The outcome of last week's
Islamic Council of QLD (ICQ)
elections:
President: Habib Jamal -
Gold Coast Vice President:
Farouk Adam
- Muslim Business Council Secretary:
Muhammad Khatree
- Algester Assistant Secretary:
Imam Akram Buksh - Slacks Creek Treasurer:
Saba Ahammad -
Slacks Creek Assistant Treasurer:
Ahmad Gundru - Gold Coast
Committee Members:
Amar Ali Khan - Ipswich Janeth Deen OAM - Holland
Park Binil Kattiparambil -
Rockhampton Professor Usman Malabu -
Townsville Junaid Qadri - West End
About
president Habib Jamal
In July 2019 Mr Jamal would
have served the Islamic
community of Gold Coast for
18 years as a committee
member, secretary and as
treasurer.
He was born and raised in
South Africa and earned a
Master of Business
Administration from Southern
Cross University.
Mr Jamal graduated as a secondary
school teacher in 1974,
specialising in Accounting
and Business Economics.
After teaching for 14 years
in South Africa he left the
country and headed to New
Zealand with his wife and
two children.
They spent 10 years in NZ
before migrating to
Australia and settling on
the Gold Coast 20 years ago.
Habib Jamal told CCN about his vision
for the ICQ:
Having represented ISGC
at ICQ and AFIC meetings
and conferences, I
believe I have the
experience and ability
to lead ICQ into the
future. I have been
approached and asked by
many respected members
of the Queensland Muslim
Community to nominate
myself for the position
of President of ICQ.
After much consideration
I have put my nomination
forward. The advantage
of being self employed
gives me the time to
dedicate myself to this
important position. I am
driven by commitment and
not ego. My commitment
will be to serve in the
best interests of every
Muslim in Queensland. I
do not see or view this
as a stepping stone to
any higher position.
Those that have served
in the past have laid a
solid foundation and it
would be a good base to
work from and continue
to build on their
achievements.
My personal vision for
ICQ would be to:
- Maintain and build
on current
achievements
- Encourage greater
representation of
Sisters at Society
level
- Succession
planning for our
Societies and
Organisations
- Addressing the
needs of Regional
Societies
- Building strong
working
relationships
amongst our various
organisations.
May Allah swt guide
us all in serving in the
best way possible so
that the true essence of
our deen is reflected in
our actions and
behaviour.
Sonia Kruger called for a ban
on Muslim immigration in a
controversial Today show segment
in July 2016
Sonia Kruger vilified Muslim
people when she called for
Australia to close its
borders to those of the
Islamic faith during a
segment on the Today show,
but did not engage in racial
vilification because Muslim
people living in Australia
are not a race, a tribunal
has found.
In a decision on Friday, the
NSW Civil and Administrative
Tribunal said
Kruger's"vilifying remarks"
in July 2016 "amounted to a
stereotypical attack on all
Muslims in Australia" and
had the capacity to
"encourage hatred towards,
or serious contempt for,
Australian Muslims by
ordinary members of the
Australian population".
However, the racial
vilification complaint filed
by Australian Muslim man Sam
Ekermawi was dismissed by
the tribunal because "the
evidence does not support a
finding that Muslims living
in Australia are a ‘race’ by
reason of a common ethnic or
ethno-religious origin".
"Apart from that issue, we
would have found that both
[Kruger and the Nine
Network] engaged in racial
vilification of the
Australian Muslim community,
being Muslims living in
Australia," the tribunal
said.
Kruger, the co-host of
Channel Nine's Today Extra
program, left her fellow
presenter David Campbell and
Today host Lisa Wilkinson,
now at Network Ten, visibly
discomfited on July 18,
2016, after she said she
would like to see the
immigration of Muslims to
Australia "stopped now ...
because I would like to feel
safe".
Her comments followed a
terrorist attack in Nice on
Bastille Day and were a
response to a column by
conservative commentator
Andrew Bolt, who wrote in
the News Corp press that
jihadist terrorists had made
France "Europe's bloodiest
battlefield" because "France
let in the most Muslims".
"We are fools not to change
our own immigration policies
to protect ourselves," Bolt
said.
Kruger said on air:
"Personally I think Andrew
Bolt has a point here that
there is a correlation
between the number of
Muslims in a country and the
number of terrorist
attacks."
The former Dancing With The
Stars host added she had "a
lot of friends who are
Muslim who are peace-loving,
who are beautiful people,
but there are fanatics".
She said Japan had a
population of 174 million –
inflating its population
count by almost 50 million
people – including 100,000
Muslims, and "you never hear
of terrorist attacks in
Japan".
"Personally I would like to
see it [the immigration of
Muslims] stopped now for
Australia because I would
like to feel safe as all of
our citizens do when they go
out to celebrate Australia
Day and I'd like to see
freedom of speech," Kruger
said.
The tribunal said Kruger's
comments were "calm and
measured" and she "made it
clear she did not think
every Muslim in Australia or
overseas was a fanatic", but
taken in context her
comments were likely to
encourage or incite
"feelings of hatred towards,
or serious contempt for,
Australian Muslims as a
whole" by linking them to
terrorist attacks.
It accepted that Kruger and
Nine were "acting in good
faith without malice and not
for an improper purpose" but
said it "cannot accept that
the remarks of Ms Kruger
were 'reasonable'".
"She expressed the view that
the size of Australia’s
Muslim population meant
there should be no further
Muslim migration
irrespective of any other
matter. This appears to be
unsupported by any evidence
or material placed before
the Tribunal," the tribunal
said.
