Last Sunday's Multicultural Harmony Day Dinner
to raise funds for the Milperra State School and
Mathew Holland was
attended by some 200 people
representing a number of
different communities.
Held at Michael's
Oriental Restaurant the
event was put together by
Crescents of Brisbane and
the Lions Club of Kuraby and
was well supported by the
local Muslim community.
For the
new Minister for
Disabilities and
Multicultural Affairs,
Annastacia Palaszczuk MP,
the occasion was a baptism
of fire as both roles of her
portfolio were the centre of
focus on the night but the
keynote address she
delivered gave an early
indication that she was up
to the task.
A long list of prominent
local politicians, community
leaders and businessmen was
also present with Brisbane's
Deputy Mayor, Councillor
Graham Quirk also
displaying extraordinary
auctioneering skills with
his trusty gavel.
A very engaging young Mathew
brought a tear to an eye or
two as he thanked everyone
for the support he was being
given.
Ms Tania Balil-Lozoya,
a music therapist at the
Milperra school, was a
delight to watch and listen
to as she sang native
Spanish songs on her guitar
through the evening.
Ms Adele Rice,
Principal of the Milperra
State High School, spoke
passionately and in glowing
terms about her pupils, many
of whom had arrived in
Australia deprived of any
previous education having
suffered war and family
loss. She also acknowledged
the work of her dedicated
staff and volunteers who
helped out at the school
each week.
But the coup de grace
was delivered at the end of the
proceedings whenMr Peter Carroll,
President of the Sunnybank
Community & Sports Club
and
and his General Manager
Mr MichaelCallaghan
handed Anna Holland (mother of
Mathew) the keys of a maxi
taxi registered in her
name.
(Left to
right) Michael Callaghan, Anna Holland, Mathew Holland
and Peter Carroll
(left
to right) Lewis Lee of sponsors the Lions
Club of Brisbane Chinese receives a
certificate of appreciation from Mathew
Holland with David Forde looking on
(left to
right) Faisal Hatia of sponsors HP
Corporation receives a certificate of
appreciation from Mathew Holland
(left
to right) Bill Glen of
sponsors the Lions Club of
Kuraby receives a
certificate of appreciation
from Mathew Holland
Ms Susan Al-Maani
and Mr. Faisel Essof (left) presented a
cheque of $12 606.60 to the Executive
Director of Muslim Aid Australia Mr. Iman
Partoredjo (right) on behalf
of the Muslim Community of Queensland who
contributed to the Victoria Bush Fire
Appeal.
NEW ZEALAND: Asian Muslims Tell Their Own Stories
SYDNEY, Mar 16 (IPS) - A
new book and accompanying
exhibit provide rare insight
into the lives of Asian
Muslims, who have become an
intrinsic part of New
Zealand's diverse community
since the first Muslim
Chinese gold miners landed
on its distant shores 130
years ago.
'The Crescent Moon: The
Asian Face of Islam in New
Zealand' largely focuses on
Muslims from the Indian
subcontinent, Malaysia,
Indonesia, and Fiji, with
the aim to create a better
understanding and
appreciation of Islam and
the various Asian cultures
that have enriched New
Zealand's socio-economic and
cultural fabric.
The first Muslims in the
country were 15 Chinese gold
miners working in Dunstan on
the South Island, according
to the New Zealand
government census of April
1874, and by 1950 there were
still only 150 followers of
Islam. The 1996 census
registered a Muslim
population of less than
14,000.
But since 2001, the Muslim
population in New Zealand
has increased by 52.6 per
cent. According to the last
census conducted in 2006,
there are 36,072 followers
of Islam, most of who hail
from Asia, where more than
half of the world's Muslims
reside.
Author Adrienne Jansen
and photographer Ans
Westra travelled across
the island nation for over
two years to create the book
that features disarmingly
candid interviews and
photographs of 37 Asian
Muslims, hailing from
ethnically, culturally and
theologically diverse
groups, who have made New
Zealand home.
