Home
Up
Contact Details
CresWalk2011
CoB Team '11
MSEF'2011
CoB@QMF
CresWalk2010
CoB & CresWalk
Annual Ladies Day
CCN turns 250
CresWalk2009
Harmony Day Dinner
Pink Ribbon Brunch
CresWalk2008
Brickbats & Bouquets
CresCafe@Kuraby
WGS'08
Friendship Meeting
KSS (2)
Voting Workshop
CresCafe@EidFest
Health Workshop
Halal Guide
CBD'07
AFL Workshop
WGS'07
CERF
CresWalk2007
Symp & Expo
KSS (1)
CCC @ Eidfest05
Tsunami Appeal
Allah Made Me Funny
CBD'06 Blood Drive
CresWalk2006
Kids4Kids
CresWalk2005
CresWalk2004
Past Events
About CoB

 

......a sometimes self-deprecating and occasional tongue-in-cheek look at ourselves and the world around us ......

 

 

Sunday, 29 March 2009

 .Newsletter 0229

 

News you won't find on CNN!

 

 

   

From the shelves of the Queensland Muslim Welfare Association......

by Janeth Deen, President of QMWA

 

Setting up shop in the Parkland Shopping Centre has been a rich, rewarding experience in many ways. Wilma and I have been well accepted by the local community who are so happy we chose their area to carry out our work. We have met many of the people from the one hundred and sixty different nationalities who make up the community and have our regular customers, many of whom drop in to have a friendly chat while looking for goods that meet their needs.

We have had a successful month of trading and have been able to pay our expenses as well as bank money into the welfare fund. Our prices are not high, which means our profits are not large. We have given away to needy people goods to the value of what we have sold.

One of the groups who have benefited from our free goods was a visiting Cultural group of PNG men who came to Brisbane from visiting Adelaide for a Cultural Choir and were looking for school bags, clothes and sporting equipment for children in need in Port Moresby. We filled up two spare suitcases with the required goods and told them that they were a gift from the Muslim Community of Brisbane. We also told them they could have two shirts, two T Shirts, a pair of jeans, a pair of trousers and a pair of shoes each for themselves. The look of thanks on their faces were enough to melt the strongest heart. The men wanted to give a $20 donation to the shop, but we told them they may need it for the excess luggage. They said they were in a group and would not have to pay excess luggage. We told them to keep their money as we know how hard it was to come by in their part of the world, and to accept a copy of our free English/Arabic Quran and to read it when they can. They said they would remember the Muslims of Brisbane in their prayers as they have never been so well received by such charitable people. We told them that charity was one of the Pillars of Islam. We also told them that we were just happy to know we have helped the children of Port Moresby in some little way.

We have also befriended many of the Samoan and Indigenous people who are our regular customers. These people call in to see what we have to offer and teach us a great deal about the area and its people.

 

The African people are from many parts of the Continent and are happy that we have multi-cultural clothing. We have sold most of the Muslim wall hangings and given out all the Qurans we have been given and will InshaAllah, replenish our stock.

Sisters and brothers in Islam, thank you for your generous donations. We assure you that we have made the right decision at such an important time, while we are in recession, to open this Welfare shop. Your donated goods have succeeded in easing the burden this recession has imposed on the people who have come to our shop for help, as well as those who have purchased your goods at such reasonable prices.

 

The comments from the people have been that they have never been able to buy such quality goods at the prices we charge and we have plenty of stock to replace what we have sold or given away, thanks to those who have kept the donations of goods coming in. The greatest selling items, so far. have been children's play equipment, crockery - especially large plates, linen, handbags, shoes and clothing.

I wish to apologise for not answering my mobile when you have tried to contact me. My mobile went walkabouts and I am in the process of getting a new one. If you leave a message on my answering machine on 3344 5330, I will get back to you as soon as I am able to.

 

 

Shoes for Zambia

 

This week Madonna King on 612 ABC Brisbane sent out a call on her morning show for donations of old shoes for her 'Marching into Africa' appeal. The shoes are to be sent to the children and parents of Livingstone, Zambia.

 

Jenny Deen called Madonna King and pledged, on behalf of the Queensland Muslim Welfare Assn Inc, sixty pair of shoes.

 

Wilma Bothwell and Jenny found one hundred and twenty pairs of shoes on hand in the Welfare shop kindly donated by the Brisbane Muslim community and delivered them to the office of the Mayor of Logan, Pam Parker, who is collecting the shoes in the Logan area for the drive.

