......a sometimes
self-deprecating and occasional tongue-in-cheek look at ourselves and
the world around us ......
Sunday, 21 June 2009
.Newsletter
0241
News you won't find on CNN!
Raeesa
wins Literature Award
Raeesa accepts her award from Prime
Minister Rudd
Raeesa
Lambat, daughter of
Iqbal and FaridaLambat, received an
award from Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd in recognition of
a short fiction story that
she wrote about Anzac Day.
The award,
titled the Ernie Adsett
ANZAC Day Art and Literature
Award, is presented
annually.
The ceremony
was also attended by State
and Council politicians and
heads of a number of
schools.
The award
recognises students in three
categories - lower primary,
upper primary and secondary.
The winning entries were
chosen by an independent
judging panel.
Raeesa won an
award in the secondary
category. She is a year 9
student at Our Ladies
College in Annerley. She
wrote a fictional story of a
battle encounter and the
friendship formed between
two soldiers and the impact
that it had on successive
generations.
The winner will be drawn
from the CCN Inbox on
Saturday 27 June 2009 at 5pm
and announced in next week's
CCN.
Sounds of Light Concert is
one of the finest campaigns
in charity work in Australia
offering children around the
world a new hope, a new
light. Over the last two
years, Sounds of Light
attracted well over 13,000
attendees resulting in the
sponsorship of more than
1800 orphans. This was by
far the most talked about
event that the Australian
Muslim Community has ever
hosted.
Sounds of Light 2009 will
once again focus on
disadvantaged children, and
all proceeds will go towards
education, food and
healthcare programs to
provide them with hope for
their future.
The
Qur'an on ABC's Compass
The Qur’an has become one of the most
ideologically influential texts in the world, but what
does it actually say?
And how much do Muslims and non-Muslims
understand its message and history?
By examining its actual text and
providing comment from a wide selection of observers,
award winning film-maker Antony Thomas takes us into the
heart of the Muslim world - from Ayatollahs and Grand
Imams to simple farmers; from women in positions of
power to women living in veiled seclusion; from those
who speak of its uncompromising message of peace and
tolerance, to those who find justification in the text
for violent conflict and suicide bombing.
Farouk and
RaziaJoosab
are proud to
announce the
marriage of their
eldest son,
Mohammed, to
Liyana (Linh)
eldest daughter of
Kiet and
MaiHuynh
The nikah
took place on 6 June
at Algester Mosque
and the waalimah
lunch was held on
14tJune at the Greek
Hall on Creek Road.
Farouk and Razia
would also like to
thank all families
and friends for
their well wishes
and to all the hard
workers that helped
to make the wedding
and walimah
the success that it
was.
Budding
charity organisation NS Charity is set to present the
spiciest theatrical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet ever
seen in Brisbane.
The play ‘Romeo and Juliet: Butter Chickened!’ is the
second major event by the group, and will be staged at
the University of Queensland’s Schonell Theatre in late
July.
Producer Charlie Shandil says the play, thought
traditionally a tragedy, will be seasoned with comedy,
drama and excitement.
“It has everything you would expect a Bollywood
rendition of Romeo and Juliet to have; dance, drama,
laughter, tears and overacting, but also with a healthy
dose of local flavour.”
Combining a diverse range of genres and cultures, the
play centres around Hindu, Romeo Malhotra, and
Muslim, Juliet Khan, and their struggle to unite
under conflicting circumstances.
Though the idea for the play originally began with a
small group of friends in a coffee shop, it has since
grown to be a production with over fifty cast and crew
members.
Since NS Charity is a not-for-profit organisation, all
members of the team are giving up their own time to help
put this production together.
Every cent collected by NS Charity will be equally
donated to the Mater Children’s Hospital Little Miracles
Appeal, as well as Youngcare.
Each year Mater Children’s Hospital provides treatment
and care for thousands of children, from those just
hours old to those battling long term diseases and
conduct the Little Miracles Appeal to raise much-needed
funds for their facilities.
