......a sometimes self-deprecating and occasional
tongue-in-cheek look at ourselves and the world around us
......
Sunday, 9 March 2008
.Newsletter
0174
Brisbane Muslims and Taiwanese Meet Over a Cuppa
Mr. Ted Liao addresses the gathering
It
was an event that the Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell
Newman and Mr. Graham Perrett, Member for
Moreton, saw fit to attend not only to heap praises
on the initiative but to give it their wholehearted
support.
At a function held yesterday
(Saturday) afternoon to develop friendships between
the Muslim and Taiwanese communities of Brisbane,
Mr. Wayne Ko, the Secretary General of the
Queensland Federation of Taiwanese Associations gave
a background to Taiwan and Mr. Ted L. M. Liao,
Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office
Brisbane, spoke on the local Taiwanese community.
For the Muslim Community,
Mr. Suliman Sabdia described the role of the
Islamic Council of Queensland, Mrs. Galila
Abdelsalam spoke about the various functions
within the Islamic Women's Association of Queensland
that extended beyond assisting not only Muslim women
but which reached members of all other religions and
gender; Dr. Mohammed Hanief Khatree
summarized the aims and objectives of the Muslim
Business Network; Ms Aliyah Deen and Ms
Shaima Khan described the respective roles of
the Al-Nisa Youth Group and MYServices; the role of
AMARAH was articulated very eloquently by Mr.
Javed Khatree; and the presentations ended with
Ms Mariam Essof describing some of the
activities of Crescents of Brisbane.
Both communities acknowledged
the efforts of Mr. David Forde of the Kuraby
Lionswho single-handedly (both literally and
figuratively) brokered the meeting of the two
communities.
Ms Mariam Essof presents the
Certificate of Friendship to Mr. Wayne KO
The gourmet sandwiches and
refreshments, prepared and presented, in inimitably
professional fashion, by the ladies of the Crescents
of Brisbane team won as much acclaim by the
attendees as did the rest of the afternoon's
proceedings.
The meeting ended with the
assurance by both communities that this was just the
start of greater things to come and both looked
forward to collaborative work and joint ventures in
the near future.
The Certificate of Friendship,
signed and presented by the Muslim organizations
present, read:
The Muslim
Community of Queensland hereby presents this
Certificate of Friendship to the Taiwanese Community
of Queensland with warmest wishes and hopes that the
peoples of our two communities will grow in
friendship and understanding.
Photo Gallery
The
Ladies BIG NIGHT OUT
Our Man-on-the-Mussallah has it on good authority that
the Hope for Happiness Ladies Fashion Show held
last night (Saturday) was a resounding success with over
300 ladies in attendance.
Mustafa Kemal Omar (left) gets his copy
of The Messenger: The Meanings of the
Life of Muhammad autographed by the the
author Tariq Ramadan (right)
TARIQ Ramadan, Professor of Islamic studies at
Oxford University, was the keynote speaker at the
Conference organized by the Griffith Islamic
Research Unit during the week.
Professor Ramadan spoke for more than an hour to dozens
of academics, students and ministers of religion at the
conference at Griffith University.
Accused of tailoring his message for Western audiences
Ramadan told his audience that Muslim immigrants could
practise their religion while still embracing the
culture of their adopted country.
After the speech, Professor Ramadan confirmed he had
previously advised the Howard government on Islamic
integration, saying he had recommended strategies and
policies to promote "a sense of belonging" for Muslim
immigrants.
Professor Ramadan was banned from entering the US in
2004 after the US Government found he had donated $940
to two humanitarian organisations that gave money to the
Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. He has consistently
denied links to terrorism and again defended his
donations yesterday.
"I gave this money between 1998 and 2002 - one year
before this organisation was blacklisted in the States,"
he said.
He continued, to laughs from the audience: "I should
then have reasonably known, one year before the
Department of Homeland Security, that this organisation
would be blacklisted?"
Laurie Ferguson, federal Parliamentary Secretary
for Multicultural Affairs, introduced Professor Ramadan
at the conference on Islam in the Western world,
describing him as one of the "most influential
international experts" on the subject.
"Professor Ramadan has already made an important
contribution to Australian government thinking on Islam
and the West, through a video-link discussion between
London and Canberra last year," he said.
He said it was possible for immigrants to be Muslim by
religion and Australian by culture, while still
remembering their past in their home country.
Professor Ramadan said it was possible for Muslim
immigrants to belong to the international Islamic
community without undermining their loyalty to their
adopted country.
