,
which came to be
known as the
Moors, invaded
Spain from North
Africa in 711.
They rapidly
conquered the
Iberian
peninsula,
pushing out the
ruling Visigoths
and laying the
foundations for
centuries of
Muslim rule.
Known as Al
Andalus, the
territory they
captured
stretched as far
as Spain's
north-east coast
at its peak.
This period is
often described
as unique in
terms of its
relative
religious
harmony, with
Muslims, Jews
and Christians
believed to have
co-existed side
by side for
centuries in a
multi-faith
society.
But some have
noted that
non-Muslims may
have have been
regarded as
being of
inferior social
standing at
various times.
Historian
Bernard Lewis
cites a document
from 12th
century Seville
in his 1984 book
"The Jews of
Islam" which
stated: "A
Muslim must not
massage a Jew or
Christian nor
throw away his
refuse or clean
his latrines.
The Jew and the
Christian are
better fitted
for these
trades, since
they are the
trades of those
who are vile."
Spain's Muslim
epoch came to an
end in 1492 with
the conclusion
of the "Reconquista,"
a centuries-long
campaign which
saw Christian
states across
Iberia retake
full control of
territories
previously
captured by
Islamic forces.
Today, Spain is
a largely
Catholic nation,
and not a place
widely
associated with
Islam. Just 2.1%
of Spain's 46
million
population are
Muslim according
to 2010 Pew
Research Center
figures
(although this
is expected to
rise to 3.3% by
2020).
Yet look closely
and its Moorish
heritage can
still be
glimpsed in the
nation's rich
cultural fabric.
"It's very
difficult to go
to Spain,
especially south
of Madrid,
without being
very aware of
the Islamic
presence," says
Dr Elizabeth
Drayson, author
of "The Moor's
Last Stand: How
Seven Centuries
of Muslim Rule
in Spain Came To
An End."
The two-month-old
is the son of a Syrian couple
who fled war-torn Damascus to
resettle in Canada
The
get-together took place at the
Calgary Stampede where the baby
snoozed contently while Mr
Trudeau held him
CANADA: Justin Trudeau
has met his younger Syrian namesake.
The Canadian Prime Minister came face to
face with two-month-old Justin Trudeau
Adam Bilan – the son of a Syrian couple
who fled war-ravaged Damascus to start a
new life in Canada.
The boy’s parents, Muhammad and Afraa
Bilan, named their newborn son after the
Prime Minister to pay tribute to his
open refugee policy and show their
gratitude for the offer of refuge.
The get-together took place at the
Calgary Stampede on Saturday where the
baby snoozed contently while Mr Trudeau
held him.
The couple arrived in Montreal in
February of last year in the midst of
Canada’s bitterly cold winter
accompanied by their daughter Naya, who
is 4, and their son Nael who is 3.
Mini Trudeau was born in Calgary - a
city near the Canadian Rockies which is
home to around 1,000 Syrian refugees -
in May of this year.
he Moor's Last Stand: How Seven Centuries of Muslim
Rule in Spain Came to an End
by
Elizabeth Drayson
Description
The first full
account in any language of the last Muslim king
of Spain. An action-packed story of betrayal,
courage, intrigue, heroism, and tragedy.
The Moor's Last
Stand presents the poignant story of Boabdil,
the last Muslim king of Granada.
Betrayed by his
family and undermined by faction and internal
conflict, Boabdil was defeated in 1492 by the
forces of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of
the newly united kingdoms of Castile and Aragon.
The Christian
victory marked the completion of the long
Christian re-conquest of Spain and ended seven
centuries in which Christians, Muslims, and Jews
had, for the most part, lived peacefully and
profitably together.
Five centuries after
his death, Boabdil continues to be a potent
symbol of resistance to the forces of western
Christendom, and his image endures in
contemporary culture.
Based on original
research in the region by a leading historian of
Granada, this book presents a vivid account of
Boabdil's life and times and considers the
impact of his defeat then and now.
