A pregnant woman who was
allegedly assaulted in
Parramatta on Wednesday has
spoken out.
Rana Elasmar, 31, was
sitting in a cafe on Church
Street with friends when
Stipe Lozina, 43, allegedly
attacked her after a tirade
of insults.
"I have experienced
occurrences of verbal abuse
and hate ... but I have
never thought that physical
abuse of this nature could
happen to me," she wrote on
her Facebook page.
"This man verbalised his
hatred of Muslims prior to
hitting me. I do not want
this attack to happen to
anyone ever again."
Ms Elasmar, who is 38 weeks
pregnant, said she wants to
see a world where people
defend one another against
cowardly acts like this and
band together to protect the
victims. "We cannot allow
behaviour like this to
become the norm and sit
silent."
She made specific mention of
her two friends, who
immediately stepped to her
defence.
"You are more like sisters
to me and I am so grateful
for what you both did. You
have allowed me to step away
from this and go home to my
family," she said.
NSW Police Inspector Luke
Sywenkyj echoed those
sentiments.
"If it were not for the
brave actions of these
members of the community in
stopping the assault, the
victim may well have
sustained much more serious
injuries," he said.
Mr Lozina was charged with
assault occasioning actual
bodily harm and affray. On
Thursday, he made an
unsuccessful application for
bail.
Ms Elasmar said the support
she had received has been
"overwhelming" and that this
incident was something many
could relate to.
"We are mothers, wives,
daughters ... and we deserve
to feel safe wherever we go.
We deserve a night out to
unwind without being fearful
of an attack like this
happening again. I fear for
the world our children will
grow up in, if this issue is
not addressed," she said.
SMH
The victim (Rana Haidar)
posted on her Facebook page:
First and foremost I
would like to start by
thanking all the people
who came to see me,
those who have offered
kind words and comfort
through messages and
calls, as well as those
who have messaged their
support through various
Facebook posts. I want
to sincerely thank each
and every one of you, it
truly means a lot. I
have always been a very
private person and don't
normally take to social
media to post or comment
on anything, however, I
felt like this time, it
was important to address
a few issues and raise
awareness.
I was born and raised in
Sydney, Australia. I am
a Muslim. I have
experienced occurrences
of verbal abuse and hate
from other Australians
in the past but I have
never thought that
physical abuse of this
nature could happen to
me.
For me, the verbal abuse
was already too much and
I know the Islamic
community feels the
same. It is NOT ok. How
somebody feels like they
have the right to abuse
another human being
baffles me. It shows a
lack of humanity. It
shows weakness. It shows
that you do not possess
basic human empathy and
kindness and those are
the kinds of people who
do not deserve to be
part of our Australian
community.
This man verbalised his
hatred of Muslims prior
to hitting me. He
decided that he was
going to take it in his
power to act upon his
hatred and he neither
knows me, nor my
religion. I do not want
this attack to happen to
anyone ever again. I
want to see a world
where people defend one
another against cowardly
acts like this and band
together to protect the
victims.
We cannot allow
behaviour like this to
become the norm and sit
silent. I thank the
people who stepped in
that night in my
defence. And to my
friends who did not
hesitate to step in for
me, you are more like
sisters to me and I am
so grateful for what you
both did. You have
allowed me to step away
from this and go home to
my family. The
overwhelming support I
have received is a
reflection that this was
a story that many can
relate to.
We are mothers, wives,
daughters... and we
deserve to feel safe
wherever we go. We
deserve a night out to
unwind without being
fearful of an attack
like this happening
again. I fear for the
world our children will
grow up in, if this
issue is not addressed.
I call all Australians,
Muslim or non-muslims,
of all faiths and
cultures to come
together, as you have
already done for me, and
voice your solidarity in
protecting innocent
people from any future
racial/religious
attacks.
I hope the justice
system lives up to it's
name.. and I also hope a
proactive approach is
taken against any
potential future
offenders.
I thank Allah (swt) - As
salaam, Al aleem,
Alhakim.
Race Discrimination
Commissioner Chin Tan said,
“Islamophobic abuse is
unacceptable and no person
should suffer hatred because
of their race, religion or
culture.
“Australian society has a
responsibility to ensure the
safety of its Muslim
communities, and we must be
united in condemning
Islamophobia and all forms
of racial hatred,” Mr Tan
said.
Mr Tan will be speaking on
November 21 at Charles Sturt
University’s Centre for
Islamic Studies to help
launch the report.
Government condemns
'appalling' cases of
Islamophobia detailed in new
report
The 2019 Islamophobia in
Australia report shows
perpetrators aren't put off
by the prospect of being
seen by other people or
security guards.
Immigration Minister David
Coleman has said he is
"appalled" by the examples
of Islamophobia in Australia
detailed in a new report
which found women and girls
in hijabs were most likely
to be targeted.
The analysis of nearly 350
incidents reported to the
Islamophobia Register
Australia in 2016 and 2017
also showed perpetrators
were becoming more brazen,
with a 30 per cent increase
in attacks in places guarded
by security officers.
— IslamophobiaRegister
(@IslamophobiaReg)
November 17, 2019
The report, produced by
Charles Sturt University’s
Centre for Islamic Studies
and Civilisation, found more
than 70 per cent of the
victims were Muslim women
and girls.
Among dozens of examples
included in the report were
three cases involving a fake
gun.
One mother said she was
travelling with a school
choir from Melbourne to
Adelaide when a man with an
imaginary gun pretended to
shoot at the bus filled with
children when they stopped
at traffic lights opposite a
pub.
"Our bus had several covered
women in hijabs, one of them
being myself... One of the
patrons was sitting looking
out onto the road. He began
spraying our bus with his
imaginary machine gun."
Mr Coleman said the
government has no tolerance
for racial or cultural
prejudice.
"The instances of
discrimination against
Australians of Islamic faith
which are documented in the
report are completely
unacceptable," he said in a
statement.
Soaliha Iqbal said she was
left “humiliated and
outraged” after being told
she could not enter a Sydney
pub unless she took off her
hijab.
Other reported incidents
include a mother and
daughter being rammed by a
car while crossing a road
and women having their head
scarves ripped off.
Labor's immigration
spokesperson Andrew Giles
said Islamophobia must be
condemned.
