......a sometimes
self-deprecating and occasional tongue-in-cheek look at ourselves and
the world around us ......
Sunday, 25 May 2008
.Newsletter
0185
News you won't find on CNN!
This week's CCN is kindly
sponsored by
Raeesa
Couture
Computer glitches hold back distribution
Last
week's email notification of
CCN0184did not get through to many of our Hotmail
account holders because of a problem between our ISP (TPG)
and Live Hotmail.
We also apologize if you received
our emails more than once during the week.
You'll be pleased (?) to know that
while emails may come and emails may go your CCN is
always available
permanently (and for posterity) at this website.
CresWalk2008 Page and Survey
If you received the earlier edition
of CCN last week you might have missed the updates to
the
CresWalk2008 page where new photo galleries
and race times have
been added.
To assist us with our planning for
CresWalk2009 we ask you to help us by completing a short anonymous survey, whether you took part
last week or not.
Your feedback is vital to help us
improve the CresWalks of the future.
In
the lead up to World Environment Day on 5 June there
will be a tree planting morning at the Wally Tate Park
(alongside the Kuraby Mosque) on Saturday 31 May between
8am - 12noon.
The
plan is to plant 1,000 trees to re-vegetate the area now
that the third train line is completed.
All
holes will be pre-prepared by the Bulimba Creek Catchment group and trees will be about 9 inches in
height.
This is a community event initiated by the Kuraby
Lions and everyone is encouraged to come along and
help out for an hour or two.
Crescents of Brisbane will
also be helping out with the catering for the halal
sausage sizzle.
AMARAH will also be
lending their support to the event as will 30 students
from the Islamic College of Brisbane.
Little
Mosque on the Prairie: Season 2 Episode 13
The Crush
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
MYServices Sponsors Omar Issadeen, Member for
Springwood, YMCA Youth Parliament
Omar
Issadeen (seen, left, blazing a trail at last week's
CresWalk2008) has been selected to represent young
people of the Springwood electorate as a Youth Member
for Springwood.
As part of its commitment to
support Muslim youth engagement at all levels of the
community, MYServices is proud to sponsor Omar in this
exciting role.
Born in Botswana, Omar is
currently a third-year Civil Engineering student at the
Queensland University of Technology.
He considers himself very
fortunate to be living in Australia, with so many
opportunities available that are unheard of in Botswana.
After graduating, Omar intends to work in Australia ‘to
give something back to the Australian community,
insha’Allah’.
As an active youth who enjoys
sports, Omar will soon be participating in a 50 km
fundraising cycle-ride for sufferers of multiple
sclerosis.
Omar sits on the Indigenous and Multicultural Affairs
and Communities panel of the Youth Parliament. He
intends to create a positive image of Muslims living in
Australia as minorities.
“By participating in the YMCA
Queensland Youth Parliament, I have the opportunity to
influence government decisions and policies,” he said.
Omar, also known as ‘Hafiz Omar’ in the Muslim
community, encourages the youth of Brisbane to avail
themselves of
the many opportunities available in Australia.
“Whether it be volunteering
at university, through YMCA Youth Parliament, Model
United Nations or any similar selfless activity, you
will be surprised at what a difference you can make,” he
advises.
MODERATES within Australia's
biggest Muslim organisation, the Australian Federation
of Islamic Councils, have staged a dramatic coup,
ousting controversial president Ikebal Patel
after accusing him of a dictatorial style.
At Sunday's annual congress of AFIC, the umbrella
organisation representing the key state Muslim bodies,
six out of seven state councils present backed a vote of
no confidence in Mr Patel.
Mr Patel, who migrated from Fiji in 1992, has been
replaced by Haset Sali, a Sunshine Coast
commercial lawyer who once likened the actions of former
mufti of Australia Taj Din al-Hilali to those of Hitler.
Beleaguered Patel in bloodless coup
At the congress, held in the
nation's biggest Muslim school, Malek Fahd in southwest
Sydney, it is understood Mr Patel stormed out, urging
all the state councils to follow him. The Christmas
Island and Tasmanian councils joined him, but the rest
stayed.
"He knew his numbers were failing. He walked out and
said he was going to AFIC's head office, asking others
to come with him," Mr Sali said yesterday.
"The fact that only two councils went with him shows his
mandate was not a very big one."
Mr Sali, who has been appointed interim president, said
Mr Patel had been removed because of his allegedly
unaccountable leadership style and for attempting to
expel or suspend up to 40 member groups from the AFIC in
violation of its rules.