Funds are also desperately needed for Youngcare, a noble
charity dedicated to provide care for disabled youths
currently forced to reside in aged-care facilities in
order to receive fulltime care.
Mr. Shandil says that the “soul purpose” of the
production is to raise as much money as possible for
these worthy organisations.
“Here at NS Charity, we start off with a zero bank
balance and we finish with a zero bank balance.
“Everything we collect will be donated to these notable
causes.”
‘Romeo and Juliet: Butter Chickened!’
will be on stage at the Schonell Theatre at the
University of Queensland on July 24th and 25th.
Tickets are available at
www.nscharity.com.
Australia
Sees Rescue in Islamic Finance
Darul
Ihsan Islamic Services
Centre, Sea Cow Lake, Durban
• Grappling with a chocking financial
meltdown, Australia is eyeing a share of the booming
Islamic finance market to beat a growing recession and
create more jobs.
• "I think there's great opportunities
such as Islamic finance," Chris Bowen, Minister for
Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law,
told the Sydney Morning Herald. He said Sydney is
seeking to take a portion of the booming Islamic finance
market from Asia. "The majority of the world's Islamic
population lives in Asia, and Singapore and Kuala Lumpur
are trying to corner this market for themselves," he
explained. "I think Australia can play a role."
• Islamic finance is one of the fastest
growing sectors in the global financial industry. The
Islamic banking industry, which began almost three
decades ago, has made substantial growth and attracted
the attention of investors and bankers across the world.
• Currently, there are nearly 300 Islamic
banks and financial institutions worldwide with assets
predicted to grow to $1 trillion by 2013.
• Islam forbids Muslims from usury,
receiving or paying interest on loans. Islamic banks and
finance institutions cannot receive or provide funds for
anything involving alcohol, gambling, pornography,
tobacco, weapons or pork.
• Bowen, who was formerly the assistant
treasurer, said luring Islamic finance would help
rejuvenate the Australian economy and create more jobs.
"Even if we only take a small percentage of the market
it could generate a lot of wealth and a lot of jobs in
Australia."
• A global financial crisis has swept the
US and the world since September and knocked down
Australian markets. Thanks to its transactions that
don't deal in toxic assets or pay interests, Islamic
finance institutions have managed to largely survive the
crisis.
• Minister Bowen regretted that Australia
has not yet passed a law allowing the operation of
Islamic finance institutions. "This is just one example
of the untapped opportunities out there for Australia."
Eminent
Professor to Visit Brisbane
On
Monday 13 July Brisbane will host one of the world’s
most eminent professors of Islam, Mohammad Hashim Kamali.
Prof Kamali is a
world-renowned expert in Islamic law and is a leading
scholar on the maqasid al-shariah (higher
objectives of Islamic law).
He was a professor of
shariah at the International Islamic University
Malaysia and is now the Chairman of the International
Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia.
Prof Kamali is on the
International Advisory Board of eleven academic journals
published in Malaysia, USA, Canada, Kuwait, India,
Australia and Pakistan.
He has served as a UN
consultant on constitutional reforms in the Maldives,
and as a shariah expert on the constitution of
Iraq (2005–2006).
Prof Kamali is a member of
the Global Expert Finder Network of the UN Alliance of
Civilisations, Chairman of the CIMB Shariah Committee
and Chairman of Shariah Board, Stanlib Corporation of
South Africa.
He is the author of numerous
books including Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence,
Freedom of Expression in Islam, and Shariah Law:
An Introduction.
On Monday 13 July, Prof Kamali will be delivering the
keynote address at a symposium on ‘Shariah: A
View from the Higher Objectives’ organised by the
Griffith Islamic Research Unit. The symposium will take
place in the Conference Room, Level 5, Social Science
Building (M10), Griffith University (Mt Gravatt campus)
from 9.00am to 3.30pm.
Seats are very limited and booking is essential.
Contact Ms Gillian Warryon3735 5821 or email
g.warry@griffith.edu.au.