"Racism and abuse are
completely unacceptable.
It's time for all
Australians to stand
together in hope and reject
hate," Mr Giles said.
Insults focus on appearance
Excluding online abuse, in
at least half of the 202
offline cases, victims noted
that people who were passing
by did not offer to help.
They were subjected to
verbal abuse, profanities,
physical intimidation and
death threats in public
places, most often while
shopping.
Anglo-Celtic males were the
perpetrators in
three-quarters of cases.
Many of the insults focused
on Muslims' appearance and
religion with 96 per cent of
women respondents wearing a
hijab at the time.
While the period examined by
researchers is well before
the Christchurch mosques
attack in March, they note
the alarming intensity of
hate rhetoric in those years
that may have groomed the
suspected terrorist,
including a high number of
death threats.
“Online and offline, people
have detailed how they would
like to murder all Muslims
and yet there appeared to be
no investigation or
prosecution, raising serious
questions about the fitness
of existing laws,” the
report states.
Lead author Dr Derya Iner
said the real number of
incidents is likely to be
much higher than the 349
recorded due to the ongoing
problem of under-reporting.
“This is especially the case
where continuous anti-Muslim
sentiment in political and
media discourse becomes
normalised, desensitising
the public,” Dr Iner said.
“With Christchurch in our
minds, we cannot afford to
be complacent.
"Social cohesion is
something that must be
nurtured and repaired by all
of us for the well-being and
security of Australia.”
The Islamophobia Register
Australia has launched a
crowdfunding campaign to
support its next report that
will examine the period
leading up to and
immediately following the
Christchurch tragedy.
After 10 months of
construction Thursday 21
November 2019 was a
significant day for the
Australian International
Islamic College (AIIC)
marking a historic milestone
as they officially unveiled
the completed Science,
Technology, Engineering and
Maths Building (STEM).
STEM Institute will be an
integral part at AIIC,
giving students the
opportunity to be well
equipped with the necessary
skills of tomorrow.
On behalf of the Honourable
Founder Imam Abdul Quddoos
Azhari, Aziz Khan Board
Chairman, Taher Sukkarieh
AIIC Board Member, AIIC
staff and students we would
like to express our sincere
gratitude to Senator Paul
Scarr, MP Jess Pugh, MP
Milton Dick, Cr Kim Marx, Cr
Angela Owen, Haji Hussin
Goss, Haji Habib Jamal, Dr
Mustafa Ally, Keysar Trad
and to all the members of
the community who attended
this successful achievement.
STEM institute comprises of
a wet lab, dry lab,
graphics/engineering room,
STEM resource room. The STEM
institute will focus on the
STEM curriculum.
Science students,
from left, Hana
Abdirahman, Fatima
Salah, Asha Hersi
and Abeer Alzmi with
Imam Quddoos
Imam Quddoos with
Federal MP for
Oxley, Milton Dick,
Senator Paul Scarr
and science students
IWAA
attended the Not Now Not Ever
Together Breakfast hosted by
Queensland Government to raise
awareness about the prevention
of domestic and family violence.
On Friday 22 November the
Queensland Government hosted
the 2019 Not Now, Not Ever.
Together Breakfast to
showcase the future
direction of domestic and
family violence prevention
reforms, including a focus
on corporate and community
partnerships leading
positive change.
Attended by more than 800
people, the breakfast
featured a Corporates and
Community in Conversation
panel led by ABC journalist
Matt Wordsworth, which
focused on the experience
and achievements of
corporate and community
organisations in responding
to domestic and family
violence.
The Islamic Society of
Queensland (ISQ) held its
annual Miladun Nabi Jalsa
program on Saturday 9 Nov at
Rochedale Mosque, where the
keynote lecture was
delivered by Imam Mohammed
Nawaaz Ashrafi, the Pesh
Imam of Algester Mosque.
Following the highly
successful women's mental
health workshop recently,
ICQ hosted a men's mental
health workshop at Slacks
Creek Mosque on Saturday 23
November 2019.
The event was attended by
men from all ages and walks
of life. Three presenters
shared their professional
viewpoints and advice and
this was bolstered by a
panel of Imams.
All members participated
actively and all unanimously
agree on the stigma
associated with mental
health within our
communities.
With the understanding of
the parameters of mental
health and the need to
develop a new culture on how
Muslim men should view and
deal with mental health
issues, all attendees left
the venue with more
knowledge on the subject.
All members are keen to meet
again to unpack specific
issues, root causes and
coping strategies.
We also discussed the first
point of call for anyone
needing support in this
area. ICQ is very pleased
with the outcome of the
event and people's positive
feedback, and all are
looking forward to attending
future events.
Our sincere thanks and
appreciation to Dr Rehman of
Zone Medical Centre, Sister
Sharon Orapeleng for her
expert presentation, Br
aissa Negussie for his
excellent presentation, and
Imams Akram Buksh and Ahmad
Naffaa for their religious
and spiritual guidance.
Friends of a Brisbane
father, who was killed when
an allegedly stolen 4WD
collided with his car, held
a silent rally outside court
this morning. It comes as
delays impact the Crown case
against the man charged over
the double fatal.
PROSECUTORS preparing the
Crown case against a man
charged with the
manslaughter of two men
killed in a crash last month
are still awaiting autopsy
reports.
Brisbane father Shahid
Islam, 36, of Windsor, was
killed when an allegedly
stolen 4WD collided with his
car on Gympie Rd at Bald
Hills in October.
Mr Islam, a married IT
expert, his wife and son, 4,
were about to move into
their newly-built home at
Griffin when his car was hit
and he was fatally injured.
Jordan Cubby, 28, was
charged with his
manslaughter at a bedside
hearing at Princess
Alexandra Hospital while he
was being treated for his
injuries.
Cubby was also charged with
the manslaughter of John
Weatherall, 32, who was a
front seat passenger in the
4WD.
Friends of Mr Islam gathered
outside Brisbane Magistrates
Court this morning before
the first mention of Cubby’s
court case.
They silently held up photos
of Mr Islam.
Police allege the vehicle
driven by Cubby was stolen
in Toowoomba on October 14
and sighted by police on
Lutwyche Road in Windsor at
11.50pm.