Bilal Rauf,
spokesman for the
Australian National
Imams Council, said
the tribunal had
recognised the
"gravity and
irresponsible nature
of Ms Kruger's
comments" and "such
conduct and comments
directed at any
segment of our
diverse society,
particularly by a
person with a public
platform and
profile, should be
rejected and
strongly
discouraged".
But Mr Rauf said the
decision to dismiss
the proceedings
pointed to a
"serious deficiency"
in NSW's
Anti-Discrimination
Act and "it would
appear that
discrimination on
the grounds of
religion is not
prohibited".
"ANIC calls on the
government to
closely consider
this issue and take
steps to bring the
important
anti-discrimination
laws up to date," Mr
Rauf said.
In an impassioned retort
after Kruger's on-air
comments, her co-host David
Campbell said: "This breeds
hate. This sort of article
breeds hate."
Wilkinson interjected that
"in fact the very first
person who was killed [in
the Nice terror attack] ...
was a Muslim woman so it's
killing Muslims, it's
indiscriminate".
"Just to clarify, Sonia, are
you saying you would like
our borders closed to
Muslims at this point?"
Wilkinson said.
Kruger replied: "Yes I
would."
Wilkinson added that this
was the " Donald Trump
approach".
A day after the segment,
Kruger delivered an on-air
statement in which she said
she felt Bolt's column "made
some relevant points" but
wanted to "make it very
clear that I have complete
respect for people of all
races and religions".
"I acknowledge my views
yesterday may have been
extreme. It is a hugely
complex and sensitive issue,
it’s an issue with no simple
answer and it’s an issue
that cannot be fully
discussed in a short
televised segment."
On Tuesday 12 February
thirteen members of the
Sunnybank RSL club visited
the mini-museum in the
Hall opposite the Holland
Park Mosque.
It was an extremely hot
morning so they spent about
half an hour looking at the
posters and displays in the
small museum.
They then went into the hall
which was once the Salvation
Army church.
Janeth Deen of the
Queensland Muslim Historical
Society gave them a short
talk about the history of
the Queensland Muslims in
the area around the Mosque,
how the Mosque was built,
the changes that had been
made to the original
building and how the present
structure was built to serve
the increase in the Muslim
population attending the
Mosque.
The group were also
interested in hearing about
the purchase and renovation
of the old church into a
function hall.
Before the group left they
were presented with a book
on the 100 Year History of
the Holland Park Mosque.
This visit was as a result
of the Holland Park Mosque
being listed in the Brisbane
Heritage Guide.
Lockyer Valley Regional
Council Mayor Tanya Milligan
was assisted by Dr. Mohammed
Iqbal Sultan of the Family
Health Clinic in Gatton, to
launch the “Hearts for
Hearts” campaign this
Valentines Day.
Mayor Milligan said the
Lockyer Valley sister city
Ageo in Japan donated CPR
kits to the Council, and it
was decided to donate 2 kits
to each school in the Valley
to train our kids to learn
CPR.
At the launch Dr Sultan
spoke about the importance
of teaching CPR at our
schools, and as part of his
Clinic’s ongoing social
commitment to the Valley, he
announced that he would
sponsor a teacher from every
school in the Valley to
become First Aid and CPR
trained and certified.
Ms
Naseema Mustapha has been
appointed as the CALD
representative (culturally
and linguistically diverse
communities) on National
Mental Health Consumer &
Carer Forum (NMHCCF) by
Mental Health Australia.
NMHCCF is a combined
national voice for mental
health consumers and carers.
NMHCCF members represent
mental health consumers and
carers on a large number of
national bodies, such as
government committees and
advisory groups,
professional bodies and
other consultative forums
and events.
Members use their lived
experience, understanding of
the mental health system and
communication skills to
advocate and promote the
issues and concerns of
consumers and carers.
Multiculturalism is an
essential part of
Australia’s modern identity,
and was the focus of a
seminar of community leaders
at the University of
Southern Queensland (USQ).
The USQ Multicultural Staff
Network hosted ‘Challenges
of Multiculturalism in 21st
Century Australia - The Role
of Local, State and National
Leadership’, featuring
presentations from
Multicultural Affairs
Queensland Executive
Director Wayne Briscoe,
Groom MP Dr John McVeigh,
Toowoomba Regional Council
Mayor Paul Antonio, and USQ
Vice-Chancellor Geraldine
Mackenzie.
Each addressed the crowd of
community members from a
variety of cultural,
religious, spiritual,
educational, business and
political backgrounds as
well as diverse USQ staff
including Chancellor Mr John
Dornbusch.
USQ Multicultural Staff
Network Chair Professor
Shahjahan Khan said the
topic was of fundamental
importance to Toowoomba and
communities across
Australia.
“We belong to a land of
diverse backgrounds, from
our Indigenous peoples to
the latest arrivals of
migrants and refugee,” he
said.
“The term ‘multiculturalism’
refers to all of us, unified
as a strong nation.”
Professor Khan said
obstacles to
multiculturalism could
include lack of
understanding of different
cultures, leading to fear
and failure to see the
benefits of a unified
country.
“Australia is a country of
dreams and aspirations for
almost 25 million very
different people and it is
only through awareness that
we can all truly celebrate
our uniqueness,” he said.
“Diversity brings economic
benefit, cultural
enrichment, and boosted
connections in terms of the
business and professional
opportunities.