There is the halal butcher
Yakub Khan, who came to New
Zealand from Fiji in 1981
and whose sausages do a
roaring trade among Muslims
and non-Muslims alike in
Wellington, and Mahmood
Bhikoo's grandfather, Ismail
Bhikoo, who was the first
Indian Muslim in New
Zealand.
Today, Mahmood and Fatima
Bhikoo, whose grandchildren
are fifth generation New
Zealanders, own and operate
the Hollywood Dairy in
Auckland.
Another of the interviewees
is Najib Lafraie, who served
as Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs in the
government of Afghanistan
and now teaches politics at
the University of Otago.
”The focus of this project
was to represent that large
group of Muslims of Asian
descent who are part of the
middle ground of New Zealand
society who are rugby
players, farmers, IT
trainers, artists,
scientists - all of those -
and just getting on with
their lives”, Jansen told
IPS.
The book certainly doesn't
cover the whole range of
Asian Muslim voices in New
Zealand.
As Jansen says, ”Well, it
never could, they are very
diverse. There are
definitely some voices
missing. The most
conservative voice isn't
there. But as a number of
people commented during the
project, when you are a
minority in a country and
you are on the margins of
that minority, you are
generally going to be very
careful about what you say
in public”.
While most people were very
open, some were not so
comfortable. ”When I took
the photographs, I tried to
get something that showed
the subjects in their normal
daily activities,” Westra, a
renowned documentary
photographer with a career
spanning 50 years, told IPS.
”They often had great
reservations about that and
would only pose. So there is
a great variety in the
images, which perhaps tells
us something more about the
individual subjects,” she
said.
”They thought the book and
exhibition a worthwhile
project enough to
participate in this way.
There were some restrictions
of course. Photographing
inside the mosque during a
prayer session kept me as a
woman for instance on the
door step,” says Westra, who
was born in the Netherlands
and migrated to New Zealand
as a young adult.
Alme Jacub was born in
India, married an Indian man
from New Zealand and
followed him to the island
nation in 1949. Her daughter
Asmat Ashraf relates the
story of her mother, who
lost her husband early but
didn't remarry.
Alme lived in the small town
of Manunui for the next 23
years where ”it didn't
matter what people's
religion was, it was never
really a topic of discussion
and everyone just got
along,” until the 9/11
terror attacks in the United
States changed the way
Muslims began to be
perceived the world over.
Shegufta Molla, whose family
had migrated to the United
States from Bangladesh in
1973, said ”9/11 was very
painful because America had
been my home since I was
four years old, but I didn't
want my kids growing up
thinking they were bad
because they were different,
so we came to New Zealand.”
But New Zealand, like the
rest of the world, was also
deeply affected by the
attacks. ”It was important
to help build ‘mutual
interest and mutual respect'
in this country, too,”
Jennifer King, Director of
Culture at the Asia New
Zealand Foundation, which
commissioned the book, told
IPS.
”Following the London
bombings (of the
transportation system in
2005), there were a few
anti-Muslim incidents here,
so the book and exhibition
project was designed to let
participants open up a bit
and tell their own stories.
Participants were encouraged
to say what they wanted - we
never set out to create a
‘warm fuzzy' book,” she
added.
While interviewing, Jansen
found many people commenting
on the media's coverage of
Islam and terrorism.
”When a young religious
studies student (whose
parents are from New Zealand
and Malaysia) says 'I'm
constantly having to tell
people I'm not going to blow
myself up' - although she's
being tongue in cheek,
there's a definite
undercurrent of seriousness,
of real concern about
misrepresentation of
Muslims,” says Jansen, who
has been a long-time teacher
of English to new migrants
and was co-founder of one of
the first home tutoring
language programmes in New
Zealand.