Officers attempted to
intercept the vehicle, but
it allegedly evaded police
and fled at speed.
The vehicle then allegedly
travelled in the wrong lane
on Gympie Road and smashed
into the car driven by Mr
Islam, who died at the
scene.
Mr Weatherall also died at
the scene while another
passenger, a female, was
taken to hospital in a
critical condition.
Brisbane Magistrate Anthony
Gett today was told two
autopsy reports were
expected to take another
three months to complete.
Prof. Shahjahan Khan
(pictured in foreground)
spoke on Contributions
and Challenges of Muslims in
Multicultural Australia
in a day long Colloquium on
Freedom of Religion
organised by the School of
Law at the University of
Southern Queensland,
Toowoomba. The event
included expert speakers
from Brisbane, Toowoomba,
Sydney, Melbourne, Indonesia
etc.
Prof. Khan highlighted the
significant contributions of
Muslim international trades
and professionals,
especially in health care,
higher education,
engineering and the halal
industry.
"The high level of
Islamophobia and recent
attacks on Muslims and
places of worship related to
anti-Islam political leaders
and far right
radicalization," he said.
The misunderstanding on
Islamic Sharia was also
explained.
Four men (pictured) travelled
from Lakemba in western Sydney
to Willawarrin Hotel to host a
free barbecue for bushfire
affected residents
'This is what Australia
should look like': Muslim
group is praised for driving
six hours from Sydney's west
to cook up a free BBQ for
bushfire victims
A group of Muslim men have
been praised for hosting a
free barbecue for bushfire
victims on the NSW mid north
coast.
The unnamed men travelled
six hours from their homes
in Lakemba, western Sydney,
to the Willawarrin Hotel,
inland of Port Macquarie, to
help boost locals' spirits.
The four men cooked meat and
sausages and, with the help
of a local bakery which
donated fresh bread, handed
out a free lunch to locals
doing it tough after the
fires.
The small rural town lost
one of their own in the
blaze last week after
58-year-old Barry Parsons'
body was found in burnt-out
bushland.
He became the fourth victim
of the fires so far this
season.
Locals said the act of
kindness wouldn't go
unnoticed in their
community.
'Appreciation post from us
all at Willa. Thank you for
driving from Sydney to cater
lunch for everyone,' one
woman wrote alongside a
photograph of the men.
'These guys brought all the
food with them as well.
Muchly appreciated.'
The Facebook post attracted
hundreds of comments from
other Australians praising
the men for their community
spirit.
'This is the actual face of
Australia and what Australia
should look like,' one man
wrote on the post, as others
commended those involved and
said they made them 'proud
to be an Aussie'.
Another woman who attended
the free event told the men
to pay no mind to a few
'rude comments with no
appreciation for the
kindness in everyone's
hearts.'
'Please take note of the
majority. Our community
appreciate the time you have
taken to cook for and spend
time with us. No matter what
source of sustenance.
Community is all we have in
these times,' she said.
One man who claims to know
the group said they are
often looking for ways to
contribute to good causes.
'They see it as nothing. [It
is] just a part of their
life and faith to help when
they can and are able to,'
the man wrote on the
original post.
The men were joined by
Orange Sky Laundry - a
not-for-profit organisation
that washes homeless
people's clothes for them.
Volunteers from the
organisation set up a post
at the Willawarrin Hotel to
wash the clothes of bushfire
affected residents in the
region.
Everyone of you now know that
Queensland and NSW have been experiencing
catastrophic bushfire burning thousands of
hectors of land, crops, animals, properties and
houses of Australians.
Many houses, farms, and human lives have already
been lost and many are under serious threat to
be destroyed.
Our farmers are our lifeline. We must stand
beside them during this most difficult time and
help them any possible ways.
As always, many Muslim groups and organization
in Queensland have been supporting our famers
for the past several weeks, including supply of
drinking water, as the farmers have been passing
through sever draught.
Islamic Society of Toowoomba (IST) joins many
other Islamic groups, and community and charity
organisations in Australia to raise fund to
support our brothers and sisters in the bush.
We will receive donations on Friday after Jumma
prayers at the Garden City Mosque, Toowoomba. If
we stand for the people in distress and those
who lost their livelihood, Allah will stand with
us when we need Him Inshaa Allah.
Interested people may also donate via the CBA
account of IST BSB# 06 4459, A/C# 1000 3579. In
reference please write BUSHFIRE SUPPORT.
May Allah immediately stop the devastating
bushfire, send us blessings of beneficial rain,
protect His creation from all natural
calamities, and help rebuild the life of those
who are victims of the bushfire.
Australian Muslims are a
diverse lot, with many
different cultures,
political and social views.
Most of us have lived here
more than a generation, some
5 generations long. We work
in a number of professional
fields and just want a
normal, peaceful life. There
is no one Australian Muslim
image, no one narrative,
except the poisonous racist
one, that is running like a
runaway train online.
Muslim Australians are being
targeted by brazen and
intense public hatred
because its a great
recruiting tool for racist
extremists and there appears
to be no legal, commercial
or political consequence for
it.
Being told to ‘f*** off,
you’re not wanted here’ or
being cornered with someone
yelling that they wished you
died in Christchurch, are
harrowing experiences that
feel like violence, but are
not treated as such under
law.
Therefore speech that
encourages more of this
abuse to occur by
normalising it online, is
not necessarily inciting
violence as per the law –
but inciting acts of hatred.
Incitement to violence laws
set the threshold too high.
If someone says a ‘good
Muslim is a dead Muslim’ or
refers to “Jewish poison” or
“Hitler was right”, they are
promoting the idea of
violence, and making whole
communities of people easier
to target by removing their
humanity. Our laws need to
find a way to deter this
behaviour.
A littany of online pages
call for the exclusion of
all Muslims from Australia
because we are somehow a
‘violent threat’. Or because
as the Christchurch
terrorist argued, we are
‘breeding’ lots of children
as part of a ‘covert
religious war’. These ideas
are now becoming mainstream
– we hear them in shopping
centre abuse, like that
recorded recently on 7 news
where a ladyreferred to a
family’s children as ‘rats’.