“This cannot be a one-off
discussion, it must be an
ongoing process to help all
realise that the strength of
Australia, as well as our
future, is in the unity of
its people.”
The Australian International
Islamic College (AIIC)
students in 2018
participated in the
Australian Muslim Youth
Leadership Association (AMYLA)
recognition program, which
included all Islamic schools
across Australia. Several
AIIC students have been
awarded with recognition for
their outstanding leadership
and community services.
Student Leader of the Year
2018
Fatema Noor AIIC’s student
captain for 2018, received
the “Student Leader of the
Year 2018 - National Runner
Up award”. This was in
recognition of her
leadership skills and
academic achievements since
she came to Australia at the
age of 7 from Bangladesh up
till the end of year 12. Her
passion to help people
within the Muslim community
and the wider Australian
community has led her to
pursue a career in pharmacy.
Buddying
Student Leader of the year
2018
Hassan Ramazani, of year 11
received the national winner
award of “Buddying Student
Leader of the year 2018”.
Coming from Congo to
Australia when he was five,
Hasan has achieved many
academic and principal
awards at AIIC. Hassan
outside the classroom enjoys
playing soccer and wishes to
become a professional
football player. His love
for the sport has enabled
him to represent himself on
the Queensland state team in
which they won the
championship in 2015. Hasan
has played soccer against
some of the best players in
Australia and is currently
playing for the Brisbane
Roar Youth Team. Whilst he
adores playing soccer he
firmly believes in the
importance of serving the
needs of people as an
appreciation for his
achievements that he has
acquired through the support
of many people.
Junior Student Leader of the
Year 2018
Sakaria Farah a year 6
student was awarded “Junior
Student Leader of the Year”.
Sakaria was granted this
recognition because of his
leadership skills. He is a
high achieving student who
is well organized, enjoys
good character, very
respectful and well-spoken.
He is a trustworthy person
who is reliable in his
dealings with people. Having
such great qualities,
Sakaria Inshallah has a
bright future in front of
him as he pursues his
secondary education.
Secondary School Group Award
2018
Our secondary students were
honored to receive the
“Secondary School Group
Award” for taking a leading
role in feeding the homeless
at Brisbane’s Roma Street
Parkland. This program gave
students an opportunity to
help those people who are in
need and granted them
greater social awareness of
the less fortunate and their
responsibilities towards
helping these people.
The college would like to
congratulate all of our
students who have been
granted recognition for
their contribution in
leadership roles and
community services. AIIC
will continue to encourage
and support all of our
students to develop
leadership skills which will
allow students to become
leaders of their own
learning and will give them
the necessary skills and
confidence to take on
leadership roles.
‘The cage made me strong’:
Manus Island detainee Abdul Aziz
Muhamat wins human rights award
'I have been put in a cage
for six years. But instead
of making me weak, the cage
made me so strong,' says
Abdul Aziz Muhamat during
his acceptance speech for
the 2019 Martin Ennals Award
for human rights defenders
in Geneva.
Abdul Aziz Muhamat has been
held on Manus Island for six
years as part of Australia's
border protection policy.
Salih Yucel and Abu Bakr
Sirajuddin Cook, editors Australian
Journal of Islamic Studies
Editors' Introduction (Vol 3
No 3 2018):
The history of Islam within
Australia is an important,
yet often overlooked, part
of Australian history.
Muslim presence in Australia
has helped shape
multicultural experience
facilitating intercultural
dialogue as well as
contributing significantly
to the development of the
Australian nation. However,
to date, it has received
minimal scholarly attention.
There have been significant
studies on the engagements
of the Maccasans, Muslim
fishermen from Indonesia,
with the Indigenous peoples
of northern Australia. These
studies have detailed the
cultural interactions and
trade between them and the
lasting impacts of the
inclusion of language
foreign to Australian soil.
There is also an increasing
awareness of Australia’s
cameleers, many of whom were
Muslims, and the
contribution they made to
maintaining trade routes and
assisting early Australian
explorers.
Despite the growing interest
in the field, the history of
Islam in Australia remains
an understudied area of
research.
This rich history dates back
further than we thought and
has possibly had a greater
impact than what is
recognised. Given the
current political and social
climate surrounding Islam
globally, it is timely that
this volume of the
Australian Journal of
Islamic Studies is
published.
This volume brings to light
the depth and richness of
Australia’s Islamic
heritage, challenging some
of the prevalent assumptions
on the topic, and calls for
further studies in this
field.
Australia has proclaimed
itself as being a successful
example of a multicultural
society. It is a society
that has been shaped, and
continues to be shaped, by a
diverse range of cultural
inputs. With this being the
case, it is justifiable to
ask how and why the
contributions of Muslims to
Australia have been largely
overlooked.
Over the following weeks, CCN highlights extracts from
the Australian Journal of
Islamic Studies which is an
open access, double-blind
peer-reviewed journal
dedicated to the scholarly
study of Islam.
Shahed Amanullah –
Silicon Valley, Start-Ups
and Muslim potential
If there is anyone who has
walked the world through his
career, its Shahed Amanullah.
He’s worked at several major
engineer firms, at the World
Bank, in real estate
development and in the US
State Department.
But these jobs have only
been in between what Shahed
is truly passionate about –
creating, leading and
supporting impactful
start-ups.