Tayyaba Khan, who was born
in Pakistan, raised in Japan
and came to New Zealand at
the age of 10, says since
the events of 9/11, ”young
people have formed an
identity of what it means to
be a Muslim. Some went the
other way and didn't want to
have anything to do with it
and others like me defined
themselves more specifically
as Muslim.”
Jansen says, ”Many of the
people I interviewed made a
clear distinction between
Islam and ethnicity, and
wanted that well understood.
There were many comments
that certain practices that
are widely seen as Islamic
are in fact cultural.”
Yoko Shafi, who was born in
Japan to a Buddhist family
and met her husband, a
Muslim from Pakistan, while
working in New Zealand,
feels people confuse
religion with culture.
Despite 30 years of living
in New Zealand, she says,
”I'm Japanese and Muslim.”
Shafi had to convert to
Islam to marry her Muslim
husband. She feels religion
is a personal thing and that
no one should be forced to
follow a certain religion.
Today, New Zealand is home
to Muslim migrants from
about 40 different
countries, including 3000
Pakeha (European) Muslims
and 700 indigenous Maoris.
There is a small but growing
conversion to Islam among
the wider New Zealand
population, and Islam is the
fastest growing religion
amongst the Maori community.
The 2001 census figures show
the number of Maori Muslims
increased from 99 to 708 in
the 10 years to 2001.
Some of the people
interviewed for the book are
third and fourth generation
New Zealanders, who regard
themselves totally as 'Kiwi'
while at the same time
paying attention to their
ethnic heritage.
Warning that there is always
a danger that ethnic
minorities will become
isolated, Jansen says,
”There are also people in
this project like Tariq
Ashraf who so integrates his
New Zealand life and his
faith that he talks about
how the design of mosques in
New Zealand could show the
influence of the Pacific
fale (house) or the Maori
wharenui (meeting house).”
Several people, including
Mohammad Amir, who was born
in Mubarakpur in the Indian
state of Uttar Pradesh and
is the imam of Wellington's
Kilbirnie mosque, talk about
how they need to accommodate
the practice of their faith
to the New Zealand context.
King feels most Muslim
migrants have integrated
well into the mainstream and
that the mosques have become
a melting pot. She is
hopeful the exhibition that
accompanies the book will
travel to Islamic countries
where New Zealand has
diplomatic posts.
Excavation has started at
Algester mosque marking the
beginning of the first
construction phase.
Fences
have been erected around the site, asbestos removed from
the original building and tonnes of soil have been
trucked away to make way for a new-look Algester mosque.
Nine acres was initially purchased
a decade ago but parcels of land have been sold
off, reducing the size of the original site.
The proposed project includes a new
mosque site, town house complex and Muslim community
amenities on the Learoyd road property.
Algester Mosque madrasa
student, Mohammed Burhan Ismail said he hoped the
building upgrade would increase attendance at the
mosque.
Committee member of the Islamic
Society of Algester, Abdul Rahman Deen (pictured
left onsite) said planning for the future was
necessary for a growing community.
"Whenever you build a mosque you
must build it for this generation and the one coming,"
Mr. Deen said.
During Friday sermons at Algester
mosque, the building is full with devotees and on public
holidays it is common for people to pray outside the
existing building.
The ambitious building project
requires ongoing funds from the community to finance the
project.
Mr. Deen said Australian Muslim
communities lack the commitment to produce vibrant
religious communities.
With Kennedy-inspired
rhetoric Mr. Deen said, “Why aren’t people saying ‘what
can I do for the Muslim community not what can the
community do for me?’”.
Goodness Gracious Me!
CCN
gets Up Close and Personal with......... Silma Ihram
Silma Ihram is the
founder of two Islamic schools in Sydney.
She made headlines when
she fought a long hard legal battle against Bankstown
Airport over contamination of one of her school sites.
The legal fight was shown
in a televised documentary called Silma’s school.
Highly sought after, Silma
is often called upon to represent the Muslim community
in the media.