The Charles Sturt University
study found the
vulnerability of victims to
be no deterrent. The chief
investigator, Dr Derya Iner,
drew links between the
Christchurch Terrorist’s
reference to being triggered
by big Muslim families in
shopping centres in his
manifesto with his ultimate
crime of mass murder.
And yet as Muslims, we have
no form of civil recourse to
bring the party behind that
online page to conciliation
– unlike our Jewish brothers
and sisters, who at least
have s18C of the Racial
Discrimination Act. That is
why Australian Muslims have
argued for a new proposed
anti-incitement provision in
the Religious Discrimination
Bill – set at a higher
threshold than s18C – to
target speech that endangers
religious people while
allowing for religious
criticism.
A civil remedy needs to be
considered, along with a
strict liability offence for
incitement of hatred or
animosity, like the Western
Australian criminal
standard. Laws are supposed
to act upstream and prevent
harm from happening. After
Christchurch, we thought
that would be enough
evidence – but our fears are
not being heard.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sister Rita Jabri
Markwell is an
advocate with the
Australian Muslim
Advocacy Network, a
specialist political
advocacy and policy
development body now
working at the
national level. She can be
reached at
advocacy@aman.net.au
The brand new
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Muslim lands are currently
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in the name of Islam. Barely
any theological progress. This series will reflect on
the last 1400 years in the
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into some of the root causes
of the situation many
Muslims find themselves in
today. The series is
inquisitive and reflective.
Quotes “The sons of the Iraqi
people demand a political
system based on direct
elections and a constitution
that realizes justice and
equality for everyone.”
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali
Hussein Sistani is the prime
marja, or spiritual
reference for Ithna’Ashari‘a
(Twelver) Shia Muslims. He
is the leading sheikh of the
Hawza Seminary in Najaf,
Iraq and the preem- inent
Shia cleric globally.
Sistani is one of the most
respected of the marjaiyya—the
highest position of
authority in the Usuli
school of Twelver Shia fiqh.
Influence Preeminent Shia Cleric
and Marja Taqlid:
Sistani’s influence in the
Twelver Shia sect stems from
his scholarly lineage and
education, which have
enabled him to reach the
status of marja taqlid—the
highest status in the Usuli
branch of Twelver Shia
Islam. Marja taqlid means
literally one who is worthy
of being imitated—placing
Sistani in a position of
great authority over Twelver
Shia Muslims. Sistani is
descended from a family of
religious scholars, and was
educated in the leading
institutions in Iran. He
later went to Najaf, Iraq to
study under the Grand
Ayatollah Abu Al-Qasim Al-Khoei.
On Khoei’s death in 1992,
Sistani took over as grand
ayatollah, inheriting
Khoei’s following. He soon
rose to become the leading
cleric in Iraq. With the
opening of Iraqi shrines to
Iranian tourists, Sistani is
gaining a following outside
of Iraq.
Financial Influence:
Sistani also has very
significant financial clout
As a marja his followers
give him a religious tax (khums,
Arabic for one-fifth). The
redistribution of this tax
for the common good is one
of the key roles of a marja.
Much of this remittance is
redistributed through the
Al-Khoei Foundation— the
largest Twelver Shia
development organization in
the world that maintains a
network of educational and
humanitarian establishments
for both Shia and non-Shia
Muslims.
Quietist Influence:
Significantly, Sistani is
against the idea of Velayat-e
Faqih, suggesting Shia
clerics should not get
involved in politics.
Paradoxically this approach
has afforded him very strong
influence as a religious
leader unsullied by
politics. Ali Sistani has
used his position of
quietist authority to wield
influence also as a
peacemaker in turbulent,
post-invasion Iraq. At a
time when Sistani was losing
support to Sheikh Muqtada
Al-Sadr, he showed his sway
by arranging a lasting deal
between Sadr and US forces
at the Imam Ali Shrine in
Najaf in 2005—a deal that
secured the Shrine and
pushed for an American
retreat.
Sistani was vocal about
encouraging Iraqis to
participate in the 2010
parliamentary elections. He
strongly condemned the
Baghdad church attack in
October 2010 and also
advised Iraqi security
forces to take more
responsibility for the
protection of Iraqi
citizens. He has identified
eliminating political
corruption and improvement
of public services as the
main issues of the day
outside. He has also issued
strong statements against
da’ish, calling on Iraqis to
unite against the militants.
Sistani rarely meets
officials but made an
exception for Iran’s
President Rouhani and
Foreign Minister Mohammed
Javad Zarif in March 2019.
The Australian Government
has said there are some
women within the group who
would pose a “significant
security threat to our
country”.
“These are not innocent
women who have taken their
children into the theatre of
war,” according to Home
Affairs Minister Peter
Dutton.
Former NSW Police deputy
commissioner Nick Kaldas has
spent a career investigating
terrorism.
He said the truth about the
women’s stories was hard to
establish.
“I do understand there are a
number of people who
probably have a legitimate
case of saying they weren’t
really aware of what they
were getting into,” Mr
Kaldas said.
“But I think there’s also
quite a large number who did
know exactly what they were
walking into and they were
happy to do it. They went
there willingly.”
Nesrine said she was not a
threat and had risked her
own safety by revealing her
identity.
“I understand [the
Australian Government] have
their laws and I’ll abide by
them. Come and ask me all
the questions you want. I’ll
give all the answers you
want. I have nothing to
hide,” she said.
Mariam said the conditions
in the camp were horrendous.
“My daughter uses a plastic
bag to go to the toilet,”
she said.
“I want to give my kids
nurture. You tell me I’m a
threat. Look, I’m trying to
get away from the threat.
I’ve had enough.”
Anti-clockwise
Australian Maysa Assad
helps collect water from
a tank in al-Hawl.
Children of Australian
women in al-Hawl.
There are children from
many different countries
stuck in al-Hawl.
What
happens next?
Mr Dutton recently announced
a plan to strip citizenship
from dual nationals found to
have engaged in terrorism.
Some of the Australian women
in al-Hawl are dual
nationals.
In July, the Government also
passed a new law creating
Temporary Exclusion Orders
that may delay the return of
women and children for
years.
That leaves nine-year-old
Maysa, born in Australia but
forced to live under Islamic
State for almost five years,
stranded.