A Silicon Valley native, he
founded Zabihah.com – a Yelp
for Muslims (before Yelp was
a thing), Zakatify – an app
changing the way we do Zakat
and is currently the founder
and CTO of Affinis Labs.
We cover all bases with
Shahed – from Muslims in
Silicon Valley, to what
makes a successful start-up
and how Muslims should
approach business today.
CJ Werleman
is creating
Journalism to
Defeat the
Islamophobia
Industry
Hi,
I'm CJ, a
journalist,
published
author,
political
commentator, and
activist who
provides
insights into
the
Israel-Palestinian
conflict,
injustices
carried out
against Muslims
under the guise
of the US'
global war on
terrorism, and
rising
anti-Muslim
discrimination.
Insights the
mainstream media
too often
ignores.
From Palestine
to Kashmir; from
Burma to Syria;
from India to
Chechnyna; from
refugee camps in
Germany to those
in the South
Pacific; Muslims
are being
occupied,
oppressed,
bombed, and
vilified.
As has become
the norm,
however, crimes
and injustices
carried out
against Muslims
are too often
overlooked by
the Western
media, while
crimes carried
out by Muslims
are exaggerated
and
overrepresented
in the media by
449% (LexusNexus
Academic, 2017).
Wherever you
look, the
mainstream
Western media
sympathies with
those who
oppress Muslim
majority nation
states and
communities.
These sympathies
provide the
political cover
for anti-Muslim
discrimination
and injustice.
For instance,
Western media's
sympathetic
stance towards
Israel's brutal
military
occupation and
apartheid
provides the
political space
for the US to
continue
underwriting
Israel's
international
law and human
rights
violations; the
media's refusal
to cover India's
violence against
Muslims in
Kashmir; while
anti-Muslim
tropes and
stereotypes
disseminated
unchallenged
into the media
serve to only
encourage hate
crimes and
discriminatory
government
policy against
Muslims in the
West.
It's
journalism's
responsibility
to reveal these
injustices.
Sadly, criticism
of Israeli
policy and
defence of
Muslim civil
rights has long
been considered
a career killer
in the US, and
thus far too
many journalists
choose to turn a
blind eye to
Israel's crimes
and anti-Muslim
discrimination
in order to
maintain their
access and
profile.
I, like many of
my colleagues
who expose
injustices in
the Muslim or
Arab world,
refuse to trade
justice for
mainstream
punditry.
I have published
stories on
misguided US
foreign policy
in the Middle
East; Israel's
war crimes;
misguided
counter
radicalisation
programs that
unfairly target
Muslim
communities; and
the latest
academic
research into
transnational
terrorist
groups.
How
Islam Spread
Throughout the
World
By Hassam Munir
CONTINUED FROM
LAST WEEK'S CCN....
II: The
Acceptance of
the Message
The Islamic
emphasis on
unity
The Islamic
emphasis on
unity has kept
Muslims
connected to the
religious,
demographic, and
sociocultural
“heartland” of
the ummah
irrespective of
their
“distance”―both
physical and
metaphorical―from
it. Practicing
the obligatory
pillars of Islam
helped keep
individual
Muslims and the
small, emergent
Muslim
communities in
far-off regions
united: salah
(daily prayer,
preferably in
congregation)
helped the
Muslims unify
locally, and
hajj (pilgrimage
to Makkah at
least once in
one’s lifetime,
if physically
and financially
capable) helped
them identify as
integral members
of a global
ummah.
It is no
surprise, for
example, that
after becoming
the first known
Japanese convert
to Islam on
November 1,
1909, Omar
Yamaoka was
disembarking in
Jeddah by
December 10, on
his way to
perform the
hajj.[120]
Immediately
afterward,
Yamaoka’s next
initiative was
to have a mosque
built in Japan,
a physical
unifying space
for Japanese
Muslims; the
Tokyo Mosque
opened in
1938.[121] By
then many other
Japanese had
embraced Islam
and there was a
trend of trying
to perform the
hajj soon after
conversion;
eight Japanese
Muslims
attempted to
perform the hajj
between 1934 and
1938, five of
whom sailed for
Makkah at least
twice.[122]
Two descriptions
of the sense of
unity and
affirmation that
converts find as
they perform the
hajj were
written in the
past century by
Muhammad Asad
and Malcolm X.
Asad, best known
for his English
translation and
commentary of
the Qurʾān,
embraced Islam
in 1926, and
performed the
hajj soon
afterward.
Describing the
Black Stone in
the Kaʿbah, he
said, “The
Prophet was well
aware that all
the later
generations of
the faithful
would always
follow his
example: and
when he kissed
the stone he
knew that on it
the lips of
future pilgrims
would forever
meet the memory
of his lips in
the symbolic
embrace he thus
offered, beyond
time and beyond
death, to his
entire
community.”[123]
And heading to
Mount ʿArafāt,
he felt as if
“the wind shouts
a wild paean of
joy into my
ears: ‘Never
again, never
again, never
again will you
be a
stranger!’”[124]
Malcolm X
converted to
orthodox Islam
due to his
experience of
the hajj in
1964. He himself
commented on the
effect: “Islam’s
conversions
around the world
could double and
triple if the
colorfulness and
the true
spiritualness of
the Hajj
pilgrimage were
properly
advertised and
communicated to
the outside
world.”[125] The
hajj can thus be
said to have
cemented the
conversions of
Yamaoka, Asad,
Malcolm X, and
countless
others.