As an author, documentary
maker, administrator, and with a foray in politics, you
would think she would be happy to rest on her laurels.
But there appears to be
still a long list of things to do for Silma Ihram.
New to Brisbane, Silma has
now relocated here and is the current Principal of the
Australian International Islamic College in Durack.
Why did you decide to come to Queensland?
I came
reluctantly as I have children in 3 other states, and it
has been a learning experience for me, I wanted to
contribute my skills to the Muslim community. The school
is growing, it’s successful, it has got land, facilities
and a great dedicated and enthusiastic staff.
Why
did you decide to sell the school in Sydney?
(The
Noor
Al Houda Islamic College in Sydney
was one of two schools Silma established, however, it
had a long hard battle to fight. After discovering the
land it was built on was a contaminated site, Silma went
to court to fight for her rights. The land was leased to
her with the knowledge that it was contaminated land and
a lengthy legal battle pursued.)
I wanted to teach the government a lesson but
unfortunately it cost us a horrendous amount of money.
A trip overseas to find someone to rescue the school
was unfortunately not met with success. The cost in the
end crippled the school, and it was decided to give it
to a rival and larger school to manage. (It’s a loss
that still appears to be unresolved today. Her
perseverance couldn’t match the unsurmountable expenses
the school was collecting daily). The school had
little assets, and good will and initiative are not
enough to make a good school, if you don’t have assets.
What
do you see as your major challenges for this school?
Some of
the major challenges facing the school are that we need
to increase confidence in the school. That’s confidence
both within the school, and in the community for the
school. The school itself is excellent, the staff are
fantastic and with good leadership it should be easy to
restore the confidence.
Tell
me some of the schools strengths?
The
staff, the facilities are developing, we have programs
that are on par with private schools. The school has so
much potential. Currently we have an extensive program
to increase literacy and numeracy – with two specialist
teachers working fulltime to lift the standard of those
students whose literacy is low. We also have an
expanding sports and training program. One of the best
aspects of the school is the passion the kids and the
teachers have for Islam. We are looking forward to an
extensive Islamic program with the latest audio visual
and library resources to supplement our daily activities
of Quran reciting and dua. We are also building a strong
component of leadership training into our senior years.
What
is your vision for the school?
Every
Muslim school should provide security, care and guidance
to give students the skills necessary to survive in a
difficult world. We have to give our students the life
skills to turn them into responsible adults with an
Islamic outlook. The problem with most Muslim schools is
that it only focuses on the academic aspect, it’s not
only an academic focus we need, we also need to provide
leaders for the community. We need to focus on ethics
and leadership schools need to assist the students, not
students having to assist the school by getting the
highest marks.
Why
should our children go to Muslim schools?
In public
schools students are unsure of who they are. Muslim
schools are a base for the Muslim community. We impart
knowledge so they can then be confident going into
society. It is a safe base for confident, capable
Muslims.
Will
you be also the Principal of the Gold Coast school?
Not as
far as I am aware.
Do you
think our Brisbane community is different from that of
Sydney?
Very
different, I was very involved in the Lebanese community
down there. They have a more established community, with
third generation Australians, whereas here, there are a
lot of first generation migrants. They still have links
to their homeland.
You
have run for both State and Federal elections, why did
you decide to run for Parliament?
I wanted
to see how the political system works. It was a great
learning experience. There is no prominent Muslim
political representation in government and I have been
fortunate to have had good media so I thought I should
run. Politics can be an excellent place to bring about
change in the services provided to the Muslim community
and to enhancing our reputation.
Which
do you prefer, Local, State or Federal and would you run
again?
I will
keep my options open. I was also interested in Local
government but I was quite disappointed with how the
local government (Auburn) works. It has a large number
of Muslims on the council and I wasn’t happy with the
way matters were conducted. I was the Secretary of the
NSW Democrats, and was asked to be the State President.