On Monday evening, 13 July, the Muslim Business
Network and the Griffith Islamic Research Unit
will be hosting a dinner at which Prof Kamali
will give the main address. Enjoy an intellectually
stimulating discussion over a superb three course meal
(100% halal). Details as follows:
Date: Monday 13 July
Time: 6pm (for 6:15 start)
Venue: Function room, Runcorn Tavern, 124 Gowan
Rd, Runcorn
Tickets: $35 per
person
Contact: Jaaved Khatree 0402 779 425 or Halim
Rane 0422 349 785
Ethnic
names hinder job seeking: report
A new study
has found job seekers with
ethnic names are less likely
to be considered for
positions than those with
Anglo-Saxon names.
Researchers at the
Australian National
University sent out more
than 4,000 fake applications
to employers, all containing
the same qualifications but
different names.
They found those with
Anglo-Saxon names received
more calls than those with
Indigenous, Chinese, Middle
Eastern or Italian names.
ANU economist Professor
Andrew Leigh says it is not
clear whether employers were
being deliberately racist.
"It could be that a very
small share of employers are
behaving very badly," he
said.
"Or possibly, a large share
of employers are just
subconsciously making the
mistake of choosing the less
qualified Anglo candidate
over the more qualified
Chinese candidate."
The Australian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
has rejected the research
findings.
ACCI director of economic
policy Greg Evans denies
employers are racist.
"We think its an unfair and
misleading characterisation
of Australian business," he
said.
"Australian business
actually values diversity
amongst its workforce. and
if you look at this is an
elaborate experiment but
unfortunately its disproven
in reality."
In Australia,
job seekers with ethnic
names find it much harder to
get a job than those with
Anglo-Saxon names, according
to a new academic study into
job discrimination.
"Job
applicants find it easier to
get an interview if they
have an Anglo-Saxon name,"
concluded the experiment
study conducted by the
Australian National
University.
Researchers sent 4000 fake
resumes using Chinese,
Middle Eastern, Italian,
indigenous and Anglo-Saxon
ethnically distinct names,
responding to online jobs
ads in Sydney, Melbourne and
Brisbane.
"By varying the names on the
CVs, we were able to
estimate precisely the
extent of hiring
discrimination," says
economist Andrew Leigh, one
of the study authors.
The study found employers
much more likely to offer a
job interview to applicants
with Anglo Saxon names than
those with foreign names or
names referring to ethnic
minorities.
"Because all other
characteristics are held
constant, we can be sure
that we are really measuring
discrimination."
The results showed a Chinese
and a Middle Eastern must
submit 68 and 64 percent
more applications than an
applicant with an
Anglo-Saxon name to get the
same number of interviews.
International reports have
warned that racism is rife
in all walks of life in
Australia, a country where
one quarter of the
population was born
overseas.
A hard-hitting report by the
Human Rights and Equal
Opportunity Commission in
2007 found that racism
became a part of all
Australia's major sports and
was "prevalent" among
professionals, coaches,
spectators and fans.
The UN Committee on the
Elimination of Racial
Discrimination said in its
2005 that acts and
incitement of racial hatred
exists in most Australian
States.
Sorry Ali, Hi Hannah
The study cited the story of
Ragda Ali as a clear case of
employers' prejudice.
"I applied for many junior
positions where no
experience in sales was
needed – even though I had
worked for two years as a
junior sales clerk," said
the Sydney resident.
After applying for every job
she can find and getting no
reply, Ali suspected that
her distinctively Middle
Eastern name may be the
problem.
"I didn’t receive any calls
so I decided to legally
change my name to Gabriella
Hannah," she recalled.
Expectedly, the job road for
the new Ms. Hannah was much
easier.
"I applied for the same jobs
and got a call 30 minutes
later."
The researchers further
expanded their experiment to
find out whether the kind of
discrimination in the job
market was found in the
general population.
"In one experiment, we
mailed letters to several
thousand households, to see
whether they returned them
or put them in the bin,"
said Professor Leigh.
"We found that letters were
slightly less likely to be
returned if they were
addressed to non-Anglo
people."