 

Logan was at the bottom of the list amongst the donors before the QMWA contribution went in.

 

On Saturday some members of the community brought in excess of sixty more pairs into the shop for the drive which will take the donation to in excess of one hundred and eighty pairs.

 

This response has been a great effort in such a short time.

 

Listen to Madonna King for up to date tallies from the different parts of Brisbane during her daily sessions this week.
 

Crescents and Lions Fund Raiser

 

Over 200 tickets have been sold for tonight's (Sunday) Fund Raising Harmony Day Dinner being held at Michael's Oriental Restaurant for the Milperra State School and Matthew Holland.

 

The function will be attended by, amongst other dignitaries, Anna Bligh's new Minister for Disabilities and Multicultural Affairs in her very first public engagement, Annastacia Palaszczuk MP;  Cr. Graham Quirk, Brisbane's Deputy Mayor; Desley Scott, State Member for Woodridge, Julie Attwood MP State Member for Mt Ommaney and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Disabilities and Multicultural Affairs and Crs. Milton Dick and Steve Griffiths.

 

Amongst the two items to be auctioned on the night is a framed full text of the historic apology to Australia's Indigenous people signed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

 

The occasion will also be used to present a cheque of $12 606.60 to Muslim Aid Australia on behalf of the Muslim Community of Queensland for the victims of Victoria's recent bush fire.

 

Q & A on ABC

 

Panellists Minister for Communications, Stephen Conroy; Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Greg Hunt; provocative columnist, Andrew Bolt; and Muslim sociologist, Susan Carland appeared on ABC's Q and A last week fielding questions on Internet filtering and the perceptions of Muslims in the community.

 

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s2521164.htm

 

 

Meet the 13 most powerful Muslim women in Britain

 

More Muslim women than ever are in leading positions in society, a fact that is at worst misrepresented and at best under-reported. Britain’s first Muslim Women Power List aims to change all that and recognise the women who are making a difference

 

 

There are more than 100,000 Muslim women currently working in Britain, yet many feel misunderstood and misrepresented. These women share the ambitions and challenges of all working women: to succeed at a good job and often to combine marriage and motherhood with a fulfilling career. Yet searching for positive role models can be unrewarding work, and there has not, until now, been a professional social network for working Muslim women.

With these issues in mind, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), in association with The Times and Emel magazine, has published the first annual Muslim Women Power List, a celebration of those who are on the way to, or have already reached, the top of their chosen field. Any British Muslim over the age of 18 could apply or be nominated. The aim was to create a network of women who could benefit from each other’s experiences in the workplace; women who have shown strong leadership and made a positive difference to their own and others’ work. Working women are a small percentage of the adult female Muslim population of 768,000, so the value of positive role models is all-important.

“There aren’t many groups I can think of who are more stereotyped, yet less understood by the wider community, than working Muslim women,” says Trevor Phillips, EHRC chairman. “I hope this list will make the rest of Britain sit up and take note – many members of the Muslim community are making a valuable economic and social contribution to our future.”

What the list also shows is that the idea of a one-size-fits-all “Muslim community”, or a commonality of experience, is a myth. Some women have supportive families who encouraged their aspirations; others have parents who felt strongly that they should leave school at 16 and get married. Some choose to wear a headscarf, some don’t; some attend mosque, others consider their Muslim identity to be more about the way they conduct themselves. Some talk about “the Muslim community”, others feel there is no such thing. And, while some remain conflicted about being lumped together as “Muslim women”, all agree that it’s worth it if it highlights and celebrates the fact that not all Muslim women are, as one put it, “oppressed, repressed and depressed”, but, rather, active and successful in business and society.
 

Read the rest to find out what they do.....
 

Monthly Seminars with Dr. Mohammad Abdalla

Ismail Essof

 

The Griffith University Muslim Students Association (GUMSA) will be hosting a series of monthly seminars with Dr. Mohammad Abdalla. The public is invited to attend.

The purpose of these seminars is to create awareness and understanding amongst the Muslim and non-Muslim community of Brisbane on issues relevant to us in our daily lives. The seminars will touch on the concept of Islamic ethics among other things.

Dr. Mohamad Abdalla is the director of the Griffith Islamic Research Unit. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Science and a PhD in Islamic Science, both from Griffith University. He was born in Libya and lived in Jordan before coming to Australia.

The first of these seminars will be on Tuesday 31st March between 2pm - 3pm at Griffith University’s Nathan Campus, Building N16_0.08. The topic is: The Palestine Issue
 

SBS Dateline: Missing without trace

 

 

SBS PROMO: Since the 'War on Terror' began, hundreds - possibly thousands - of Pakistanis have mysteriously disappeared.