He has also advised the British Government and was named
one of the 21st century's great innovators by Time
magazine.
Prof Yan Islam (Professor of International
Business at Griffith University) who spoke on
Islamophobia;
Associate Prof Regina Ganter (well-respected
historian specializing in Asian-Aboriginal contacts in
northern Australia) who spoke on the Muslims of
Australia as comprising the most long-standing
non-indigenous segment of Australia;
Prof Abdalla Saeed (Foundation Chair of the
Sultan of Oman Endowed Chair in Arab and Islamic Studies
at the University of Melbourne) who discussed whether it
was appropriate for a Muslim to live under non-Muslim
'rule' or 'laws'; and
Irfan Yusef (Solicitor of the Supreme Court of
NSW) who entertained the delegates with his treatise on
the monolithic Muslim.
Clean
Sweep on Sunday
A Clean Up Australia Day report by Shajaroh Amath
What is a sock doing here?
It was a gorgeous early Sunday morning. Birds were
happily chirping, the trees swayed back and forth
slightly from the gentle breeze, the air was so crisp
and fresh and what were we doing? Sleeping in? Nope!
Participating in Clean Up Australia Day, that’s what!
MY Services and AMARAH teamed up with Brandon Road
Bushcare Group to put on a local clean up at Williams
Park.
Approximately 35 people showed up for the event.
About one third of the participants belonged to the
Muslim community.
As early in the morning as it was, these determined
stewards of the environment dragged themselves out of
bed to help make small steps to make our planet greener
and healthier.
Armed with disposable gloves and garbage bags, we
scavenged the park for trash that desecrated the beauty
of the park.
We even had two courageous Muslim girls with the aid of
a fellow Muslim brother get soaked in the creek while
trying to pull out a rusty old trolley!
A congregation of the volunteers
evaluating each other’s trash!
Now that is determination! Although we did not garner
as much trash as previous years, it shows that we, as
inhabitants of this planet, are becoming more
environmentally conscious of our actions.
This event also demonstrates that the Muslim community,
too, shares environmental ethics with this surging
global environmental movement.
To end the clean up, we all scarfed down sumptuous halal
sausage sizzles in celebration of our triumphs over
environmental ignorance and evils!
If you want to help out, it’s not too late!
You can join the Brandon Road Bushcare Group every 2nd
Sunday of each month from 7-9am in rejuvenating the
environment.
If you are interested, please contact Shajaroh via email
at
shajaroh@gmail.com.
Jumping into the creek to get
rid of this unwanted visitor of the creek!
Nothing like freshly grilled
sausage sizzles after working up a sweat!
The Muslim Business Network is in the process of
compiling both an electronic and hard copies of a Muslim
Business Directory. If you would like your details to
appear, kindly send in your name, business name,
address, telephone number and any other relevant
information to
secretary@mbn.net.au
RECENT UNIVERSITY GRADUATES
The Muslim Business Network is planning a function to
honour Muslim students who have recently graduated from
University at the end of 2007. If you are a recent
graduate, kindly submit your name address, telephone
number, email, the degree obtained and the University
attended to
secretary@mbn.net.au
The Albanian
Muslims in Mareeba began their life there in the tobacco
industry in the 1920's and are now still an important
part of the community in a wide range of businesses and
professions.
Their life of faith and friendship and peace emanates
from both their mosque and their hall in this tropical
place of great beauty in the tourist North.
The Encounter program on ABC National is a highly
acclaimed series which explores the connections between
religion and life.
In a recent edition in the series producer Florence
Spurling talks with the Muslims of Mareeba.
Kuraby Madrassah will be hosting a fundraiser BBQ on
3Ot March.
There are stalls available for selling, exhibiting or
providing a service.
You can also promote your business, company, services or
products by putting up BANNERS FOR THE DAY.
Contact RiazGutta on 0400 105 786 for
more information.
An
Interview with Ramadan
He has been banned from entering the United States, he's
advised Scotland Yard, the British Government and the
previous Australian Government.
He is accused of
doublespeak and terrorist links.
What did Oxford based
Muslim scholar, Tariq Ramadan, have to say to an
international audience in Brisbane this past week?
He
was keynote speaker at a conference sponsored by the
Queensland Government, Griffith University and the
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils. Its theme -
"The Challenges and Opportunities of Islam in the West:
The Case of Australia".
Listen to the interview tonight (Sunday 9 March) on the
Encounter Programme on 792 ABC Radio National at 7.10pm
From
the IWAQ Desk.....