I have no confidence in the ALP or the Liberals, and the
Greens I find to be too radical. The democrats need to
grow again, I think the young democrats have a future.
What
are your plans for the future?
I want to
do a good job to benefit the community. I am still doing
my Masters on Lebanese Youth and Leadership, and
I want to do my PHD on Integrated Diversity and
Leadership. The concept of multiculturalism no
longer is popular in Australia, so I think Integrated
Diversity may be an alternative.
The
Deadly Dozen
1.The
job I’d love to have is ... one that is
challenging and fulfilling
2.Some
kids really ... make me proud
3.I
refuse to tolerate ... pettiness
4.My
guilty pleasure is .... a latte every morning
5.My
favourite politician is ... Bob Brown
6.My
family love it when I .... stay home and cook
7.If
they undercharged you at the checkout would you tell
them... I’d go back and tell them (and they are
usually shocked)
8.My
computer is... a tablet laptop and goes everywhere
with me
9.Do
you really believe we will use algebra after leaving
school ... No
10.
I really could win at... Scuba
diving
11.If
I don’t do this every day, I get annoyed ... have
time to reflect
12.I
know all the words to.... the 99 names of Allah
13.I
would love to meet ... Nelson Mandela
Aid for
Zimbabwe
Shahina Omar
Zimbabwe
has a population of about 11 million people and a recent
United Nations report claimed that 7 million Zimbabweans
need food aid. The political impasse over the coalition
government has stranded Zimbabweans in a prolonged
economic crisis, with hospitals, schools and sanitation
infrastructure left to collapse. The recent cholera
epidemic has killed more than 3000 people, a crisis
which could have been avoided if the government had
taken care of its people.
Zimbabwe’s
economy has shrunk by more than 45% over the past 5
years, leaving half the urban population to rely on
remittances from friends and family overseas. It had the
world’s highest official inflation, 11.2 million per
cent, these frightening figures emerged as President
Mugabe admitted defeat in the fight against dizzying
inflation and now allows business to be done in US
dollars and bank notes of neighbouring countries. But
this has still not relieved the plight of the poor as
the fundamentals are not in order, how do the poor get
access to US dollars, how do they generate income when
their basic needs cannot be met, their need for food,
clean water, sanitation and shelter is not provided by
the government.
We would
like to assist by raising much needed funds for the poor
of Zimbabwe. Inshaallah this money will be sent
to help them with food items, and medical supplies.
Earlier in
January 2009, Southern African citizens launched a
hunger strike to press for justice and democracy in
Zimbabwe. Desmond Tutu and Graca Machel joined the
campaign and pledged solidarity with the Zimbabwean
people. To find out more, check the 'Save Zimbabwe Now'
campaign which has support from a wide range of
groupings including the South African Council of
Churches, Cosatu, Civicus and Social movements from
across the region.
Help Us In
Relieving The Plight Of The Zimbabwe People.
Jazakallah for your donations.
Kindly
Donate to the following people :
Faisel Essof Tel :0402575410
Shahina Omar Tel: 0431162844
Yasmin Ahmed Tel: 0405217682
Aisha Ahmed Tel: 0421715061
Women
in Business
The Lord Mayor's
Multicultural Unit has
organised a free workshop
for women in Business on
Friday 24 April 2009.
The workshop will focus on
figures and financial
information to assist women
to build on their business
skills.
RSVP by 15 April 2009 or
contact Georgiana Poulter on 07 3365 6487 for more
information.
Crescents of Brisbane's CresCafe was in full flight at the Harmony
Day Twilight Festival at Runcorn Heights State School on
Friday night raising $400 for the School in the very
short trading time.
Crescents'
CresCafe co-ordinator, Zuleiga Goder, told
CCN, "Even though
it was a little rocky start with no power, several treks
through the mud, and chocolate icing on someone's shirt
it was all part of the fun!"
Dine
with the Stars!