“I want to go back home to
Australia where my brothers
and sisters are. I want to
go to school,” she tells
Four Corners outside the
dusty, filthy tent she calls
home.
Salih Yucel and Abu Bakr
Sirajuddin Cook, editors Australian
Journal of Islamic Studies
Editors' Introduction (Vol 3
No 3 2018):
The history of Islam within
Australia is an important,
yet often overlooked, part
of Australian history.
Muslim presence in Australia
has helped shape
multicultural experience
facilitating intercultural
dialogue as well as
contributing significantly
to the development of the
Australian nation. However,
to date, it has received
minimal scholarly attention.
There have been significant
studies on the engagements
of the Maccasans, Muslim
fishermen from Indonesia,
with the Indigenous peoples
of northern Australia. These
studies have detailed the
cultural interactions and
trade between them and the
lasting impacts of the
inclusion of language
foreign to Australian soil.
There is also an increasing
awareness of Australia's
cameleers, many of whom were
Muslims, and the
contribution they made to
maintaining trade routes and
assisting early Australian
explorers. Despite the
growing interest in the
field, the history of Islam
in Australia remains an
understudied area of
research. This rich history
dates back further than we
thought and has possibly had
a greater impact than what
is recognised. Given the
current political and social
climate surrounding Islam
globally, it is timely that
this volume of the
Australian Journal of
Islamic Studies is
published. This volume
brings to light the depth
and richness of Australia's
Islamic heritage,
challenging some of the
prevalent assumptions on the
topic, and calls for further
studies in this field.
Australia has proclaimed
itself as being a successful
example of a multicultural
society. It is a society
that has been shaped, and
continues to be shaped, by a
diverse range of cultural
inputs. With this being the
case, it is justifiable to
ask how and why the
contributions of Muslims to
Australia have been largely
overlooked.
Over the weeks, CCN
highlights extracts from the
Australian Journal of
Islamic Studies which is an
open access, double-blind
peer-reviewed journal
dedicated to the scholarly
study of Islam.
ANZAC Muslims: An Untold
Story
By Dzavid Haveric, Charles
Sturt University
.
Abstract: When the
Commonwealth of Australia
became immersed in two World
Wars, Australian Muslims
accepted the national call
-they shed their blood and
gave their lives for
Australia's freedom and
democracy. With their
Australian brothers-in-arms
and allies they fought
courageously with honour
against their common enemies
in different battlefields
-but this is an almost
forgotten history. Muslims
in Australia were challenged
by Britain's imperial might
and by their status as
British subjects and
'aliens' to take part in
ANZAC showing their
commitment to their adopted
country.
The virtue of justice, sense
of responsibility and
loyalty are peculiar
qualities that find their
full justification in the
organised welfare of
Australian society. This
pioneering article, based on
ongoing research on ANZAC
Muslims, makes known their
unique contribution. It
reveals historic facts about
ANZAC Muslims who were
members of what has come to
be known as the Heroic
Generation. Although their
names have not appeared in
history books, they achieved
the glory of victory for a
better future for new
generations to come. Their
contribution is part of
Australian National Heritage
-Lest we forget.
ANZAC MUSLIMS IN
WORLD WAR II
....continued from last
week's CCN.....
Australian-born Arab Salah
al-Samman served with the
2/1 Infantry Battalion AIF
throughout World War II. He
first went to Egypt in 1940
with the AIF, fought in the
Western Desert battles, was
transferred to New Guinea
and finally discharged in
Australia in 1946. He spent
the following three years
touring the Middle East. His
family had emigrated from
Damascus, Syria, to Sydney
around 1860. His father
married a Christian. While
Al-Samman’s brothers and
sisters took up their
mother’s religion, he was
brought up alongside his
father’s Islamic faith.
When the war was over, Al-Samman
taught English for a living.
He also wrote articles for
various publications and
edited the Standard of
Islam. He visited al-Azhar
University in Cairo. He
intended to publish a book
of facts about Muslim
communities, followed by a
series of pocket books
explaining the Muslim
religion. In his view,
Muslim communities knew
little or nothing about each
other and the understanding
of Islam by the rest of the
world could be strengthened
by better acquaintance of
people with Muslims. When he
returned home to Australia,
his religious mission was to
establish better
intra-Muslim relations and
promote interfaith
understanding.
In his post-war life, he
promoted local and
international understanding
through the similarities in
outlook of the adherents of
the different religions. He
set young friends of the
three religions —Christian,
Jewish and Muslim —to find
out in how many respects
their religions agreed,
instead of trying to
identify where the other was
wrong. Al-Samman pointed
out, in continuity of the
Golden Rule, Islam teaches:
No one is a true
believer until he loves
for his brother that
which he loves for
himself. The most
beloved unto God is the
person who does the most
good to God’s family ...
Any man or woman who
refutes a Commandment is
refuting his or her God.
Any believer who does
not love his neighbour
as himself is not a
believer. Individuals
differed, and he
believed that the secret
of unity lay in this
diversity.
Through invitations, Al-Samman
spoke to Christians of
various denominations in
Australia on international
racial and religious
goodwill. Al-Samman was a
guest speaker at Apex Clubs,
the Methodist Hall convened
by the Taree Ministers’
Association and at the Taree
Rotary Club. Other Arabs
also fought in the
Australian Defence Forces in
both wars. These were Druze
from Mt. Lebanon who were
also doctors in the
Australian Army, while Druze
women sewed and knitted
garments for the soldiers.
Lowy
Institute paper
reveals the true
traits of
Australian
Islamic State
fighters and
jihadis
The Australians
who joined ISIS
and al Qaeda are
frighteningly
ordinary:
typically young
men from the
suburbs of
Sydney and
Melbourne, from
stable homes,
married and with
good jobs and no
criminal record.
Key points:
The majority
of
Australian
jihadis are
not refugees
but second
generation
Australians,
says a paper
from the
Lowy
Institute
Ninety per
cent of the
jihadis are
from suburbs
on the
outskirts of
Sydney or
Melbourne
In the
assessment
of judges in
40 trials,
only 10 per
cent of
jihadis have
displayed
genuine
remorse
And if
they're
caught, few
show genuine
contrition
about their
actions.