IWAQ’s 15 year celebration
The Islamic Women’s Association (IWAQ) had its 15th year
celebration on the 9th of February 2008.
We took this opportunity to celebrate IWAQ’s success and
acknowledge our appreciation to the long-time workers
and those in the community who have supported IWAQ for
the past 15 years.
Recipients included Suad Mufti, Fatima Ismail, Anab
Keinan, Fatat Issa, Sabiha Becirbasic, Wimarat Fazil,
Ghiwa Kanafani, Aemna Deen, Azza Elmekawi and Hassan
Fawaz from the long-time workers.
Rita-Prasad Ildes, Fatima Abdel-karim, Sultan Deen,
Nizam Deen, Gail Ker, Jihad Armstrong, Hendrika Johnson,
Fausia Nathie, Mohammed Tammoum, Hon. Stephen Robertson,
Kerry Rea and Elizabeth Robin from the community.
The event was also attended by Graham Perrett, Member
for Moreton, who handed out the awards.
Stephen Robertson, Minister for Health,
receiving his award
The evening was very well received and attended by the
award recipients, their family and friends.
There were many proud moments and high emotions.
Feedback from the event was very positive and people
loved the entertainment and food.
We would like to thank all those who organised the
event, helped on the day and of course those who
attended.
At a special event on Friday 15th February, IWAQ took
the opportunity to award some members of staff and
community who have supported IWAQ namely Emad Elshemy,
Annette Yunus, Galila Abdelsalam and Muna Ibrahim.
This was attended by Hon. Stephen Robertson who handed
out the awards.
All at IWAQ felt very proud of the great achievements,
hard work, commitment and dedication of every single
person who supported IWAQ through these years. Thank you
to all.
IWAQ Think Tank on
Strategic Planning Day
Muna Ibrahim receives her
award
Annette
Yunus receives her award
Emad Elshemy receives his
award
IWAQ’s driving classes
IWAQ will be providing driving lessons on an automatic
transmission car through a qualified instructor. Lessons
will cost $35 per lesson. Booking is essential for these
lessons and a current Learner’s Permit must be available
to be sighted by the instructor. Please call the office
on 3272 6355 or 3272 6422 for further information and to
book your lessons.
Fear of
a Brown Planet
Stand-up
comedy about all the things you are scared to think
about: Islam, race relations, sedition, and the War on
Terror.
After a sold-out extended season at the Melbourne Fringe
Festival 2007, two young Australian Muslim comedians are
coming to shock and awe audiences with their dark humour
in a bold one-hour stand-up comedy show that is a timely
antidote to today's culture of paranoia.
Featuring Nazeem Hussain (Vic State Finalist, Raw
Comedy 2007) and Aamer Rahman (Vic State Winner,
National Runner-Up Raw Comedy 2007).
“An uncompromised snapshot of difference and some
beautifully distilled fury … this show had the sheen of
something new and remarkable” - Helen Razer, The Age
In a ground breaking move Pope Benedict
XVI has approved the setting up of a permanent
Catholic-Muslim Forum - the first of its kind - which is
to hold its inaugural summit meeting in the Vatican in
November.
The historic move follows three days of talks in Rome
between Vatican officials and a Muslim delegation
representing 138 Muslim scholars who last year wrote an
open letter to the Pope and other Christian leaders
calling for dialogue, a move inspired by Prince Ghazi
bin Muhammed bin Talal of Jordan.
The Muslim initiative was a response to the Pope's
controversial speech at Regensburg University in his
native Germany in 2006, where he appeared to describe
Islam as inherently violent and irrational by quoting a
Byzantine Emperor. He later said he had been
misunderstood, and prayed alongside an imam at the Blue
Mosque in Istanbul during a visit to Turkey.
The first summit of the Catholic-Muslim Forum will take
place on 4-6 November, the Vatican said, with nearly
fifty delegates, and will be addressed by the pontiff.
The chosen theme is "Love of God, Love of Neighbour."
Chancellor Alistair Darling to close loophole in finance
deals based on Sharia
UK: The Chancellor is expected to close a
loophole in Sharia finance rules that have allowed
commercial property investors to avoid paying stamp duty
on more than £1 billion of deals.
Alistair Darling is expected to tighten
the rules on mortgages that comply with Sharia – or
Islamic law – in his inaugural Budget after commercial
property developers discovered a quirk in the
legislation that allowed them to escape stamp duty. The
Government brought in changes to the stamp duty regime
three years ago amid concern that homeowners opting for
Sharia-compliant mortgages were paying stamp duty twice.