The hajj also
served as a sort
of international
forum and
marketplace. In
pre-modern
times, the
journey for hajj
often took
months, if not
years, and many
Muslims
deliberately
prolonged the
journey by
stopping in
major cities and
centers of trade
and studying
with scholars
along the way,
and by staying
for extended
periods of time
in Makkah and
Madinah to
exchange news,
knowledge, and
ideas, and to
trade in goods
and services.
This exchange
not only
provided a
sustained
integration into
the ummah for
recent converts
but also opened
up windows of
opportunity that
could lead to
even more
conversions.
A case in point
is the famous
hajj of Mansa
Musa of Mali in
1324-5. He is
said to have led
a large caravan
and carried so
much gold, which
he distributed
in charity and
gifts along the
way, that it
caused
hyperinflation
and derailed the
economies of
Cairo, Madinah,
and Makkah for
years. He became
so famous for
freely
distributing his
wealth that he
inspired
curiosity about
his distant
kingdom and thus
initiated a
steady stream of
Muslim traders,
travelers, and
scholars to
Mali.[126] On
his way back, he
brought back
many Islamic
texts as well as
several
scholars,
including the
Andalusī poet
and writer Abū
Ishāq Ibrahīm
al-Sāhilī, who
settled in
Timbuktu and was
tasked with
leading the
construction of
the city’s
famous
Djinguereber
Mosque.[127] He
thus played an
influential role
in Timbuktu’s
emergence as the
preeminent
Islamic city in
West Africa,
from where Islam
gradually spread
to the rest of
the region.
Of course, this
sense of unity
extended beyond
the experience
of hajj as well.
For example, in
1894 the Ottoman
sultan chose to
send a British
convert to
Islam, Abdullah
Quilliam of
Liverpool (also
known for
starting
Britain’s first
mosque), as his
representative
to the opening
ceremony of the
Shitta-Bey
Mosque, the
first major
mosque in Lagos
in present-day
Nigeria.[128] He
was warmly
received by
Muslims across
West Africa, and
at least one
person from the
region, John
Thomas Brimah,
later embraced
Islam after
reading
Quilliam’s The
Faith of
Islam.[129] In
the words of the
Sierra Leone
Weekly News,
“The existence
of Islam in
Liverpool […]
seems to have
inspired West
African
Mohammedans
[sic] with new
life.”[130]
Ridiculous Interview -
Muslim Emma Eros and Pauline
Hanson
Australian
Meditations
Ms Eros, a
39-year-old mother-of-two
born in Australia to
Lebanese-Muslim parents,
argues Sharia law has no
place in Australia and has
backed Senator Hanson's call
to ban the burqa.
In a 26-minute Facebook Live
video, Senator Hanson
acknowledged some of the
comments about her party's
Muslim candidate 'weren't
kind'.
'I can understand your
antagonism,' she told her
247,922 Facebook followers
on Sunday.
Senator Hanson then grilled
Ms Eros, and came to the
conclusion her party's state
candidate for Hornsby would
not desert One Nation, like
senators Brian Burston and
Fraser Anning, and
disqualified federal
lawmaker Rod Culleton had
done.
'There's no guarantees in
life but I'll tell you now,
and I'll tell you direct
from me: I like Emma. She's
got my full support. She
will not be disendorsed,'
Senator Hanson said.
In a video with her party's
candidate for Hornsby, on
Sydney's upper north shore,
Senator Hanson said Ms Eros
would not be 'jumping ship'.
'Emma could have had a
choice. If she wanted to
push her views, the real
Muslim ideology, she should
have joined the Greens or
the Labor Party,' Senator
Hanson said.
'Not One Nation. Because she
won't have a chance with me.
And if you think she will,
you're under-estimating me.
'I haven't worked my guts
out for these years to get
other people elected to
Parliament to think they're
going to turn it around and
control me.
'So no one is going to do
that.'
Senator Hanson, who wore a
burqa into federal
Parliament in August 2017 to
highlight her push to ban
the Muslim facial covering,
declared she had spent two
decades campaigning against
Islamic fundamentalism.
'Who was the one who wore
the burqa in the Parliament?
Who's the one who says
terrorists shouldn't come
back here? Who's the one
who's fighting on these
issues? Myself,' Senator
Hanson said.
Senator Hanson's video has
failed, it appears, to have
assured all of her critics,
with several people
declaring they could no
longer support One Nation.
'Pauline, you have committed
political suicide,' one man
said on her Facebook page
next to the video interview.
One man said she had lost
the goodwill of One Nation
voters.
'Lost me Pauline,' he said.
'Sorry, you were on the
right track but you've
veered off it.'
Despite Senator Hanson's
opposition to Muslim
immigration, her One Nation
party is running Ms Eros in
Hornsby, a safe Liberal
electorate held by state
Liberal minister for better
regulation Matt Kean.
In early February, Daily
Mail Australia revealed One
Nation NSW leader Mark
Latham, a former federal
Labor leader, would announce
Ms Eros as its star
candidate.
The 39-year-old
businesswoman and daughter
of Lebanese migrants grew up
in Sydney's west and runs a
plumbing and construction
business.
In an exclusive interview,
Ms Eros said many women gave
'lame excuses' for wearing
the traditional Muslim head
coverings.
'I am a believer that one
needs to show their face,'
she said, backing Mr
Latham's new policy to ban
the burqa in government
buildings, banks and
airports.
'Any government building,
anything like that, that's
relevant to identification
then yeah, bloody hell,
remove it'.