Calling allBABA ALI
fans!!! Ten lucky people will have the
opportunity of a lifetime to meet, mingle and
dine with Internet celebrityBABA ALI,
and the rest of the stars of the upcoming
“Not Just For Laughs”
comedy show, includingNAZEEM HUSSAIN.
Tickets to the dinner, which will take
place on Friday, 1st May 2009, will be
charged at $250 per person. So be bold, as a rare and
privileged opportunity awaits you.
Call 0405 230305 to reserve your
seat, but act fast as only ten tickets are available!
“Not Just For Laughs” features BABA ALI,
along with a troupe of local and talented comedians
fronted by NAZEEM HUSSAIN, writer and performer of the
acclaimed comedy “Fear Of A Brown Planet”. The line-up
includes Scott Fraser, Mohammed El-Leissy and Khaled
Khalafalla. This night of fun, entertainment and
giveaways, will take place on Friday, 1st May
2009 at the Chandler Theatre in Chandler. All profits
will be donated to the war-victims in Gaza. Get your
tickets today by calling 0405 230305.
A Taste of Baba Ali
Young
Indonesian Muslim Leaders to seek Friendship,
Understanding in Australia
A delegation of young
Indonesian Muslim leaders from Lombok, East Kalimantan,
Yogyakarta and Jakarta depart for Australia on Sunday on
a bilateral exchange program aimed at strengthening
understanding and links among faith leaders of both
countries.
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer said he
hoped the visit would contribute to a better
understanding in Indonesia about multiculturalism in
Australian society and the role of Islam in Australia.
“Islam in Australia is a dynamic, evolving story with a
rich history, and one of which our country can be
extremely proud,” the Ambassador said.
“Australia’s 400,000 Muslims, made up of over 70
different ethnic backgrounds – including Indonesia -
have made an enormous contribution to the success of
contemporary, diverse Australia.”
The program aims to provide opportunities for emerging
leaders in the Indonesian Muslim community to engage
their counterparts in Australia on a range of important
issues affecting people in both countries.
Strengthening such people-to-people links was one of the
goals of the recent successful conference, Australia and
Indonesia: Partners in a New Era, held in Sydney in
February.
This is the first of three delegations from Indonesia
scheduled to visit Australia under the Young Muslim
Leaders Exchange Program between March-June 2000.
In May 2009, five young Muslim leaders from Australia
will make a reciprocal visit to Indonesia to learn
firsthand about Indonesia’s diverse, democratic and
tolerant society and to meet community, education and
religious leaders, academics, government officials and
media representatives.
The Australia-Indonesia Exchange Program for Young
Muslim Leaders was established by the Australian
Government through the Australia-Indonesia Institute in
2002.
Over the past two decades, the Institute has fulfilled a
unique and vital role in fostering friendship and
understanding between Australia and Indonesia through
projects in the arts, music, education, youth, civil
society, interfaith, media and sport.
Muslim Job-seekers
with the following skills/qualifications are in
search of employment
• Fork-lift license
• HR & MR License
• Qualified Accountant seeking Australian work
experience (voluntary or paid position)
If you are seeking to recruit staff with the above
skills/qualifications or with skills in other fields
please contact Ahmed (3412 8222, 0407 698 312) or
Safia (3412 8222, 3412 8239) at ACCES Services INC.
CCN
Supporting Local Enterprise
Around the Muslim
World with CCN
Muslim smokers worse than cows: Malaysia cleric
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Muslims
who smoke and try to portray
themselves as pious are worse
than cows which defecate in the
street, a top Malaysian Muslim
cleric and politician said.
"...a cow which defecates in the
middle of the road, (we) cannot
take legal action against it
because it has no brain and
cannot think," said Nik Aziz who
is the spiritual leader of the
country's Pan-Islamic Party
(PAS).
"But human beings, who have
brains, for them to do something
which is wrong in religion ...
when they are in an attire which
symbolizes Islam, they can be
regarded as being more
despicable than cows," he said
on Friday, according to
Malaysia's state news agency
Bernama.