KB says:
A long, slow
caramelization will get the best out of the
mushrooms in this deep, rich soup.
Chicken and Mushroom soup
INGREDIENTS
1 cup cubed chicken fillets
1 grated onion
Salt
1 teaspoon garlic
˝ tsp lemon pepper
˝ tsp white pepper
1 cup of sliced mushrooms
1 pkt thick vegetable soup
1 pkt cream of mushroom soup
A handful of vermicelli noodles
1 tin cream style corn
1 teaspoon crushed fresh green chilies
500ml full cream milk
Chopped coriander leaves
METHOD
1. Sauté onion in some oil or ghee until soft
and translucent.
2. Add chicken fillets, garlic, salt, lemon
pepper, white pepper and green chillies.
3. Cook until chicken is almost done with very
little water remaining.
4. Add mushrooms and cook slowly until cooked
and most of water is used up.
5. Dissolve soup powders in cold water, mix well
and add to the pot.
6. Continue stirring until boiling point is
reached, adding sufficient water.
7. Add a handful of vermicelli, cream style corn
and milk and chopped coriander.
8. After reaching allow boiling point, lower
heat and simmer until a thick consistency is
reached and the vermicelli is cooked.
9. Serve hot with garlic bread.
Do you have a recipe to share with CCN
readers?
Send in your favourite recipe to me at
admin@ccnonline.com.au and be my "guest chef" for the week.
Welcome to my weekly
column on
Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind.
If you’re taking
time out to read
this, pat yourself
on the back because
you have shown
commitment to taking
care of your mind
and body.
Today, In Shaa
ALLAH, we will
explore the topic:
Decisions - The
Four Key Questions
To Help You Make
Decisions
One of the most
common themes I come
across with my
clients during our
Clarity Coaching
sessions is their
ability, rather
inability, to make
decisions.
You make a decision
when you carefully,
with an open mind,
consider all
information at hand
and find a solution
or resolution to act
upon in order to
progress in life.
Once you make a
decision there is no
further need for
procrastination. If
the action you take
yields you results
that are not to your
expectations, you
need to re-evaluate
those outcomes and
make another
decision. Life is a
series of moments
that require you to
consider information
at hand, make the
best possible
choices and come to
a decision.
As Muslims, we call
these series of
decision-making
moments, tests.
ALLAH swt tests us
every day, every
moment of the day.
It is up to us to
pass those tests so
that we progress
positively and
joyfully to the next
test. Often you may
find that you may
get tested on the
same thing over and
over. This means
that you have yet to
pass that test.
Somehow the pattern
you are living in
needs to be
challenged, make
better choices and
take decisions to
pass these tests.
Four Questions
When your mind has
too many thoughts
you may feel
overwhelmed and
confused. Here are
four simple
questions that you
can ask yourself
that may help find
clarity in your
thoughts and assist
you with making an
informed decision.
1. DO I WANT TO
be, do or have this?
2. Will being, doing
or having this
MOVE ME IN THE
DIRECTION OF MY GOAL?
3. Is being, doing
or having this IN
HARMONY WITH ALLAH’S
COMMANDMENTS?
4. Will being, doing
or having this
VIOLATE THE RIGHTS
OF OTHERS?
Make your decision
if the answer to the
first three
questions is YES
and the answer to
the last question is
NO. If you answer
YES to any of the
first three
questions and NO
to the last
question, then you
will know for sure
that it is not the
right decision to
make.
For example:
If someone is in a
relationship that is
abusive and is
suffering in
silence, he/ she
needs to make the
decision to talk to
someone about it so
that they can become
aware of their
options and rights
within Islam
regarding their
relationship.
So, the situation at
hand is:
Whether I should
talk to someone
about my
relationship:
1. DO I WANT TO be,
do or have this?
(YES)
2. Will being, doing
or having this MOVE
ME IN THE DIRECTION
OF MY GOAL? (YES)
3. Is being, doing
or having this IN
HARMONY WITH ALLAH’S
COMMANDMENTS? (YES)
4. Will being, doing
or having this
VIOLATE THE RIGHTS
OF OTHERS? (NO)
Based on the
answers, this person
must definitely make
the decision to talk
to someone.