All over the country people set off for the day, only to never return home, or be heard from again.

Sophie McNeill introduces us to Amina Janjua, a Pakistani housewife whose husband disappeared after setting out on a day trip to Peshawar.

Shortly after he went missing, Amina received a message that he had been picked up by the ISI, Pakistan's feared intelligence agency.

But after three and a half years, there is still no official explanation for his disappearance.

Now this brave woman is taking on the government, and leading hundreds of others in the fight to find their missing loved ones.

Find out more tonight Sunday, 8:30pm on Dateline.

On air: 29th March 2009
 

Trailer

 

Fresh Ideas for Work & Family Grants Program

 

The Australian Government has introduced the Fresh Ideas for Work and Family grants program to support Australian small businesses to implement practices that help employees balance their work and family obligations as well as improve employee retention and productivity.

 

The program provides grants of $5,000 to $15,000 (GST inclusive) to small businesses (fewer than 15 employees) to help meet the set-up costs of family friendly arrangements that suit the individual needs of the business.

 

The grants will support a range of initiatives, including:

. establishing rosters based on school terms and alternative core hours, for example, 10am to 3pm;

. establishing quality part-time work or job-sharing opportunities;

. developing workplace policies on unpaid leave for carers and workers who have children with disability or other special needs;

. providing facilities for employees with young children such as family rooms; and

. setting up workplace mentoring.

 

The program is administered in funding rounds by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and applications for the current funding round close on 24 April 2009. This is a good opportunity for brothers and sisters involved in small business and non-profit organisations to apply for the grant program.

 

Further information can be found at the following website:

http://www.deewr.gov.au/WorkplaceRelations/FreshIdeas/Documents/Frequently Asked Questions.pdf

 

The other Imraan Khan

AZAD ESSA - Mar 20 2009

 

He was just 10 years old at the time of his chance encounter with namesake -- Imran Khan, a Pakistani and world cricket legend. “I was asked to present him [Imran Khan] with something on stage when he visited my school because we shared the same name. I must have been 10 or 11 years at the time,” he told the Mail & Guardian last week.

South Africa’s new opening batsman chuckles somewhat shyly and says that he never imagined to be the next Imraan Khan to play Test cricket. The Nashua Dolphins star received a surprise call-up for the Proteas’ final Test against the rampant Aussies.

Khan, who becomes the second South African of Indian descent after Hashim Amla to make the Test squad, has been in magnificent form in the domestic four-day competition. It is this fine run that prompted the selectors to look to him in the absence of an injured Graeme Smith to salvage some pride in a lost cause after Australia took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The best Khan can do on his debut is to help avoid an embarrassing whitewash.

Our Khan was a skinny 15-year-old when I met him at an inter-high school Durban derby back in 1999. While I had barely made my school’s first XI, Khan was already being lauded as the next best thing after peanut butter, electric toasters and Hashim Amla -- his elder and more accomplished teammate and captain.

I had heard his name mentioned a few times before our encounter. Every time my school, Westville Boys’ High School, and Durban High School (DHS) locked horns, I remember walking over to the opposite field during the lunch interval to watch the junior teams battle it out. I would invariably hear “that boy Imraan was flaying the attack once again” or “Imraan made another hundred.”

It seemed almost impossible that a young lad could score so many hundreds so frequently. Khan scored hundreds week in and week out. Then one fine morning he decided to turn his arm over -- bowling quick off spinners -- and suddenly he began to bowl opposition out as well.

Khan was schooled in his formative years at Orient Islamia, but it was his move to DHS in his teenage years that cultivated his primary talent into a tangible schoolboy cricketing genius. Both Amla and Khan attended South Africa’s premier cricketing institution, where the likes of Barry Richards, Richard Snell and Lance Klusener went to school. It was not long before DHS flaunted its non-white, blue-eyed boys and the future of South African cricket in cricketing circles.

So talented were these two boys, even the dreaded T-word -- transformation -- didn’t seem such a daunting prospect after all. But their trajectories differed after school.

Amla joined the Dolphins by the time he completed high school and thrived in the middle order. He was appointed captain and given a fairy-tale entry into Test cricket in 2004 when he was selected as the first South African of Indian origin to represent the Proteas in a Test match against (aptly or ironically) India in the bullring of Eden Gardens.