Ms Eros has also received
the surprise endorsement of
U.S.-based right-wing
provocateur Milo
Yiannopoulos, who had
rubbished her in November
2017 during his Australian
tour.
Speaking from Miami in
Florida, Yiannopoulos sent
her his best wishes to the
mother-of-two as she sat
down for a Facebook Live
interview with Senator
Hanson on Sunday.
'You're probably quite
surprised to hear from me,
after we had our little run
in,' he said.
'But I just had to take a
couple of minutes out of my
day to send you a message to
wish you all the very best.
The
Daily Mail UK
A. R. Rahman's Daughter
Responds to Online Trolls
Ilmfeed
The daughter of an
Oscar-winning Indian
musician has been subjected
to abuse after his daughter
appeared on stage with him
wearing a Niqab.
Prime Minister of
Pakistan Imran Khan Keynote
Speech at the World
Government Summit 2019 Dubai
(10.02.19)
Why A Christian and an
Agnostic Battles Against
Islamopobia
It is the usual policy of CCN to
include notices of events, video links and articles that
some readers may find interesting or relevant. Such notices
are often posted as received. Including such messages/links
or providing the details of such events does not necessarily
imply endorsement or agreement by CCN of the contents
therein.
There’s An Island in Australia Full
Of Malays That Nobody Knew About
It’s called the Cocos
(Keeling) Island!
COCOS ISLAND: Have you heard of the
Cocos (Keeling) Islands? Nope? We
thought so. Frankly, we didn’t know
about its existence either until quite
recently too. But how is it that we’re
completely ignorant of an island nearby
that has people like us roaming on it
for the past 200 years is beyond us.
Here are 11 facts you should know about
the Cocos Islands!
#1 The total land area of Cocos Islands
is 5.4 square miles (14 square
kilometres).
#2 The official languages of Cocos
Islands are Malay and English.
#3 Cocos Islands’ population was a mere
546 in 2016!
#4 The archipelago consists of 27 coral
islands, although only two are
inhabited: West Island and Home Island.
The West Island is inhabited by the
Anglo-Australians, whereas those who
reside in Home Island are the indigenous
Malay-Muslim community. Hence, the pubs
are just as crowded as the mosques!
#5 Its main export is copra (coconut
husks). There’s barely any
agriculture—most basic items and
foodstuff must be imported from the
Australian mainland.
#6 Captain William Keeling discovered
the island in 1609, but it remained
uninhabited until the 19th century. One
of the first settlers was Captain John
Clunies-Ross, a Scottish merchant
seaman, who brought in Malay workers and
slaves to work on his copra plantation.
#7 The name was derived from the
abundance of coconuts that lined the
coast, and the Captain Keeling, who
first discovered the island. Thus, the
Cocos (Keeling) Islands!
#8 It ‘s located halfway between
Australia and Sri Lanka, and is in the
shape of a horse shoe in the middle of
the Indian Ocean.
#9 It was a British territory until it
was transferred to the commonwealth of
Australia in 1955. The Cocos Islanders
are full-fledged Australians. They are
currently seeking to be recognised as an
indigenous people status, much like the
First People and the Australian
Aboriginals.
#10 The Cocos Islanders’ cultural
identity is an adaptation of the early
Malay settlers, and their colonial
masters. Their traditional dances are
much akin to Scottish dancing, but with
people wearing the hijab and baju melayu
dancing it!
#11 Aside from the Australian channels,
they actually receive Malaysian TV
channels too ie TV3, ntv7, 8TV and TV9!
We know this has been pretty
mind-blowing to you to think that
somewhere in the ocean there are people
that look just like us speaking in an
Australian accent!
Beyond Veiled Clichés: The Real Lives of Arab Women
by
Amal Awad
Magnificent. Surprising. Illuminating.
Australia needs this book. NIKKI
GEMMELL
As someone who has a foot in both the
Western and Arabic worlds, Amal set out
to explore the lives of Arab women, in
Australia and the Middle East,
travelling to the region and
interviewing more than sixty women about
feminism, intimacy, love, sex and shame,
trauma, war, religion and culture.
Beyond Veiled Clichés explores the
similarities and differences experienced
by these women in their daily lives -
work, relationships, home and family
life, friendships, the communities they
live in, and more. Arab-Australian women
are at the intersection - between
Western ideals and Arab tradition. It
can get messy, but there is also great
beauty in the layers.
In a time of racial tension and rising
global fear around terrorism, there is a
renewed fear of 'the other'. At its
heart this fascinating book normalises
people and their experiences. The
breadth, variety and beauty of what Amal
has discovered will enthral and surprise
you.
KB says:
This delicious treat can be served as a snack
with a sauce or as a side dish with many rice
dishes its quick and easy and this batter does
not absorb nor does it retain too much oil.
Battered Eggplant
INGREDIENTS &
METHOD
2 medium eggplants
Cut out the stems and cut into medium rings
Season with salt and a pinch of turmeric and set aside
Batter
Ľ cup chana/besan flour
2 tbsp. cake flour
˝ tsp. baking powder
˝ tsp crushed dhana/coriander seeds
˝ tsp ground green chilli
Some chopped green dhania/coriander
Add some water to make a medium batter. (Not too thick or
too runny)
Heat oil in a deep pan
Dip each ring in the batter and fry on medium heat until its
light brown in colour and the eggplant is cooked through
Remove and drain on paper towel
Baba's Halal Kitchen
(Hussain Baba is the host and
chef of *BABA’S HALAL KITCHEN*,
a show where he uses his own
unique style to cook 'Quick, Easy and Delicious' dishes.)