The study concluded that the
old maxim hailing Australia
for its ability to absorb
new migrants into its social
fabric may be nothing more
than a myth.
"The Australian melting pot
may not be so successful
after all."
The MYServices two-year
Muslim Youth & Community Development Project is
concluding at the end of this month.
To celebrate its journey, MYServices is holding a brief
presentation on the Project and if you would like to be
a learn about the fine work carried out by them over the
past years then RSVP to
info@myservices.net.au or 0402 529 395.
Date: Monday, 29th June 2009
Time: 5.30-6.30pm
Place: Sovoboda Park Community Hall, Cnr Stiller Drv &
Beenleigh Road
THE film
version of J. M. Coetzee's
Booker Prize-winner has been
handled with care and
sensitivity by Australian
screenwriter Anna-Maria
Monticelli.
It's a film with the
intelligence and insight
demanded to faithfully move
the widely read novel to the
screen.
Near-flawless casting
through the film ensures it
will be recalled as one of
the year's outstanding
dramas from Australia, or
anywhere.
The one-line synopsis - "Set
in Cape Town, a
twice-divorced literature
professor retreats to his
daughter's farm after having
an impulsive affair with a
student" - doesn't hint at
the depth of the drama or
the grandeur of Jacobs'
filmmaking (shot on stunning
locations in South Africa,
with one interior restaurant
scene filmed in Sydney).
American chameleon John
Malkovich plays Professor
David Lurie, a
twice-divorced sensualist
and Byron fan. When his
weekly trysts with a
prostitute end suddenly, he
seduces a mixed-race
student, Melanie (Antoinette
Engel). As knowledge of this
affair becomes widespread,
Lurie's called to front a
university committee hearing
into his indiscretion.
The proud academic doesn't
barter for his professional
life, and admits his guilt.
Resigning, he heads to the
mountainous Eastern Cape
district to visit his
lesbian daughter, Lucy
(Jessica Haines, so good
it's hard to believe this is
her first film).
South Africa's decades of
sanctioned apartheid have
ended and Lucy, who sells
her produce at a local
farmers' market, has set up
a co-operative with an
African farmer, Petrus (Eriq
Ebouaney) who is building a
house on the farm.
Petrus is curiously missing
on a day when three young
black men turn up, claiming
they need to use a
telephone.
They launch a violent
assault during which Lucy is
raped (off-screen), and her
father is beaten and doused
in methylated spirits before
being set alight.
The assaults, and Lucy's
refusal to involve police in
bringing her attackers to
justice, cause Lurie to
examine his own life, the
racism that's been part of
him, and to accept
sacrifices have to be made
to survive in the new South
Africa.
The novel's ending has been
adapted to provide a
powerful metaphor for black
and white living together
without divisions.
The spot-on casting flows
even into small roles in the
film, such as Australian
actor Fiona Press as the
animal welfare worker Bev
Shaw whose agency puts down
dogs.
Australian cinematographer
Steve Arnold fills the
widescreen handsomely, and
even achieves dramatic shots
when the actors aren't in
close up.
Speed
Intros for Muslims.....it's
really a brief introduction
of yourself to others,
whereby you may meet a
potential marriage partner
or at least make new
friends.
This event is planned to
help bring together the many
Muslim brothers and sisters
of all communities who are
interested in marriage
partners.
It's a proven concept in
London and I believe in
other countries as well.
As it is a new here, it has
probably made many people
nervous, and understandably
so.
However, this event will be
kept very informal and
friendly and everyone who
will attend, will attend
with the same purpose in
mind.
Also complete
confidentiality is assured
What it involves is a few
minutes "chat" across a
table, and if any interest
is sparked then it can be
taken further by
either participants or
through me.
Imam Tariq has endorsed this
event and has offered his
full support as he has
also helped in the one in
London.
Parents and community
leaders have also encouraged
it, confirming the need here
to bring together all the
Muslim communities
People interested should
apply as soon as possible as
numbers need to be confirmed
For the purpose of this
report and the ones that will follow over the season,
the terms: Maradona’s Mates, the Saints and Sunnybank
will be used interchangeably when reference is made to
the team.