 

Whereas Amla’s run in first-class cricket has been compelling, Khan’s journey has been anything but charming by comparison. As a youngster he demonstrated immense powers of concentration to bat regularly for long periods of time, but at first-class level it seemed as if he abandoned his formula.

The lofted drive was almost always taken at mid-off, the buoyant push to the testing out-swinger almost always fell to second slip, after a few tight spells bowlers would invariably entice him to hit the self-destruct button and waft at a marginally wide one. Khan’s career is marked by careless shot
selection, an inability to weather out a difficult session of play or to pick a timely assault.

Since making his first-class debut for the Dolphins in 2003-04 as an off-spinner who could bat, his career has been a little more than a line of jagged stop-starts, packed with unfulfilled promises and derelict potential.

While Khan has tasted relative success in the four-day competition -- averaging in the mid-thirties for most of the past five seasons -- his enthusiasm to dominate often resulted in him looking out of his depth as a reliable opener. Worse still, his once much-lauded off-spin -- a plus point for any South African cricketer -- became an abandoned project. But it all changed in 2008.

After being selected for the South African emerging players’ tour of Australia and scoring the most runs, Khan suddenly turned on the mettle.

The 2008-09 first-class season has seen the more patient cricketer in him blossom to become the top batsman, with more than 800 runs at an average of more than 60. Khan’s tally of five centuries for the season leaves him just one short of the South African record for most first-class centuries in a season, presently held by Barry Richards, Mike Procter and Peter Kirsten. It seems his penchant for breaking records is back.

He says it was just a case of a few technical adjustments to his game. “There is probably a lot more discipline in my game. I used to get a lot of starts and then throw it away, but I am trying really hard not to make those mistakes once I get in.”

Dolphins manager Jay Naidoo agrees. “I think he is older and understands his game better, which happens to all players as they mature. At SuperSport Series level he has done well previously, but he has a tendency of scoring seventies or eighties and then getting out. This season he has turned those numbers into three figures,” says Naidoo.

While his batting has always been attractive, the returns were rather less flattering for a man of his talent. In fact, after promising so much, he suddenly seemed doomed to wither away at first-class level.
With the Proteas in the middle of an opening batsman crisis, Khan knows this surge in batting form couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

“There was no other opportunity and it just so happens I’ve been scoring runs. Now is probably the right time,” he says.
 

Source

 

 

Ceiling mural in a smoker's lounge

 

Aussie BBQ Day

 

On Sunday 29th March from 12noon, the Dream Centre Christian Church is hosting a fun filled Aussie BBQ day for the directors and families of the proposed Gold Coast Muslim school, and all Carrara residents.

 

Everyone is invited to go along to support this community event and speak with local government representatives "to help them understand the importance of education in Islam to Muslims and the purpose for building the Islamic School."

 

Getting there

 

President Obama quotes Hadith in Speech

 


 

Suva in Crisis???

Source and authenticity unknown 

 

The early morning warning of a pending Tsunami has Suva in crisis earlier today, the city broke down as thousands of Fijians rushed from their places of work and gathered at the city's foreshore to get a first hand glimpse of the massive wave. Roads were blocked all around the capital as people from as far away as Nausori rushed to the sea waiting for disaster to strike. Mr Singh of Lami said  'we have been waiting here from 7am this morning, we had to get here early to get a good view right up front' he pointed at several children in the sea swimming and proudly told us they were his children, 'they are gonna ride the wave when it comes' he said.

 

The crowd had turned ugly by 9am when it because apparent that the Tsunami would not hit Fiji. Mrs Vulakoro said 'why tell us its coming when its not, the kids are so disappointed, we took them out of school for this, we have waited hours and nothing has happened, why get us all excited over nothing'. By 11am the capitol was a city deserted, Civil Servants have all gone home, most of the shops have closed for the day. A distraught Suva shop owner who didn't want to be named said he was resting his hopes on this Tsunami, 'all it had to do was destroy my shop, i could claim on the insurance and everything would have been alright,  its a real blow to the retailers'.

 

Contentious Afghan 'Pop Idol' final

 

Afghanistan's very own Pop Idol drew to its conclusion this week, but in Afghanistan you risk your life to take part.

The final of Afghan Star was watched by millions, who phoned in to vote for their favourite.

Now in season four, it is more than just a television talent show. Once upon a time music was outlawed by the Taliban, so now the show has found itself the target of religious extremists.

A British film crew followed the progress of last year's series - their documentary, also called Afghan Star, premiered in London during the week.