Fava Bean Homus Dip (Leon Jordan)
Do you have a recipe to share with CCN
readers?
Send in your favourite recipe to me at
admin@ccnonline.com.au and be my "guest chef" for the week.
Q:
Dear Kareema, what does a HIIT workout involve?
A:
HIIT is high-intensity interval training, where
you do intense rounds of exercise alternated
with active recovery. For example, 30 seconds of
work followed by 10 seconds of recovery for
about 8 to 10 rounds.
• Skipping
• Lunges
• Push-ups
• Leg-raises
A HIIT sesh boasts heaps of health gains,
including improved heart function, a great
fat-blasting power, and of course promotes
strength and speed.
It gets you huffing and puffing after only a few
minutes, but because of the intense effort, your
metabolism keeps revving long after your
workout. It’s the most time-economical way to
help your body achieve its fat-burning
potential.
Writer, Clarity
Coach, Founder and
Facilitator of
Healing Words
Therapy - Writing
for Wellbeing
Muslimah
Mind
Matters
Welcome to my weekly
column on
Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind.
If you’re taking
time out to read
this, pat yourself
on the back because
you have shown
commitment to taking
care of your mind
and body.
Today, In Shaa
ALLAH, we will
explore the topic:
How Self-Aware Are
You?
Have you ever
experienced a moment
where you suddenly
became aware of
yourself and
realised that so
many minutes or
hours have passed
without you actually
being aware of that
time-lapse? That you
were so engrossed in
whatever you were
doing that you
didn’t see the world
go by, didn’t hear
the sounds around
you, didn’t notice
any smells, didn’t
notice your posture
or even the way you
were breathing?
Self-Awareness is
what the new-age
gurus are calling
Mindfulness. I like
to call it
self-awareness
because it helps me
understand that
unless I am aware of
self, I can’t be
mindful in my
actions.
What is
Self-Awareness?
Self-Awareness is to
know yourself - your
personality, your
beliefs, your values
and morals - and to
also know why you
have them, so that
you may have
conviction in them
and act mindfully.
Knowing yourself is
probably the most
difficult thing to
do because often you
are so consumed by
the world outside of
you that you barely
spend moments with
yourself to
experience the world
inside of you.
When you disengage
with the outside
world to become
engaged with your
inner self, you will
realise who YOU
REALLY ARE by
realising who YOU
ARE NOT. For example
(not an exhaustive
list):
• You are not
your name, you
have a name, but
it’s not you
because it was
given to you
• You are not
your job title,
it’s what you do
because you got
hired by someone
• You are not
your business,
it’s the service
you provide in
exchange for
money
• You are not
your body, it’s
a physical,
sensory and
cellular
structure that
you live in
• You are not
someone’s
opinion about
you
• You are not a
label or a
diagnosis
• You are not
your bank
balance, your
material wealth
or your
bloodline
When you realise the
things you are NOT,
you will begin to
understand what you
really are. You will
understand that:
• You are a pure
soul
• You are here
in this realm
for a temporary
existence
• You are
purpose is to
use your sensory
perceptions
(see, smell,
hear, taste,
touch) to
maintain the
purity of your
soul
• You are here
to glorify and
be grateful to
your ALMIGHTY
CREATOR
30-Second
Strategy To Develop
Self-Awareness
1. After Fajr
Salah, DO NOT GO
BACK TO BED.
2. Sit in
silence on your
prayer mat.
3. Straighten
your back and
let your upper
body feel tall
4. Breathe in
slowly and
deeply, so that
you feel your
belly expanding
5. Hold for a
few seconds
6. Breathe out
slowly
7. Repeat for 10
long, deep
breaths in and
10 long, deep
breaths out
8. If you have
more time, write
in your journal
and express your
true feelings.
(Contact me if
you require help
with journaling)
If you wish to know about
a specific topic
with regards to
Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind,
please email me on
info@healingwordstherapy.com.
If you wish to have
a FREE one hour
Clarity Coaching
phone session,
contact me on
0451977786
DOWNLOAD
Muslimah Reflections
- my new ebook of
poetry and
affirmations
DOWNLOAD The
Ultimate Self-Care
Guide For Muslimahs
WATCH VIDEOS
from Muslimah Mind
Matters YouTube
Channel.
DOWNLOAD
Muslimah Meditation
Moments - audio
files for
self-awareness
meditation.
If you wish to know
about a specific
topic with regards
to Self-Care and
Clarity of Mind,
please text or email
me or visit
www.muslimahmindmatters.com.
If you wish to have
a FREE one hour
Finding Clarity
telephone session,
contact me on
0451977786.
Mula Nasruddin was
at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport
employee asked, 'Has anyone put anything in your baggage
without your knowledge?'
To which Mula Nasruddin replied, 'If it was without my
knowledge, how would I know?'
The airport employee smiled knowingly and nodded,
'That's why we ask.'
Smash-hit
Super Muslim
Comedy Tour
returns for its
second
successive year
The
side-shattering
Super Muslim
Comedy Tour
makes a welcome
return for its
second
successive year
in the
spotlight.
Following on
from the tour’s
2018 success,
this year’s
iteration of the
spine-tingling
night of
hilarity is
hosted across
four cities in
Australia, from
13th March to
16th March.