PAS is one of the three parties
in Malaysia's opposition
alliance led by former deputy
prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Nik Aziz said that smoking was
forbidden by Islam.
Recently, Indonesia's top
Islamic body passed a fatwa or
ruling banning smoking.
Malaysia's top Islamic body has
also banned smoking.
Despite the ban in Malaysia,
where over half the population
of 27 million is Muslim, 50
percent of the male population
smokes according to World Health
Organization (WHO) data.
Vatican offers Islamic
finance system to Western Banks
The Vatican says Islamic finance system may help
Western banks in crisis as alternative to capitalistm.
The Vatican offered Islamic finance principles to
Western banks as a solution for worldwide economic
crisis.
Daily Vatican newspaper, 'L'Osservatore Romano, reported
that Islamic banking system may help to overcome global
crisis, Turkish media reported.
The Vatican said banks should look at the ethical rules
of Islamic finance to restore confidence amongst their
clients at a time of global economic crisis.
"The ethical principles on which Islamic finance is
based may bring banks closer to their clients and to the
true spirit which should mark every financial service,"
the Vatican's official newspaper Osservatore Romano said
in an article recently.
Author Loretta Napoleoni and Abaxbank Spa fixed income
strategist, Claudia Segre, say in the article that
"Western banks could use tools such as the Islamic
bonds, known as sukuk, as collateral". Sukuk may be used
to fund the "'car industry or the next Olympic Games in
London," they said.
Muslim American women are second only to Jewish
Americans in terms of educational attainment. Muslim
American women are educated, active in the workforce and
on an equal footing with men in terms of income,
according to a report released Monday, which analysts
said chips away at myths associated with Islam. "What we
learned in the study is that US Muslim women are roughly
equal to men and to women who are non-Muslims in America
in their level of education, level of income, level of
religiosity and mosque attendance," Ahmed Younis, a
senior analyst at the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies,
told reporters. "The Achilles Heel that has always
existed -- that Muslims are 'not like us' because their
women are oppressed -- well, the data speak to the
proposition that that is absolutely not true," said
Younis.
The report, based on data culled from 946 people who
identified themselves as Muslims out of a sample of more
than 319,000 interviewed across the United States last
year, showed that Muslim American women and the
religious group as a whole are second only to Jewish
Americans in terms of educational attainment.
Forty percent of Muslims have a bachelor's or graduate
degree, compared with 61 percent of Jews and 29 percent
of the US population as a whole.US Muslim women stand
out, both compared to their global counterparts and
women from other religious groups in the United States,
in that they are statistically as likely as their male
counterparts to have earned a university degree or
higher. Forty-two percent of Muslim women had degrees
compared with 39 percent of Muslim men in the United
States.
Jewish women trailed Jewish men by six percentage points
in the higher-education achievement realm, and for the
US population as a whole, 29 percent of women and 30
percent of men had bachelor's degrees or better. The
study also showed that Muslim American women tend to
earn the same as men, both at the low and high ends of
the income scale, giving the religious group the highest
degree of economic gender parity.
Muslim women in the United States also frequent mosques
as often as their male counterparts, "in sharp contrast
to women in many majority Muslim countries who are
generally less likely than men to report attending a
religious service in the last week," the report said.
And more Muslim women than men in the United States --
46 percent versus 38 percent -- said they are
"thriving", or categorized themselves as being at the
upper end of a scale measuring life satisfaction.
Muslim island must give up polygamy as price of being
part of France
PARIS: The mostly Muslim Indian Ocean island of Mayotte
has overwhelmingly voted to integrate fully with France,
a move that will bring financial benefits to residents
but also outlaw practices such as polygamy and early
marriages.
More than 95 per cent of voters said "yes" to becoming
the 101st department of France, instead of its present
status of an "overseas community", the Interior Ministry
announced.