 

 

 

 

 

Source

 

Classes for Converts

A.R.Keri

 

Muslim converts reflected and shared their experiences during the first introductory class to Islam held at Griffith University.

 

Drawn from different backgrounds and places,  the converts listened to advice from Imam Uzair Akbar of Holland Park Mosque and Imam Akram Buksh of Kuraby Mosque and Dr. Mohammed Abdullah.

 

Questions were asked by curious students to speakers about their new faith but there were other non-Muslim students wanting to know more about the religion.

 

Course convenor, Dr. Daud Batchelor said most Muslims by birth have an Islamic upbringing through madrassas , unlike new converts who know little about Islamic prayers and regulations because of their past lives.

 

Dr. Batchelor compared new Muslims to foreigners arriving in Queensland who are required to know road laws to avoid accidents when they drive.

 

‘The information they need to know [from this course] would otherwise take them many years to acquire’, he said.

 

Rami Ahmed Ravichandra who was previously Hindu said ‘Islam is vast yet beautiful and easy to comprehend’.

 

When Mr Ravichandra became Muslim he was ostracised by some of his friends but encouraged the class by saying ‘the moment people found out I became Muslim I had free dinner everywhere’.

 

Australian convert, Muhammad ‘Aussie’ Bell said he felt like a minority in Australia because he was an Australian Muslim convert but meeting others like himself at the course was encouraging.

 

Mr Bell said being a convert is challenging because Muslims differ in certain aspects of the faith which creates confusion for him.

Irish convert Hanna Mangal said she read Islamic texts to broaden her knowledge but would clarify with an Imam on various interpretations.

‘I love Islam and if you love something, it’s not hard [learning it], she said.

 

Muslim teacher refused position at Christian college

 

A MUSLIM student teacher has labelled a Christian school in Wyndham discriminatory for refusing her a position based on her religion.

But Heathdale Christian College is standing by its decision, saying that as a faith-based school it expects its teachers, including student ones, to support its Christian perspective, the Wyndham Leader reports.

Mother-of-two Rachida Dahlal, 35, has complained to the Equal Opportunity Commission on the grounds of discrimination, prejudice and unequal employment opportunities.

 

The Hoppers Crossing college where she wanted to do a placement said it would not have been in its, or Mrs Dahlal’s, best interests.

Mrs Dahlal said she chose Heathdale because it was the closest to her home and her sons’ childcare centre and also one of few schools in Wyndham offering both her specialty subjects of mathematics and French.

“I am Muslim, wear a head scarf, and respect all fellow humans regardless of their beliefs, race, or cultural background,” she said.
 

Has Mrs Dahlal been unfairly treated? Have your say on www.ccnforum.ning.com.

 

Source

 

Multifaith march for Muslim prayer room at RMIT

 

Socialists, Jews and Christians joined Muslims yesterday in a Melbourne city protest march over RMIT student demands for more dedicated Muslim prayer rooms rather than more multifaith facilities.


The Age reports the RMIT Islamic Society has been seeking Muslim only prayer rooms for 16 months, since extensions at the university in late 2007 closed the rooms it had used for 14 years.

RMIT promised replacement prayer rooms, and built handsome ones with ablution facilities and Koranic quotes on the wall in the multifaith centre, RMIT Islamic Society president Mohamed Elrafihi said yesterday.

He said the society was then informed the rooms would be "multifaith", available to the Muslims Monday to Friday, 11.30am-5pm and by appointment.

Mr Elrafihi said the Muslims had no objection to other faiths, but RMIT had reneged on its promise and it had become a justice issue.

Representatives of other faith and political groups agreed, voicing their support at a rally preceding the march.

Islamic Council of Victoria spokesman Nazeem Hussain said Muslims had lost faith in the RMIT process. "There's a feeling of betrayal," he said.

Acting vice-chancellor for students Maddy McMaster said RMIT had eight dedicated Muslim prayer rooms on its various campuses, had offered a ninth, and also had two multifaith rooms. "We ... believe what we have provided is adequate."
 

Source

 

Breakaway Muslims vote to dismiss executive

 

A FAULTLINE through the most powerful Muslim organisation in the country deepened last night as a breakaway faction of the Lebanese Muslim Association voted to sack its executive.

 

The meeting of young MLA members, labelled the "Taliban of Lakemba" by controversial Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali, was held outside Bankstown Town Hall in west Sydney after the group was reportedly shut out of the venue due to security concerns.

 

The 54 association members at the meeting voted unanimously in favour of motions of no confidence in the board's six executive office-holders.