AFIC is made up of dozens of representative Muslim
bodies, which sit beneath the nine state and territory
councils. "He was trying to set up a sub-culture where
he was the guru," Mr Sali said. Mr Patel would not
comment yesterday.
Mr Sali said he and the new executive committee members
had been appointed only for 180days until fresh
elections could be held.
"We want to give members the opportunity to think
closely about who they want as a future executive," he
said. "We want to move in a proactive direction."
He encouraged women in the community to consider taking
leadership roles.
AFIC, which still acts in an advisory role to
governments, derives most of its income from rent on
land that houses Muslim schools across the country and
the certification of halal food. It manages an annual
budget of about $20 million and assets of about $50
million.
The body has faced controversy over its financial
dealings and internal disputes, which erupted during
elections in April 2006, when a group of Pakistanis took
control of the organisation from a faction controlled by
Fijian-Indians.
AFIC was forced into administration in September that
year after months of internal brawling. Westpac then
froze the organisation's accounts. It was hoped that the
damaging feud had been resolved last year with the
election of Mr Patel and a new board.
Mr Sali, who has in the past been a legal adviser to
AFIC, attracted headlines last year when he spoke out
against Sheik Hilali after the then mufti's comments
likening scantily clad women to uncovered meat. He said
that what the sheik was doing for Muslims in Australia
was about as useful as what Hitler did for Christians in
World War II.
Dr. Aboobaker Chothia (76)
of the Gold Coast passed away in South Africa on Friday
23 May.
Dr Chothia first arrived in Australia in 1979
and was in South Africa attending a wedding when he
suffered a fatal heart attack just before Friday
prayers.
Dr Chothia was a well-know and
popular figure in Queensland having started the Islamic
Society of Gold Coast in 1983 and worked toward securing
from the Government of the day the land on which the
present Gold Coast Mosque stands.
A quiet achiever, Dr Chothia
initiated many projects that reached as far afield as
the Aboriginal communities in Sydney and the Tsunami
victims of Aceh, Indonesia.
A very close friend, Mr Mohammed
Aslam Goolam Nabi, mourned his loss and told CCN
that Aboo, as he affectionately called him, had been a
constant source of inspiration to him. "His wise
counsel, his caring for others and his devotion to his
faith were an inspiration to me," he added.
Despite his health problems
precipitated by a car accident while on a trip to
Jakarta to investigate the establishment of an orphanage
there, Dr Chothia always maintained a cheerful, positive
disposition to the end, never failing to make the effort
to attend and take part in community functions and
meetings.
Dr. Chothia leaves behind his wife,
Farida, two sons, Mushood and Zaid,
and daughter Naseema.
Zain
Bhikha to perform in Brisbane
If
you and you children are fans of the world-famous
nasheed artist ZAIN BHIKHA, then don't miss this
opportunity of a lifetime!
Hope For Happiness (HFH) in affiliation with Human
Appeal International Australia (HAIA), are hosting the "ZAIN
BHIKHA - 1 NIGHT ONLY!" upcoming concert in Brisbane
(see the CCN Date Claimer for details), and are looking
for children of all ages, who love to sing, to
participate in a performance to welcome the artist to
Brisbane.
Kindly note that places will be
filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so please
email your details to
hopeforhappiness@yahoo.com.au or call Raeesa on 0405
230305 by the 31st of May 2008, to avoid disappointment.
Allah Knows (full version) by Zain Bhikha
Relationships Seminar (Part 1)
By Salma Ismail
Ladies! You are all invited to join
us for this informative and inspirational seminar to be
held on the 30TH May at the Springwood Community Centre.
This is an opportunity for all ladies to come together
for an exceptional learning experience. The eloquent
Imam Ahmed Ghazaleh will be enlightening us on
relationships. This is the first of a series of talks.
Come along and join us for a fun filled educational
experience!
Please see brochure for further information.
Tickets are limited and are selling fast – contact
Asma on 3273 5367 or 0422 180 977 or Haleema
on 32728227
The CCN Pick of
the Books
The Age of the Warrior by Robert
Fisk reviewed by Alexander McRobbie
(Courier Mail 24 May 2008)
The author has
been a Middle East newspaper
correspondent for 32 years.
This book is a
collection of his weekly columns in
the London Independent.
They are
notable for his almost unique
freedom to speak out about the fraud
and injustices that are endemic in
the region.
His writing is
gutsy, forceful and vigorous.
It is a rare
treat to read page after page that
presents truth after truth by a man
who has covered 11 major Middle East
wars, countless insurgencies and
massacres.