The 2005 Budget brought in measures to correct this
anomaly but inadvertently created a tax avoidance
opportunity that property developers have rushed to
exploit. More than £1 billion of commercial property
deals over the past two years have escaped stamp duty at
4 per cent.
Medine's raps set out to sell Islam to
French society
I met Medine in the coastal town of Le
Havre, in a scaled-down version of France's notorious
banlieues.
Medine was here - hunched into a parka against the chill
sea breeze - to practice in the municipal dance hall.
He was brought up in the bleak tower blocks that
overshadow the place, and was once a member of the
disenchanted Muslim youth who preached to French society
about its decadence and immorality. He was named after
the Muslim holy city of Medina.
Now his CDs and live performances send a different
message - the offer of a new deal, and full
participation in a secular society, and of a readiness
to compete for success in a free market and liberal
democracy.
The Aktar daughters are following their
mother into careers
See the Akhtar family at a weekend lunch,
and the renewal of Islam in America seems inevitable and
irresistible.
Shahid and Mino Akhtar were born in Pakistan and, like
their son and three daughters, they are devout Muslims
who attend the mosque regularly.
Meeting them at their house in a quiet tree-lined street
in Emerson, New Jersey, it soon seems clear that they,
and their progressive Islam, are as perfectly adapted to
life in modern America as their Christian neighbours.
Shahid is a hands-on dad. While his wife pursued a
career as a lawyer he took charge of raising the
children. His son Reza, a hospital doctor, is following
his example by being the one who cooks dinner and does
the dishes as his wife, Amna, also works.
The Aktar daughters are pursuing careers as a lawyer,
businesswoman and dentist. Their emancipation has not
diluted their sense of being Muslim, but it has changed
it.
IT IS a long way from the Anatolian
plains to a campus in the heart of London, where eminent
scholars of religion deliver learned papers.
And the highlands that used to form the
Soviet border with China, an area where bright kids long
for an education, seem far removed from a three-storey
house in Pennsylvania, where a revered, reclusive
teacher of Islam lives.
What links these places is one of the most powerful and
best-connected of the networks that are competing to
influence Muslims round the globe—especially in places
far from Islam's heartland.
The Pennsylvania-based sage, Fethullah
Gulen, who stands at the centre of this network, has
become one of the world's most important Muslim
figures—not only in his native Turkey, but also in a
quieter way in many other places: Central Asia,
Indochina, Indonesia and Africa.
Religious scholars ask nation for restraint over
anti-Quran film
Religious scholars in Turkey have called
on the Turkish population to refrain from violent acts
or protests over a film made by a Dutch politician that
strongly criticizes the Quran and claims the holy text
promotes violence and intolerance.
Dutch Parliament deputy Geert Wilders, known for his
anti-immigration stance, announced earlier this week
that he has completed his film, "Fitna" -- an Arabic
term used in the Quran and sometimes translated as
"strife" -- which likens the Quran to Adolf Hitler's "Mein
Kampf" and charges it with promoting violence and
intolerance. Wilders said he was currently in
negotiations with television stations for its broadcast,
likely to be in late March or April.
Date- 17th March 08
Time- 9-12
12-1pm- Halal lunch provided
Are you a Muslim
Female wanting information about Australian
Workplace Culture?
Are you thinking about changing Jobs or are looking
for employment or training?
Are you interested in learning about Resumes, Cover
letters, Selection Criteria, interview techniques?
For further information, call Sushil at ACCES
Services INC on 38089299/0417746977
The CCN Readers' Book Club:
You are what you read!
Using our book
club you can see what books we at CCN have
on our shelves, what we are reading and even
what we and others think of them.
You can even
create your own book shelf, find out what
your fellow CCN readers are reading, get and
give recommendations for what to read next,
create book lists, and even share your
opinion on a book with us.
Come see the
books we have selected and see if we have
any in common.
Then pick our
next book so we can all keep on reading.
Q: Dear Kareema, I have been working out regularly
for about 6 months (walking and running) and have lost
almost 14kg. I would still like to lose more weight but
am struggling at the moment. Can you suggest anything
more I can do or should I be patient?
A: STEP IT UP A NOTCH!! You’ve done great so far and
there is NO TURNING BACK now!!
If you have no injuries and have been cleared for
exercise by your GP, then you deserve faster results for
your hard work.
Making life-altering changes is never easy, you need to
add three days of high-intensity strength circuits to
your routine.
Try a pump class if you haven’t already done so.