 

"All we are asking is for a fair vote in April," Bilal Alameddine said. "From today there will basically be two boards directing what goes on in the (Lakemba) Mosque: nine on our side and six on their side."

 

Members said that, while the no confidence motions named the board's six office-holders, no one was singled out -- rather it was a vote of no confidence in the executive amid concerns the vote for the new board at the annual general meeting next month would be rigged.

 

The power struggle is mainly between the younger generation and the old guard, with tensions escalating in recent years.

 

LMA president Shawky Kassir said the executive would not accept the vote, as the executive was accepted by the majority of the organisation's 400 members.

 

"There is only one legitimate board," Mr Kassir said. "Irrelevant of its outcome, the meeting was not legal.

 

"They go and meet wherever they want and whenever they want -- any decision outside the proper procedure of the LMA constitutional law will not be accepted by the members and everybody around the mosque."

 

One senior Muslim said the younger group were "crazy and will stop at nothing".

 

The LMA board had previously sent a letter to the members attempting to cancel the meeting, and failed in an attempt to get an injunction in the Supreme Court to stop the meeting going ahead.

 

Mr Alameddine, who strenuously denied claims the group had Taliban ideology, said the cancelled venue booking was another example of the "political games" being played by the board. "The council asked the police for a risk assessment over the meeting and the police said there was no risk, but the council still cancelled the meeting because of security concerns," he said. "We are not radicals."

 

Bankstown City Council could not be contacted at the time of going to publication.

 

Trouble was expected at the Lakemba Mosque last Friday after confrontations last week between supporters of Sheik Hilali and his rivals, but a guest imam from Lebanon gave the sermon instead of Sheik Hilali.

 

Several scuffles have broken out during prayer times after the Nine Network's A Current Affair played security video footage of Sheik

 

Hilali kicking in a door in his own mosque before calling in the police to report an act of vandalism.

 

The Muslim youths believe Sheik Hilali staged the vandalism to frame them and gain public support.

Sheik Hilali has denied the allegations and says there is more CCTV footage that proves there was a break-in.


Source

 

Related video

 

Maradona’s Mates Come Down to Earth

 

After last week’s 10-0 triumph, the boys at Sunnybank Saints faced a tougher task this past Saturday.

 

With key players missing and after going down a man due to an unfortunate red card incident in the 35th minute, the boys went down 4-2.

 

A spirited second half display will encourage the coach and the team who now shift their focus to next Saturday’s game.
 

CCN Supporting Local Enterprise

 

Around the Muslim World with CCN

 

The world's most expensive hotel
 

The Emirates Palace cost £2 billion and opened this month in Abu Dhabi: What on earth did they spent the money on

 

 

Read the rest.....


 

The Guard Who Found Islam

 

Terry Holdbrooks stood watch over prisoners at Gitmo. What he saw made him adopt their faith.

 

Army specialist Terry Holdbrooks had been a guard at Guantánamo for about six months the night he had his life-altering conversation with detainee 590, a Moroccan also known as "the General." This was early 2004, about halfway through Holdbrooks's stint at Guantánamo with the 463rd Military Police Company. Until then, he'd spent most of his day shifts just doing his duty. He'd escort prisoners to interrogations or walk up and down the cellblock making sure they weren't passing notes. But the midnight shifts were slow. "The only thing you really had to do was mop the center floor," he says. So Holdbrooks began spending part of the night sitting cross-legged on the ground, talking to detainees through the metal mesh of their cell doors.

He developed a strong relationship with the General, whose real name is Ahmed Errachidi. Their late-night conversations led Holdbrooks to be more skeptical about the prison, he says, and made him think harder about his own life. Soon, Holdbrooks was ordering books on Arabic and Islam. During an evening talk with Errachidi in early 2004, the conversation turned to the shahada, the one-line statement of faith that marks the single requirement for converting to Islam ("There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet"). Holdbrooks pushed a pen and an index card through the mesh, and asked Errachidi to write out the shahada in English and transliterated Arabic. He then uttered the words aloud and, there on the floor of Guantánamo's Camp Delta, became a Muslim.

Read the rest.....

 

 

Indira grandson rapped for Muslim slurs

 

India's election authorities have reprimanded the grandson of former premier Indira Gandhi for making "highly derogatory" remarks against Muslims while on the campaign trail.

The Election Commission also told the main opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to drop Varun Gandhi as a candidate for the elections, which start on April 16.

The Gandhi grandson has been at the centre of a political storm since recordings appeared of an election rally during which he delivered what has been branded an anti-Muslim hate speech.