He lived in
Beirut during the darkest days of
the Israeli attack on Lebanon.
Kent-born Fisk
has received six honorary doctorates
for his journalism from Trinity
College, Dublin.
He is no
anti-Semite (nor is this reviewer)
but he rails against the pro-Israel
bias that permeates most Western
media.
He makes the
point that Israeli incursions into
Palestine are launched because of
Israel's "security needs".
When Israel
assassinates a Palestinian it is a
"targeted killing".
But Arab
suicide bombers are always
"murderous terrorists".
When Israeli
jets blast homes in Palestine it is
not killing civilians - it is
participating in the "war on
terror".
Fisk is
scathing about blundering President
George W. Bush, who may well go down
as the worst President in America's
history.
Former British
prime minister Tony Blair is also
held in low regard.
John Howard
receives hardly a mention, which is
perhaps indicative of Australia's
real importance on the international
scene - as viewed by a seasoned
foreign correspondent.
However, the
book's columns are not exclusively
about the Middle East.
Particularly
good are essays on the influence of
cinema in our age.
From
the Muslim Women and Friends Desk......
Hello and Salaams Everyone !
Just a few important announcments to pass on:
Saturday May 24th 10:00am - 5:00pm
at Arundel/Parkwood Comm. Centre, Napper Rd, Arundel (UBD
ref 28 E2):
Sisters Souq
(Market) including Trash and Treasure Stall, Clothing
Swap-Meet, Charity to benefit the poor. Contact: 0423
474 807.
Starting Tuesday May 27th - June
21st:
Muslim Women's Activity Program
including Jazzercise, Dragon Boat, Outrigging, and
Box'n'Bounce Fitness Sessions. Contact: Shaima by email
shaimak@myservices.net.au
or 0402 529 395. (see attached flyer).
Empolyment Position Available:
Muslim Labour Market Participation
Project
Multicultural community organisation requires a Project
worker (female) who identifies with the Muslim faith.
Multi-region project based at Logan, aims to support
unemployed and underemployed Muslim people who are
disadvantaged in the workplace. Licence essential.
Selection criteria available from ACCES Services Inc. -
3808 9299.
www.asi.org.au
Applications close on 6/6/08.
A final reminder about the
MWAF Workshop on:
Global Responsibilitythis
Tuesday May 27th covering life altering topics and
solutions to such things as Climate Change, Sea Level
Rise, Pandemic, Animal Cruelty, and Human
Suffrage around the world.
Also a reminder to those who
attended
the previous Glitz and Glam Workshop and received gift
bags that the $100 gift voucher with free initial
consultation for Laser Hair removal and more will expire
in a few days on May
30th.
Contact: Advanced Laser Clinic at Toowong Village on
3871 3444 (Don't forget to mention that Farina referred
you! :))
Thanks everyone for your support as always,
Farina Nayab
Coordinator, Muslim Women and Friends
Logan Women's Health and Wellbeing Centre
1
Mary Street, Kingston
ph
3808 9233
mob
0405 448 045
Around the Muslim
World with CCN
Afghan cricketers set
hearts on beating world
The most enticing prospect
for the Afghan players is a meeting with the
United States at the semi-finals
Afghanistan's national cricket team has
packed its battered pads and bats to set out on what it
hopes will be the road to World Cup glory.
The
players from the poorest cricketing nation on Earth are
due in the Channel Islands, the improbable venue for the
opening shots in their struggle to join the world
cricketing elite at the 2011 World Cup, to be held in
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Just as improbably, they are favourites to win the
tournament in Jersey, which marks the start of the
International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket
League.
Cricket had little following in Afghanistan before the
overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.
But
it arrived with returning refugees from Pakistan and has
since gained enormous popularity.
A Muslim elder who stabbed his neighbour
in the back was dramatically cleared of murder yesterday
after a court was told that he had endured a living hell
of racism, threats and violence.
Habib Khan, 50, of Stoke-on-Trent, was found guilty of
the manslaughter of Keith Brown, 52, a BNP activist and
an alleged friend of the BNP leader, Nick Griffin, who
attended his funeral.
Khan killed Mr Brown last July after finding him in a
struggle with his 24-year-old son, Azir. He said he
thought that Mr Brown was going to kill Azir and claimed
that Mr Brown fell on to a knife he was holding at his
back.
Read the rest.....
Many Muslims Turn to Home
Schooling
Karima Tung, 12, one of
three girls home-schooled by their mother,
Fawzia Mai Tung. An important part of the
school day: reading the Koran.