The change will force residents to raise the minimum age
for women to marry from 15 to 18 and outlaw polygamy,
the Interior Ministry said.
GENEVA - The UN's top
human rights body
approved a proposal by
Muslims nations
yesterday urging passage
of laws around the world
to protect religion from
criticism.
The proposal put
forward by Pakistan on
behalf of Islamic
countries - with the
backing of Belarus and
Venezuela - had drawn
strong criticism from
free-speech campaigners
and liberal democracies.
A simple majority of
23 members of the
47-nation Human Rights
Council voted in favor
of the resolution.
Eleven nations, mostly
Western, opposed the
resolution, and 13
countries abstained.
The resolution urges
states to provide
"protection against acts
of hatred,
discrimination,
intimidation, and
coercion resulting from
defamation of religions
and incitement to
religious hatred in
general."
"Defamation of
religions is the cause
that leads to incitement
to hatred,
discrimination, and
violence toward their
followers," Pakistan's
ambassador Zamir Akram
said. "It is important
to deal with the cause,
rather than with the
effects alone."
Muslim nations have
argued that religions,
in particular Islam,
must be shielded from
criticism in the media
and other areas of
public life. They cited
cartoons depicting the
Prophet Mohammed as an
example of unacceptable
free speech.
"Islam is frequently
and wrongly associated
with human rights
violations and
terrorism," the
resolution said.
Opponents of the
resolution included
Canada, all European
Union countries,
Switzerland, Ukraine,
and Chile. The United
States did not vote on
the resolution because
it is not a member of
the council.
"It is individuals
who have rights and not
religions," Canadian
diplomat Terry Cormier
said.
India, which normally
votes along with the
council's majority of
developing nations,
abstained in protest at
the fact that Islam was
the only religion
specifically named as
deserving protection.
India's Ambassador
Gopinathan
Achamkulangare said the
resolution
"inappropriately" linked
religious criticism to
racism. The council is
dominated by Muslim and
African countries. Its
resolutions are not
binding.
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.
Q: Dear Kareema, my parents are
elderly and both suffer from arthritis. Someone
suggested they try Yoga or Tai Chi. They are familiar
with Yoga but can you please explain what Tai Chi
involves just to give them a better idea and help with
their decision.
A: Tai Chi is an ancient form of slow,
gentle, rhythmic exercises.
The slow movements gently tone and strengthen the
muscles and organs, improve circulation and posture and
also helps with relaxing both body and mind. It's
perfect for stress relieve and aims to restore balance
in the body.
It's perfect for all ages and great for people with
general joint aches and pains.
Those with arthritic conditions can also benefit from
the gentle relaxing movements.
It would be a good idea for your parents to try both
Yoga and Tai Chi, as they may find that one works better
than the other, or they may enjoy both forms of exercise
which may aid with greater relief sooner.
This may also help with their flexibility and they may
even feel more energised and ready to take on more
challenging routines sooner!
All questions sent in are published here anonymously and
without any references to the author of the question.
KB's Culinary Corner
GINGER Loaf
Ingredients
125grams Butter
½ cup Castor Sugar
2 tbls Golden Syrup
2 Eggs
1/2 tsp each ground ginger, mixed spice and
cinnamon
1 tsp Bicarb of Soda
3 cups cake flour sifted
1 cup hot water
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped Pecans
Method
Soak the dates in the 1 cup hot water. Cream
the butter, sugar and syrup. Add the eggs
one at a time. Fold in the flour, bicarb,
spices and pecans (leaving some for
sprinkling) date and water mixture. Pour
into a greased loaf pan, sprinkle with
chopped pecans and bake in a moderate oven –
180c for 1 hour
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
When he was little Mula Nasruddin's
school teacher asked him, "Now, Nasruddin, tell me
frankly do you say prayers before eating?"
"No ustaad," little Mula Nasruddin replied, "I
don't have to, my mom is a good cook!"
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.
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
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.