A
new paper from
the Lowy
Institute gives
us the most
thorough
analysis yet
about the 173
Australians it
classes as 'jihadis':
those who joined
radical Islamist
terrorist
organisations or
who've been
charged with
terror offences.
It gives crucial
background on
105 who left
Australia to
fight, or to
live in ISIS's
caliphate.
The study
"Typology of
Terror" provides
hard evidence
against
misconceptions
such as a link
between refugees
and terrorism:
just six per
cent of
Australia's
jihadis are
refugees or the
children of
refugees. The
majority are
second
generation
Australians.
And the report
gives us the
background of
the extremists:
90 per cent are
from the suburbs
of Sydney and
Melbourne, and
they're
concentrated in
relatively small
areas within
those cities:
Sydney's western
suburbs and
north Melbourne.
Who is a
typical
Australian
jihadi?
Although there
is no such thing
as an 'average'
Australian
jihadi, if we
were to
construct one
from the
aggregated data,
they would
likely have many
of the following
characteristics:
Male
Mid 20s
Lives in
Sydney
Is or has
been married
Born in
Australia to
overseas-born
parents who
are still
married
(with one or
both from
Lebanon)
No prior
criminal
record
Completed
high school
at a
government
school
Employed in
a
blue-collar
job
No mental
health
issues
Not contrite
and judged
to have
relatively
poor
prospects of
rehabilitation
Athens is
known as the birthplace of
democracy, but Muslims both
in and around the city say
they don’t have religious
freedom. Here’s why.
Faisal
Mohamed makes Partner at
Adrians
Faisal
Mohamed was recently
appointed as a Partner,
Business Advisory at
Brisbane-based Adrians
Chartered Accountants. He
discusses the driving force
behind his decision to go to
Adrians to work everyday.
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.
The Senegalese
Sufi saint who inspired a banking system
based on generosity
Pilgrims
line up
to enter
the tomb
of
Cheikh
Amadou
Bamba,
founder
of the
Mouride
brotherhood,
in Touba.
The best leaders
seek no
followers, no
power, and no
titles. Yet they
attract people
anyway,
precisely
because they
reject
conventions and
have a unique
message. That’s
true of Amadou
Bamba Mbacke, a
Senegalese Sufi
poet, mystic,
and peaceful
resistor who
lived from 1853
to 1927, and is
now celebrated
every July 28 in
New York.
Bamba, as he’s
affectionately
known in Senegal
and beyond, is a
mystic of mythic
proportions. The
lore about the
peaceful warrior
who preached
hard work is
grounded in
history and
steeped in
magic, yet he
continues to
have a very
practical effect
on the millions
of followers of
his Sufi sect,
the Mourides.
They do business
internationally—from
New York to
Paris to
Tokyo—and are
known as
“Islam’s
mystical
entrepreneurs.”
Portrait of
the poet as a
young man
Bamba wrote
poems, legal
treatise, and
mystical
texts—it is said
that he composed
seven tons of
writings (pdf).
The Sufi was
already a
notable scholar
at 13. And for
the rest of his
life, he
remained ahead
of his time,
peerless.
Long before the
rest of the
world admitted
that racism
profoundly
stains a
society, Bamba
called out
inequality. As a
young man
studying Islam
in Sudan, he
recognized that
teachers who
treated him as
inferior to Arab
Muslims because
he was black
were themselves
deficient, and
he quit his
studies. Back in
Senegal, he
declined the
offer to take
his deceased
father’s title
as counsel to a
Wolof king,
despite
tradition,
saying, “God
suffices and I
restrict myself
to him. Why put
destiny in the
hands of those
incapable to
adjust fate?” In
Bamba’s view, no
human was above
any other and no
mere mortal
ruler could
grant true
power.
According to the
lore, Bamba was
so pure of
spirit that he
glowed, and
though he sought
no followers,
people flocked
to him. Word of
his wisdom
spread
throughout
Senegal. So much
so that when the
Wolof king Lat
Dior was trying
to decide
whether to keep
fighting French
colonizers—an
effort he was
losing—he sought
Bamba’s advice.
The mystic wrote
to the king, “To
control the
world, turn your
back on it.
Devote yourself
to studies.
Depose your
arms. Liberate
your soldiers
and horses. In
return you will
find something
greater—inner
peace and
tranquillity.”
When the king
died, he was
buried with a
strip of white
cloth Bamba had
sent him. News
of this reached
the French
Office of Muslim
Affairs, which
sent for the
Sufi to inquire
as to his
intentions.
Bamba admitted
that he was
forming a
brotherhood in
the city of
Touba, a
mystical
movement called
the Mourides
that would
emphasize peace,
devotion to God,
and hard work.
His motto was,
“Pray to God but
plow your
fields.”
CAIR-NJ, Coalition Partners to Host Muslim
Day of Advocacy at the New Jersey State
Capitol
US: Muslims from around
New Jersey will take part in our second
annual "Muslim Day of Advocacy" at the
State House in Trenton. Some 100 Muslims
from across the state have already
signed up to take part in the lobbying
event.
Muslim Day of Advocacy delegates will
focus their lobbying efforts on
legislation pertaining to freedom of
speech, child adoption, anti-bullying,
and discrimination-based on immigration
status.
SPONSORS: The New Jersey chapter of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ)
is co-sponsoring Muslim Day of Advocacy
with New Jersey Muslim Voice for
Progress (NJMVP) and a coalition of
Muslim organizations from around the
state.
Throughout the day, New Jersey Muslims
will meet with individual legislators.
Jewish family hail 'totally amazing' Muslim
nanny as she shares story of overcoming
prejudice
Leyla Ridha, 23, grew up being
taught to be suspicious of
Jewish people and wants to help
combat stereotypes
Nanny and
student Leyla
Ridha with
Marley, five, in
the garden after
school
UK A Muslim
student who
overcame
prejudice
working as a
nanny for a
London-based
Jewish family is
sharing her
story to inspire
others “at a
time when there
is a lot of bad
stuff in the
news”.
Student Leyla
Ridha, 23, moved
to London from
the Middle East
aged 16, having
been taught as a
child to be
suspicious of
Jewish people.
Her family
settled in
Barnet, and last
September the
Birkbeck
University
journalism
student took a
part-time
nannying job for
a family in the
area.