LODI, Calif. — Like dozens of other
Pakistani-American girls here, Hajra Bibi stopped
attending the local public school when she reached
puberty, and began studying at home.
Her family wanted her to
clean and cook for her male relatives, and had also
worried that other American children would mock both her
Muslim religion and her traditional clothes.
“Some men don’t like it when you wear American clothes —
they don’t think it is a good thing for girls,” said
Miss Bibi, 17, now studying at the 12th-grade level in
this agricultural center some 70 miles east of San
Francisco. “You have to be respectable.”
Across the United States, Muslims who find that a public
school education clashes with their religious or
cultural traditions have turned to home schooling.
That choice is intended
partly as a way to build a solid Muslim identity away
from the prejudices that their children, boys and girls
alike, can face in schoolyards. But in some cases, as in
Ms. Bibi’s, the intent is also to isolate their
adolescent and teenage daughters from the corrupting
influences that they see in much of American life.
If you are a qualified
engineer or a Trade qualified electrician whether in
Australia or internationally and are finding it
difficult to find employment, please call Abdullah
Ibrahim on 0407-968-312.
They have a major employer who is recruiting
immediately. You must present your qualifications
and provide work history. Australian work experience
is not essential.
The CCN
Readers' Book Club:
You are what you read!
Dave Lawson of QUT recommends Australia's Muslim
Cameleers: Pioneers of the Inland 1860s - 1930s by
Philip Jones and Anna Kenny which, this week, takes
pride of place on the top shelf of the CCN Readers' Book
Club bookcase below.
Using the book
club you can see what books fellow CCN
readers have
on their shelves, what they are reading and even
what they and others think of them.
..and
now a word from this week's CCN sponsor..... Raeesa
Couture
Kareema's Keep Fit Column
Q: Dear
Kareema, I've been walking a lot with my preparation for
Creswalk and would like to know if it's worth my while
to keep walking as I find it quite enjoyable and
sometimes struggle with other exercises.
A: WALK A LITTLE, LOSE A LOT!!
Brisk walking can ease you into a higher level of
fitness and help you get slimmer (if fat loss is one of
your goals).
So put your best foot forward and walk as often as
possible as it's not too stressful on the body and can
be done every day if time permits.
It's also great for toning the whole body especially the
legs and glutes. It's probably the easiest exercise
regime to maintain as it's a natural form of exercise.
Jalebi
is a syrupy sweet that is shaped like a slightly large,
chaotic pretzel and is traditionally prepared in India
and Pakistan. Well-made jalebi has a tart element with a
sweet taste.
Ingredients
·
Jalebi batter
3 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup gram flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
2 cups water
Syrup
4 cups sugar
3 cups water
⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
red and yellow food coloring
1 teaspoon rosewater
3 cups of vegetable oil for deep frying
Procedure:
Mix up
the batter ingredients until smooth.
Let the
batter sit unrefrigerated and
uncovered overnight (about 12
hours).
Mix the
sugar, water, and cream of tartar
for the syrup.
Stir the
syrup over moderate heat until the
sugar is dissolved.
Put on
high heat and boil for 5 minutes.
Let the
syrup cool, and stir in the
rosewater and food coloring (color
it to light orange).
Put the
vegetable oil in a wide wok-like
dish, and heat to about 350°F
(175°C).
Put the
batter into a pastry bag with about
a ¼ inch opening. If it is too dry
to squeeze out, mix in a bit of
water.
Squeeze
the batter into the oil, making a
couple of figure 8s and loops on top
of each other. The shape should be
about 3 inches on its longest side.
Fry each
jalebi until golden brown. Remove,
let the oil drain off, then soak in
syrup for a minute.
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 CCN Chuckle
Mula Nasruddin goes
to see his doctor. The doctor asks what is wrong and
Mula Nasruddin says, "Doctor, I think I'm a moth."
To this the doctor
responds, "You think you're a moth? Well I don't think
you need a doctor. Sounds like what you need is a
therapist."
"Yeah I know,"
replies Mula Nasruddin "I was on my way to see a
therapist, but I came in here because I saw your light
was on."
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
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 send an e-mail to
theteam@crescentsofbrisbane.org with the words
“Subscribe Me” in the subject line.
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.
Last
week's email notification of
In
the lead up to World Environment Day on 5 June there
will be a tree planting morning at the Wally Tate Park
(alongside the Kuraby Mosque) on Saturday 31 May between
8am - 12noon. 
If
you and you children are fans of the world-famous
nasheed artist ZAIN BHIKHA, then don't miss this
opportunity of a lifetime!
Engineers and Electricians 