The election commission said late Sunday it "condemned and censured" him over the remarks, reported to have included a vow that his BJP would "cut the head of Muslims."

Read the rest.....

 

The CCN Centre Link

 

 

Muslim Employment Project - Support Worker
 

ACCES Services has a vacancy for a support worker. The role, amongst other duties, entails assisting and supporting the Muslim Employment Workers to assess clients’ needs and organising a service plan with them.

 

Full position description

 

 

CCN Reader's Discussion Forum

CCN Readers' Book Club: You are what you read!

 

Would you like to see the cover of your favourite book on our book shelves below?

Then simply email the title and author to thebookclub@crescentsofbrisbane.org

 

Double click a book cover to find out what others think of the book

 

CCN has set up an online Book Club at Shelfari to connect with CCN book readers at:

http://www.shelfari.com/CCN_BookClub

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.

The CCN Readers' Book Club

Kareema's Keep Fit Column

 

 

 

 

Q: Dear Kareema, does using a hula-hoop have any advantages? I love watching my daughter use it, she has so much fun and seems to work up quite a sweat!




 

A: Spinning the hoop isn't just kid's play! As well as working your abs, hips, thighs and lower back muscles, hula-hooping
can burn around 420kj in 10 minutes of continuous use.

 

So be sure to give it a go.

 

Why not join your daughter and have a few mini timed challenges going..

Fit tip: The heavier and larger the diameter, the easier it is to keep the hoop in motion!
 

TOGETHER, LET’S FIGHT GLOBESITY

Kareema

My Health and Fitness

Tel: 0404 844 786

(Accredited Member of Fitness Queensland)

 

Need an answer to a fitness related matter? Send your question to Kareema at  fitness@crescentsofbrisbane.org.

All questions sent in are published here anonymously and without any references to the author of the question.

      

KB's Culinary Corner

  

   PUMPKIN FRITTERS

 

Ingredients
• 2 cups cooked pumpkin
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp cinnamon or nutmeg
• 2 cups self-raising flour
• oil for deep frying
• cinnamon sugar as required

1. Beat pumpkin, eggs and sugar
2. Add salt, spice (cinnamon or nutmeg) and fold in flour
3. Mix lightly
4. Heat oil and fry teaspoonsful until puffed and golden
5. Drain on absorbent paper

Roll in cinnamon sugar and serve warm

Do you have a recipe to share with CCN readers?
Send in your favourite recipe to ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org and be our "guest chef" for the week.

 

The CCN Chuckle

 

 

Mula Nasruddin and his wife been married for more than 60 years.

 

They shared everything.

 

They talked about everything.

 

They kept no secrets from each other except that his wife had a shoebox in the top of her closet that she had cautioned Mula Nasruddin never to open or ask her about.


For all of these years, Mula Nasruddin never thought about the box, but one day his dear wife got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover.

 

In trying to sort out their affairs, the Mula Nasruddin took down the shoebox and took it to his wife's bedside.

 

She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box.

 
When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $25,000.

 

Mula Nasruddin asked her about the contents.

 

"When we were to be married," she said," my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll."


Mula Nasruddin was so moved; he had to fight back tears.

 

Only two precious dolls were in the box.

 

She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving.

 

He almost burst with happiness.

 

"Honey," Mula Nasruddin said, "that explains the doll, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?"

 

"Oh," she said, "That's the money I made from selling the dolls."
 

Notice Board

 

Click on image to enlarge

 

Harmony Day

Fund Raiser

Ladies High Tea

Victoria Bush Fire Appeal

Charter of Rights

ICoB Springfete

Baba Ali

Short Course for Reverts

Seven-a-side-cup

Indoor Soccer Tournament

Islamic Classes for Teenagers

Course: Road to Recovery

GUMSA Seminars

Islamic Calligraphy Workshop

IWAQ Swimming

Program

AMAL Muslim Helpline

 

The CCN Date Claimer

 

 

(provisional)

Date

Day

Event

(Click on link)