The Grossman
family and their
three young
children, who
live in
Cricklewood, are
Jewish and ended
up changing the
student’s
perspective
“overnight” as
they forged a
special
relationship.
Today, Ms Ridha
is a familiar
face picking up
Marley, five,
and Bela, three,
from
after-school
Judaism classes
(Cheder) and
Friday is “even
more special as
I pray at noon
in the mosque,
and pray Shabbat
in the evening
with the
children at
dinner”.
Ms Ridha has
even inspired
Marley to want
to learn about
Islam and try on
her nanny's
headscarf.
She told the
Standard: “I
realised I was
literally
brainwashed to
fear them
[Jewish people],
and literally
misunderstood
who they are.
“I thought my
experiences need
to be out there,
someone needs to
hear this stuff.
“In my culture
it is a taboo to
go and be a
nanny in another
man’s home, and
also they were
Jewish, it was a
big thing.
“I love the
family. They
don’t treat me
like ‘hey you
work for us’,
sometimes I'm
just sitting
downstairs with
the baby
watching
Spongebob. We
have a great
time together."
City lawyer Tara
Grossman, 35,
said she thinks
the student is
“totally
amazing”.
She said: “Just
reading it [the
blog post] I
feel really
proud, really
proud of her.
She’s just
totally amazing,
she really is.
It was just
lucky that we
found each
other. It wasn’t
until I read it
though that I
thought how
unusual the
whole
relationship
really is.
“When we met
Leyla, as a
person she came
across as so
capable and so
friendly, and we
just offered her
the job straight
away.
“My daughter
Marley and Leyla
talk about
religion, and
they learn so
much. We have
Friday night
dinner and do
the bread and
the candles, and
she’ll come and
sit with us, and
I just find it
so touching
because there’s
so much hatred
out there.
“Last Chanukah,
Leyla got
presents for
each day of
Chanukah for the
kids, even
though we do
Christmas
presents for
them. I was
pregnant at the
time and it just
blew me away.
“It’s just so
nice that we can
have a
relationship and
be friends and
family, and I
think it’s
really special.
I would love her
message to get
out.”
This week Ms
Ridha wrote a
blog post for
London-based
platform The
Muslim Vibe,
stating: “If
someone had told
me just a few
years ago that
I, a Muslim
student from
Kuwait, would
end up working
for a Jewish
family as their
nanny, I’d never
have believed
them.
"Working with a
Jewish family
has allowed me
to grow as a
person, and I
also believe
I’ve helped the
family grow too
by looking at
Islam from a new
perspective. My
understanding of
the Jewish faith
is something I
now see as a
privilege – a
privilege many
in the Middle
East don’t have.
It’s funny to
think that it is
accepting that
job as a nanny
that gave me all
of this.”
A spokesperson
for site said:
“We hoped that
by sharing one
woman's
beautiful
journey of
multi-culturalism,
we could help
foster a
commitment from
the wider
community to
tackle racism,
Islamophobia,
and
anti-Semitism."
Ms Ridha found
the nanny role
through Koru
Kids, a platform
matching working
parents with
flexible,
part-time
nannies for
after-school
hours, whose
staff encouraged
the student to
share her story.
Founder and CEO
Rachel Carrell,
said: “I loved
this story
because it’s
just such a
great example of
the way two
cultures can be
bridged...
People are so
desperate for
good news at the
moment and so
that’s why I
think it’s
struck a chord.”
British Muslims Can Swing the U.K.
Election, But Only If They Get Out and Vote
UK: In
December’s U.K.
election,
British Muslims
represent a
swing vote that
few are paying
attention to.
The 2 million
eligible Muslim
voters in the
U.K. have the
ability to swing
the result, one
way or the
other. As an
imam, I’m
encouraging my
congregation to
get out and
vote, and not
let Muslims be
excluded from
the British
political
conversation any
longer.
In previous
elections, the
Muslim turnout
has been
relatively low.
A parliamentary
report last
month found that
voter
registration
amongst BAME
communities was
only half that
of the general
population. It
may be even
lower amongst
some Muslim
communities.
Yet if Muslims
do get out to
vote, their
impact could be
transformative
in many parts of
the U.K.
Research just
released by the
Muslim Council
of Britain, a
non-partisan
umbrella body,
shows that both
the major
parties – the
ruling
Conservatives
and the
opposition
Labour party –
as well as niche
parties like the
pro-Scottish
independence SNP
could lose or
gain seats
through the
Muslim vote.
There are 31
marginal seats
where the Muslim
electorate
outnumbers the
sitting member
of parliament’s
(MP’s) majority.
In
Conservative-held
Hendon, for
example, the
ruling party’s
majority is just
1,072. This is
in a
constituency
with an
estimated 8,395
eligible Muslim
voters. On the
other side of
the political
divide, Labour
holds Glasgow
North East by
just 242 votes.
If just a
quarter of the
1010 eligible
Muslim voters
were to swing to
the SNP, the
Scottish
Nationalists
would have
another seat in
Westminster.
But this depends
on Muslims
registering to
vote, something
that is not a
given in all
communities. On
Nov.22,
organisations
like the Muslim
Council of
Britain are
staging the
U.K.’s first
ever National
Muslim Voter
Registration Day
to encourage
members of our
community to
exercise their
democratic
rights.
Many Muslims
still feel
excluded from
the political
process, which
is hardly a
surprise as the
major parties
have all but
ignored the
Muslim vote at
the national
level. This is
systemic, but
most notable
with regards to
the Conservative
Party and its
ongoing
Islamophobia
scandal. The
Tories are
accused of
turning a blind
eye to
anti-Muslim
hatred within
the party’s
ranks, and are
refusing to hold
an independent
enquiry into it.
In a country
teetering on the brink of civil war, two
young people meet—sensual, fiercely
independent Nadia and gentle, restrained
Saeed. They embark on a furtive love
affair and are soon cloistered in a
premature intimacy by the unrest roiling
their city. When it explodes, turning
familiar streets into a patchwork of
checkpoints and bomb blasts, they begin
to hear whispers about doors—doors that
can whisk people far away, if perilously
and for a price. As the violence
escalates, Nadia and Saeed decide that
they no longer have a choice. Leaving
their homeland and their old lives
behind, they find a door and step
through.