The walking and running has given your body the stimulus
to burn fat, NOW YOU NEED TO GIVE IT MORE. Remember that
you may have hit a plateau (which means the body needs
to adjust to all the changes it’s been going trough).
A circuit of squats, lunges, push-ups, step-ups,
shoulder presses and hovers (planks), should also do it
for you!! ENJOY and keep up the hard work
1. This one is great for chicken and green peppers or
bhindi & potato or paneer and green peppers.
• 1¼ tbsp dark soy sauce
• 1¼ tbsp vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp ground garlic
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 hot green chilli or 2 medium hot green chillies
chopped fine
• 2-3 spring onions chopped fine
• salt and pepper to taste Instructions
Marinate the meat or vegetables in the paste and stir
fry in 1 tbsp sesame oil. The Chinese sesame oil is
better – It has a touch of soy as well which makes it
different from the Indian till oil.
2. I like to use this for chicken & roasted cashews
(about ¼ cup). You can try mushrooms and cashews for a
vegetarian alternative.
• ½ tsp red chilli powder
• ½ tsp garam masala
• ½ tsp curry powder
• Juice of 1 orange
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• salt and pepper to taste
• coriander and lime juice after cooking
Marinate the meat, stir fry and then add the cashews at
the end.
All these recipes serve 2
• Recipes cover about 300g chicken breasts cut into
strips / 10-12 prawns / 1½-2 cups veggies
• Stir fry chicken strips for not more than 5-7 mins.
• When stir frying chicken, beat an egg lightly and add
to the marinade, the chicken cooks much better.
• Keep the bite in the veggies, don't overcook
• Make sure your oven is pre-heated when baking
• Marinate everything for at least 20 mins.
Source: SANHA e-Bulletin.
To subscribe to the South African Halal Authority's
e-Bulletin email
consumer@sanha.org.za. The SANHA e-Bulletin has a
circulation of over 30 000.
Do you have a recipe to share with
CCN readers?
Send in your favourite recipe to
theteam@crescentsofbrisbane.org and who
knows, you could be our "guest chef" for a future
edition of CCN.
The Inbox
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalaam Wa-alaikum.
Islamic Society of Queensland Inc. will hold its
annual Milaad-un-Nabi commemoration at Logan
Community Centre on 29 March 2008.
The program starts at 4.30 pm with children’s
presentation, proceeded by naath, nasheed and Urdu
lectures. The conclusion will be with main lecture
in English followed by Salaam and Dua. Dinner will
be served after Eisha prayers at 8.00 pm.
The guest speaker will be Imam Amien Ahmad al Qadari,
resident Imam of Minto Mosque, Campbeltown, NSW.
Imam Amien who hails from South Africa holds a BA
degree (Majors in Arabic and Islamic Studies).
All are welcome to
attend this great program.
Yours in Islam,
Rahat Azad
(Secretary)
The CCN Chuckle
Mula Nasruddin and
his friend Jamaluddin were walking through the woods
when a large bear walked out into the clearing no more
than 25 meters in front of them.
Mula Nasruddin
dropped his backpack and dug out a pair of running
shoes, then began to furiously attempt to lace them up
as the bear slowly approached them.
Jamaluddin looked
at the Mula Nasruddin, confused, and said, "What are you
doing? Running shoes aren't going to help, you can't
outrun that bear."
"I don't need to,"
said Mula Nasruddin, "I just need to outrun you."
What's
happening in our neck of the woods......
Click on image to enlarge
Introduction to 'Aqeedah
Course
Charity Dinner for Iraqi
widows and orphans
'A Day Out on the Northside':
Opening of the Madrassah
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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
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Disclaimer
Articles and opinions appearing in this newsletter do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Crescents of
Brisbane Team, CCN, its Editor or its Sponsors,
particularly if they eventually turn out to be libelous,
unfounded, objectionable, obnoxious, offensive,
slanderous and/or downright distasteful.
It is the usual policy of CCN to include
from time to time, notices of events that some readers
may find interesting or relevant. Such notices are often
posted as received. Including such messages or providing
the details of such events does not necessarily imply
endorsement of the contents of these events by either CCN
or Crescents of Brisbane Inc.
nian
Muslims in Mareeba began their life there in the tobacco
industry in the 1920's and are now still an important
part of the community in a wide range of businesses and
professions. 
Stand-up
comedy about all the things you are scared to think
about: Islam, race relations, sedition, and the War on
Terror.
Free Employment Workshop for Muslim Women