Organizer

Venue

Contact

Time

29 March

Sunday

Harmony Day Fund Raiser Dinner: Milperra High School

Crescents of Brisbane and  Kuraby Lions

Michael's Restaurant

0402 026 786

6.45pm

5 April

Sunday

MY Indoor Soccer Tournament

MYServices

OZ Sports Springwood, 3269 Logan Rd, Underwood

0432 271 601

8.30am to 4.30pm

26 April

Sunday

Ladies High Tea

Al-Nisa

Mt Coot-tha, Botanic Gardens, Lakeside Garden Cafe

0401 391 123

1.45pm

1May

Friday

Not Just For Laughs - Baba Ali

Muslim Aid Australia in affiliation with Muslim Women And Friends

The Chandler Theatre, The Sleeman Centre

0405 448 045

7:30pm sharp

2 May

Saturday

SpringFete2009

Islamic College of Brisbane

ICOB, Karawatha

0402 794 253

11am to 7pm

17 May

Sunday

CresWalk2009

Crescents of Brisbane

Orleigh Park, West End

0402 026 786

7am to 1pm

19 July

(provisional)

Sunday

Lailatul Me'raj

26 July

Sunday

Mini Tennis Tournament

Shabir Elias

Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus

0415 467 868

8.30am

6 August

(provisional)

Thursday

Lailatul Baraat

22 August

(provisional)

Saturday

Start of Ramadhan

16 September

(provisional)

Wed

Lailatul Qadr

19 September

(provisional)

Saturday

End of Ramadhan

20 September

(provisional)

Sunday

Eid-ul-Fitr

26 September

Saturday

MBN Eid Dinner

Muslim Business Network

The Coffee Club, RNA Showground

secretary@mbn.net.au

7pm

26 September

Saturday

Eidfest

Eidfest Committee

Mt Gravatt Showgrounds

0418 722 353

All day

3 October

Saturday

QPS/EECQ Cup: 2009 Qld Multicultural football tournament

QPS & ECCQ

TBA

0438 114 619

9am to 5pm

3 October

Saturday

Eid Dinner

Islamic Society of Darra

Darra Mosque, 219 Douglas St, Oxley

0418 757 157

5.45pm

4 October

Sunday

QPS/EECQ Cup: FINALS

and

FESTIVAL DAY

QPS & ECCQ

TBA

0438 114 619

9am to 5pm

24 October

Saturday

Breast Cancer Awareness

Crescents of Brisbane

TBA

0404 296 297

TBA

27 November

(provisional)

Sunday

Eid-ul-Adha

18 December

(provisional)

Friday

Islamic New Year

 

To claim your date for your event email ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.

 

 

RECURRING EVENTS

The ladies Taaleem programme this Thursday will be at the home of Naseema at 36 Diamond Place Runcorn from 11am to 12pm.

 

Sunnah Inspirations

http://www.sunnahinspirations.org

Contact: 0408 270 421

University of Queensland,
323 Hawken Drive, St. Lucia

Every Monday

Event: Weekly Learning Circle: Sharh Riyad-us-Saliheen (An Explanation of 'Gardens of the Righteous'

Venue: Prayer Room, University of Queensland

Time: 6.45pm to 7.30pm

 

Every Friday

Subject: Fiqh Made Easy

Venue: Room E215 Building 1 (Forgan Smith), University of Queensland

Time: 6.30pm to 7.35pm

Every Friday

Subject: Tafseer al Qur'an (Explanation of the Qur'an)

Venue: Room E215 Building 1 (Forgan Smith), University of Queensland

Time: 7.45pm to 9pm

 

Sunnah Inspirations is a non-profit organisation to cater for Muslim social support and supplying information to Muslims and non-Muslims.  They have been doing various activities around Australia, and have organised Da'wah information stalls at various universities in Brisbane.  More info can be found on their website above.

 

CCN @ Facebook

 

Catch Crescents Community News at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crescents-Community-News-CCN/30163063922

Please feel free to post an entry on our Wall, start up a Discussion thread and/or become a Fan.

 

Useful Links

 

Crescents Community News (CCN) Readers' Forum

     Discussion Forum & Social Network for CCN Readers

Queensland Muslim Historical Society Inc.

     Promoting the study and awareness of the rich history of the Muslims of Queensland

 

Young Muslims of Queensland

     Social network for young Muslims of Brisbane

 

Sunnah Inspirations

     Providing information about Islam - its beliefs, culture, practices, dispelling misconceptions

 

Kuraby Mosque

 

Holland Park Mosque

 

Al-Nisa

    Provide young Muslim women in Queensland with support and opportunities to express themselves

 

Gold Coast Mosque

 

South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA)

 

Muslim Womens' Convert Support Group (MWCSG)

     Network of Muslim women converts from the Brisbane and Gold Coast areas of Queensland.

 

Australian International Islamic College (Durack)

 

 

If you would like a link to your website email ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.

 

Write For Us

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

ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.

 

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 ccn@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.