Last week, due to unforeseen
circumstances the write up for Maradona’s mates did not
reach the CCN headquarters. This week’s write up will
include a double dose…
Saturday 13th June 2009
Sunnybank Saints aka Maradona’s Mates v North Pine
Mavericks
Venue: Calamvale College. Kick off – 3pm
Result: 2-1 to the Mavericks
A convincing 7-1 win two weeks before, coupled with a
week’s break of football due to the long weekend, meant
the boys at Maradona’s Mate’s were eager to get back
onto the soccer field. The game started off well for the
boys, dominating possession and creating several
opportunities in front of goals. The only thing missing
were the finishing touches. Five minutes before the
interval the goal finally came courtesy of a Nawaaz
Malik tap in.
The second half started off
brightly for the lads, still holding the lion’s share of
possession. However, with a one nil score line the game
was still in the balance. Fifteen minutes from time, the
away team grabbed an equalizer against the run of play
after a defensive mix up. Five minutes later, disaster
struck, after a North Pine cross from the sidelines
found its way into the back of the goals. With the final
whistle, the score line read 2-1 to North Pine, and a
shattered Sunnybank team could only lament on what might
have been had they only taken their chances. A loss in
concentration and a failure to kill off the game
resulted in the Saints downfall that day.
Saturday 20th June 2009
Sunnybank Saints aka Maradona’s Mates v North Pine
Kalangaroos
Venue: Calamvale College. Kick off – 1pm
Result: 1-0 to the Saints
With last week’s disappointment behind them, Maradona’s
Mates shifted their attention to a clash with top of the
table; North Pine Kalangaroos. The Kalangaroos (Roos)
only previous loss in 9 games came at the hands of the
Saints and this promised to be an interesting game of
football. A win was vital for the Saints, in a bid to
keep with the title race.
The game began with the Roos on the offensive and taking
the game to Sunnybank. Sunnybank stood firm in this
opening onslaught and slowly began to find their feet in
the game. With a makeshift defensive line up due to
injuries, there was always a little concern for the team
with every attack that was thrown at them. Despite this,
the defense held firm and both sides went into the half
time break at nil all.
The second half was a more
even contest, with the Saints showing more aggression
and playing better football. The Roos continued to press
forward but some strong defensive work ably aided by a
tireless midfield and some brilliant goalkeeping, kept
the Saints in the game. In the 60th minute, a slick
interchange of passes presented Kamal Hassan (Maradona’s
Mates) with a good opportunity in front of goals. His
curling shot went agonizingly wide. Ten minutes later
though, Kamal made no mistake when he found the back of
the net, after a training ground routine paid dividends
for the boys. The Roos had one last attempt on goals in
the closing stages which was effectively dealt with by
the Saints, who have now recorded the double over the
league leaders.
Next week the team travels to John Oxley to face second
placed Lifehouse. After today’s result, next week
promises to be a blockbuster.
Following on from a
fantastic team performance, mention of one outstanding
player would not do justice to the performances of the
team as a whole.
The line up of the team that
produced a great performance reads: Imran Danka (gk),
Azahar Omar, Mohammad Raja; Arshad Hatia; Ismail
Essof, Riaz Essof; Nawaaz Malik; Muhammad Sabdia; Ziyaad
Hassan; Musa Goder; Kamal Hassan; Yaseen Saffruddin;
Yusuf Hatia (click on
thumbnail image on left)
The CCN Inbox
Assalamualaikum Editor,
MashaAllah. Alhamdulillah. Congratulations! Last
week's CCN (CCN240)
was so far the best issue of the newsletter I've
read.
Keep up the fabulous work.
May Allah guides us all with His Love & Light. Ameen.
Sincerely, Sister Abduyah Ya'akub, PhD
Around
the Muslim World with CCN
H1N1 flu epidemic
threatens Muslim pilgrimage
The hajj might be canceled due to fears over
the spread of the H1N1 virus.