Another example
could be that
someone is
contemplating going
into a mortgage to
invest in a
property.
So, the situation at
hand is:
Whether I should
enter a mortgage:
1. DO I WANT TO be,
do or have this?
(YES)
2. Will being, doing
or having this MOVE
ME IN THE DIRECTION
OF MY GOAL? (YES)
3. Is being, doing
or having this IN
HARMONY WITH ALLAH’S
COMMANDMENTS? (NO)
4. Will being, doing
or having this
VIOLATE THE RIGHTS
OF OTHERS? (NO)
Notice how the third
question has a NO
answer. Clearly, the
decision to take a
mortgage would be
wrong if one wants
to obey ALLAH’s
commandments as per
the Quran.
Now, take a pen and
paper and write down
a situation in your
life that requires
you to make a
decision. Tackle the
above four questions
honestly and MAKE
YOUR DECISION. EMail
me if you need
further guidance on
this topic.
In Shaa ALLAH, next
week we will explore
the topic: Are
You Living Your Life
By Design Or
Default?
If you wish to know
about a specific
topic with regards
to Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind,
please text or email
me or visit
www.muslimahmindmatters.com.
If you wish to have
a FREE one hour
Finding Clarity
telephone session,
contact me on
0451977786.
Q: Dear
Kareema, I’m fairly new to exercise and was
wondering if it’s
ok to continue doing a particular exercise if I
feel pain at all?
A: No. Pain means you should stop what
you’re doing and have a look
at your technique / posture while doing it, or
find other options that
work for you.
Also make sure that
you have clearance from your doctor.
Sore muscles are a different story. It’s normal
to feel a bit tender, especially if you’re new
to working out.
Start slowly and
safely, and as you get stronger, start
challenging yourself more. Some discomfort means
you’re pushing your body to bring on change.
Jallaludin: My wife asks me to peel off garlic, cut
onions, wash utensils.
Judge: What's the problem in this? Just warm up the
garlic. It will be easy to peel it. Before cutting the
onions just chill them in the refrigerator and then
while cutting them the eyes won't burn. Before washing
utensils just immerse them in a water tub for 10
minutes, they can be easily washed.
Before washing clothes in Omo, soak them in water for
half an hour, all the stains will go away and even the
hands won't get tired.
Jallaludin: I understood your honour. Please return my
petition.
Judge: What have you understood?
Jallaludin: That your condition is worse than mine.
Apolitical Aphorisms
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to
public office.
Be mindful of God as much as
you can; hear and obey; be
charitable– it is for your
own good. Those who are
saved from their own
meanness will be the
prosperous ones.
The Muslim Legal
Network is really excited to
announce its very first event.
We'd love all your support, so
please if you're involved in the
law here in Brisbane, join us
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.
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
MONTHLY COMMUNITY PROGRAMME
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH
Click on images to enlarge
IPDC
HOLLAND PARK MOSQUE
Queensland Police Service/Muslim
Community Consultative Group
NEXT MEETING
TIME: 7.00pm –
8.30pm DATE: TBA VENUE: Islamic College of Brisbane [ICB].
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
The
Australian National Imams
Council (ANIC) strongly
condemns the
On
4th – 6th August, long time
Palestinian advocate David
Forde, is taking part in the
180km Big Bike Ride from
Brisbane to Bryon Bay to
raise funds for an education
project to support
Palestinian children in the
occupied Palestinian city of
Hebron. 
The
Sisterhood Empowerment (SHE)
Campaign is an Islamic
not-for-profit organisation
based in Melbourne,
Australia. Run by women for
women, 
'I
believe Islam is about peace
and inclusion': Meet Miss
World Australia 2017 - a
criminal profiler and Muslim
who says a lot of things
have been 'misconstrued'
about her religion
British
Muslim woman demands apology after being
detained for reading Syrian art book on
plane
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011