Exit West follows these
characters as they emerge into an alien
and uncertain future, struggling to hold
on to each other, to their past, to the
very sense of who they are. Profoundly
intimate and powerfully inventive, it
tells an unforgettable story of love,
loyalty, and courage that is both
completely of our time and for all time.
KB says:
Looking to indulge in a chocolate cake without
the guilt of consuming sugar and carbs, well
this recipe is the answer..
Healthy One Min Cake for One
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
1 egg
½ tab melted butter
1/5 cup almond flour
½ tsp baking powder
1-tab cocoa (or less)
1 full tab xylitol or 1-tab honey (according to taste).
A drop of vanilla essence
Place all
ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
Place mixture
in a greased ramekin container.
Microwave for
1 min
If the cake
is not done, try another 30 seconds.
When cool top
with melted dark chocolate or fresh cream, or a
combination of both.
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
“Respecting
Psychological
Personal Space”.
Self-Reflection is
only possible when
we spend moments in
silence and create a
personal space for
ourselves whereby we
are in complete
immersion within our
own being, in order
to look back and
learn from all that
happened in the past
several months.
Personal Space
exists in two forms
- physically and
psychologically
- when a person
feels comfortable in
a region surrounding
them which they
regard as their own.
That region could
exist within
physical boundaries
or within the mind.
When this personal
space is encroached
upon, the person
feels anger,
frustration,
discomfort or
anxiety.
Alhumdolillah, our
Deen reminds us of
this space with
examples of our
Prophet’s (SAW)
retreats to the
mountain caves and
his regular practice
of I’tikaf.
The fundamental
thing to remember is
that everyone has a
right to personal
space and no one has
the right to
encroach upon
another’s personal
space. Respecting
one’s own personal
space and that of
others is vital if
one wishes to live a
joyful, peaceful and
harmonious life.
Psychological
Personal Space In
Your Home
Often people may
feel that the mosque
is a preferred
choice to practise
self-reflection and
connection with
ALLAH. However,
every Muslim’s home
can be perceived as
a sanctuary to
practise
self-reflection.
Every member of your
family is entitled
to this space and
must have respect
when spending time
in silence - bearing
in mind that silence
can also be
practised while
being in a room full
of people.
Respecting that
psychological
personal space is
vital.
How to Respect
Psychological
Personal Space
As Muslims, we have
a wonderful
advantage in that we
have been reminded
countless times that
a harmonious family
unit is a compulsory
prerequisite to
having a harmonious
Ummah. The question
is, are we actually
practising this?
Look at the state of
our Ummah and
understand that it
is a direct
reflection of the
state of your own
family unit, your
dealings with
extended family
members and the rest
of the community.
Below are ways to be
mindful and
respectful of your
own psychological
personal space and
that of others.
• Dedicate a
time daily to be
in your personal
space. This is
aside from Salah
times.
• Let people
around you know
that you are
retreating for
some quiet time
and you wish not
to be disturbed.
• Whilst in
quiet time,
leave gadgets in
a different room
so that you are
not disturbed by
notification
tones, texts or
phone calls.
• Discuss the
benefits of
personal space
as a family,
• If a family
member practises
being in their
personal space
whilst in a room
full of other
family members,
DO NOT ask them
why they are
quiet. Let them
be.
• During this
practice,
acknowledge and
become aware of
every part of
your being and
give thanks to
ALLAH for this
precious time of
reflection.
• Minimise loud
noises and
distractions in
the home so that
people who are
in practice of
this time can
feel more at
peace.
• Go into the
practice with an
intention to
know ALLAH
better and find
answers to
questions that
are on your
mind.
• Encourage and
support your
family members
to experience
Psychological
Personal Space
daily.
A daily practice of
psychological
personal space will
not only transform
you as a person but
also inspire people
in your family and
community to imbibe
this practice. In a
world where the
terms
‘communication’ and
‘connection’ are
reduced to defining
the latest
electronic gadgets,
we are sadly the
most disconnected
Muslims to have
dwelled on this
earth.
Disconnect from
the outside and
connect within so
that you may connect
better with ALLAH.
If you wish to know
about a specific
topic with regards
to Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind,
please text or email
me. If you wish to
have a FREE one hour
Finding Clarity
telephone session,
contact me on
0451977786
DOWNLOAD
Muslimah
Reflections - my
new ebook of
poetry and
affirmations
DOWNLOAD The
Ultimate
Self-Care Guide
For Muslimahs
WATCH VIDEOS
from Muslimah
Mind Matters
YouTube Channel.
DOWNLOAD
Muslimah
Meditation
Moments - audio
files for
self-awareness
meditation.
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.
Dear Kareema,
thought to ask if you could just throw some
general exercise advice out there?
A:
• Set yourself some
goals / objectives so you know which fitness
route to take • Set a strong foundation to build from • Remember that goals can always be modified • Stay committed, stay focused
• Always engage your core, especially while
working out • Personalise your workout style to suit you • Take regular rest days • Make exercise a habit • Stay hydrated • Get enough sleep • Always have fun while working out, no matter
how tough the workout routine is • Surround yourself with like-minded people • Reap the rewards!
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.
This
historic 111 years
old mosque was
unfortunately
targeted today with
threatening
graffiti, symbols of
hatred and reference
to the Christchurch
terrorist. Sadly, in
recent times these
hate crimes have
become common and
many of our patrons
have been victims of
abuse, threats and
even bottles thrown
at them.
We are an open and
welcoming mosque. We
want peace and wish
to keep the
community safe.
After the repeated
attacks we are
looking to upgrade
the security of the
mosque to include
more cameras,
security locks and
gates.
The Australian
community has always
shown great support,
for which we are
very thankful for
and proud to call
Australia our home.
We welcome people
from all communities
to join us and stop
hatred and spread
the message of peace
and love!
Please help us
collect these much
needed funds and
show the offenders
that peace and love
will always win!
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.
HikmahWay offers online and
in-person Islamic courses to
equip Muslims of today with
the knowledge, understanding
and wisdom to lead balanced,
wholesome and beneficial
lives.
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..
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here.
The Senegalese
Sufi saint who inspired a banking system
based on generosity
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011