While the World
Health Organization (WHO) discusses
whether to increase precautions over
the H1N1 virus, also known as swine
flu, the illness has led to another
discussion for Muslims: The hajj,
the pilgrimage to the Islamic holy
city of Mecca, might be canceled
this year due to fears over the
spread of the virus.
The WHO may want organized events
that are attended by large numbers of people to be
canceled as a precaution against swine flu. The events
include international fairs, panel discussions and
conferences as well as the Muslim hajj and umrah. The
Turkish Ministry of Health has also confirmed that the
hajj, which will take place in October this year, and
umrah, a form of pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina, may be
canceled this year.
"I don't know what this would mean from a theological
point of view, but it is possible that the pilgrimage
might be canceled this year, or at least some
restrictions introduced," Undersecretary of Health Turan
Buzgan said yesterday.
French women may face ban
on head-to-toe Islamic dress
Veiled women demonstrating
in Paris in 2004 against the law banning the
covering of heads in state schools
France could bar Muslim women from
wearing full veils in public, a government minister said
yesterday as parliament took action over concerns about
an increase in women who are wearing the niqab and burka
in big cities.
The latest controversy over dress habits among France’s
six million Muslims follows public differences this
month between Presidents Obama and Sarkozy over the
merits of legislating on religious clothing.
A group of 58 MPs from the Left and Right called on
Wednesday for parliament to react to the phenomenon of
women who are adopting what they called oppressive
head-to-toe Islamic dress that “breaches individual
freedoms”.
Luc Chatel, the Industry Minister and government
spokesman, supported the MPs. “If it were determined
that wearing the burka is a submissive act, and that it
is contrary to republican principles, naturally
parliament would have to draw the necessary
conclusions,” he said
A MUSLIM mother was banned from her
son’s parents' evening because she was wearing a veil.
The 32-year-old was told she could not enter the school
hall wearing her niquab on Tuesday evening for security
reasons.
Our Lady and St John Catholic Art College in Blackburn
say it is school policy for visitors faces to be visible
at all time.
Police were called after the woman, who has asked not to
be identified and is a former pupil at the school,
refused to leave or remove the veil and she eventually
walked away in tears.
She told the Daily Mail: “'I don't like going to the
school any more because I leave crying.
“I can understand that people should be identified but I
am just a normal person, trying to lead a normal life.
Mother dressed in 'burka'
denied French citizenship
A Muslim member of the French
Government has attacked the head-to-toe Islamic dress as
a prison, applauding a court decision to deny
citizenship to a Moroccan woman who wore it.
“The burka is a prison, a strait-jacket,” Fadela Amara,
the Minister for Urban Affairs and a longstanding
women's rights campaigner, said yesterday. “It is not
religious. It is the insignia of a totalitarian
political project for sexual inequality.”
The court decision denying Faiza Mabchour, 32, French
citizenship has drawn approval from both Left and Right,
highlighting a rejection of Muslim customs that conflict
with the values of the secular French republic.
“The affair of the burka”, as it has become known, began
in late June when the Council of State, the highest
civil court, endorsed a decision to refuse nationality
to Ms Mabchour because her practices conflicted with
French society and especially sexual equality.
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.
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: 7pm to 7.50pm
Every Friday
Subject:
Tafseer al Qur'an (Explanation of the
Qur'an)
Venue: Room E215 Building 1 (Forgan Smith),
University of Queensland
Time: 8pm 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
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org.
Share
your thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our community
through CCN.
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is someone you know who would like to subscribe to CCN
please encourage them to send an e-mail to
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Disclaimer
Articles and opinions appearing in this newsletter do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Crescents of
Brisbane Team, CCN, its Editor or its Sponsors,
particularly if they eventually turn out to be libelous,
unfounded, objectionable, obnoxious, offensive,
slanderous and/or downright distasteful.
It is the usual policy of
CCN to include from time to time, notices of events that
some readers may find interesting or relevant. Such
notices are often posted as received. Including such
messages or providing the details of such events does
not necessarily imply endorsement of the contents of
these events by either CCN or Crescents of Brisbane Inc.