The tour has
been organized
by Penny Appeal
Australia, an
international
humanitarian
charity. All
funds raised
will support
Thirst Relief
projects, in
which Penny
Appeal supports
initiatives to
provide clean
and safe
drinking water
within
impoverished
communities
around the
world.
With a diverse
array of comedy
styles and
unique voices,
the Super Muslim
Comedy Tour is
guaranteed to
hold audiences
rapt. The
charity has
lined up 4 world
class comedians
for the events.
Each evening
will consist of
4 stand-up acts,
including
Australia’s very
own Khaled
Khalafalla best
known for his
performance in
Ali’s wedding.
Attendees will
also be
entertained by
the likes of US
comics Azeem
Muhammad who
returns after
captivating our
audiences during
last year’s tour
and newcomer
Salma Hindy.
Also returning
is the UK’s
Abdullah Afzal,
best known for
his role as
Amjad Malik in
BBC One’s
long-running
Citizen Khan.
Abdullah Afzal
said, “Following
on from the huge
success of last
year’s tour, I
can’t wait to
get out on the
stage again with
my fellow
artists, in aid
of what is a
fantastic
initiative.
Through a great
night of
entertainment,
we can really
transform lives
around the
world; I’m
really looking
forward to it!”
Penny Appeal
Head of
Fundraising and
Tour Manager,
Aamon Sayed,
added, “We
expect this
year’s tour to
be an even
bigger success
than last
year’s. We have
some of the best
Muslim comedians
from Australia,
the UK, the USA,
and Canada, who
will have the
audience roaring
with laughter.”
“We hope that
everyone can
come together,
enjoy a
fantastic night
of
entertainment,
and really help
to aid those
living without
access to clean
drinking water-
one of life’s
most basic
necessities. We
are sure that
with the support
of the public,
and everyone who
comes to this
year’s comedy
tour that we
will be able to
make a big
difference.”
The tour will
run from 13th
March to 16th
March, visiting
Perth, Brisbane,
Melbourne, and
Sydney.
Early Bird
tickets are
priced at $10
but won't last
long, with
standard ticket
prices at $20.
For more
information
about Penny
Appeal
Australia’s
Super Muslim
Comedy Tour, to
buy tickets, or
to donate to
Penny Appeal,
call 1300 347
947 or visit
pennyappeal.org.au/supermuslim.
A short film presented by
Shaykh Wesam Charkawi,
followed by Q&A panel with
special guests.
The History of Muslims in
Australia
The short film documentary
entitled "Before1770" is a
film designed to encapsulate
the history of Muslims in
Australia before 1770.
Abu Hanifa Institute, a
centre for education in
traditional Islam and youth
mentoring, utilised its
resources and community
support to document the
facts in this space.
This meant embarking upon a
journey to critical
locations in the Northern
Territory, such as Arnhem
Land, Bawaka, and Groote
Eylandt to see first hand,
the places and people who
hosted the Macassan Muslims.
This endeavour also meant
speaking to academics
specialised in the field as
well as Aboriginal elders
from the Yolngu clan.
The idea of this short film
is to establish Islam's
long-standing connection
with Australia. It is not
designed to cause pain or
disrespect to any figure,
person, organisation or a
particular community.
Date And Time
Sat, March 2, 2019
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
AEST
Location
HOYTS Sunnybank
McCullough Street
Sunnybank
Young Muslims are being
confronted with ideas that
challenge their faith.
Their minds are riddled with
unanswered questions
regarding the existence of
God, the truth of Islam,
morality of Islamic Law
along with ideas about
gender, orientation and
family.
On top of this, young
Muslims struggle with
typical teenage problems of
mental health, self-esteem,
peer pressure and
relationships.
Faith Circle is a safe space
for young Muslims to nurture
their faith through deep
understanding of what it
means to be Muslim.
Beyond mere memorization of
texts and prayers, Faith
Circle takes students on a
journey through the ocean of
Islamic Sciences,
engendering appreciation,
confidence and certainty in
one’s Faith.
Do you have healthy
lifestyle and wellbeing goals
planned for 2019?
The good news is, if you feel like
you’re ready to make a change, the
My Health For Life program is now
available, making it easier for
Queenslanders to get their health
back on track!
This free lifestyle modification
program is designed to help eligible
participants improve their health
and reduce their risk of developing
chronic disease such as type 2
diabetes, heart disease or stroke.
It takes a fresh, personalised
approach to help people move past
the barriers that stand in the way
of making healthy choices and
positive lifestyle change.
The program is run by a qualified
health professional over six
sessions.
See flyer for upcoming program
details.
For further information and to check
eligibility :
tel 0404 296 297 or
MH4L.Logan@bigpond.com.
Or you can call the secretary Abdul
Samim Khan on 0413669987.
Click on the image to sign up
On 31 December 2017 the only
Islamic childcare centre in the whole of Brisbane had to
unfortunately close its doors due to the Department of
Transport requiring it for their future expansion. To
date they are still in the process of securing new
premises to continue serving this very important need of
the community and the wait continues….
In the interim the need is
still there. The question most Muslims would be asking
themselves is “Where do I send my child so that he/she
can learn, grow and develop in an Islamic environment,
and establish a sound Islamic foundation?”
Msasa Montessori is a private home based learning centre
for 3-5 year olds. The focus is an Islamic based
learning environment alongside the Montessori method of
teaching. Children will be taught their basic duas,
surahs, tasbeehs, stories of the Prophets will be read
and enacted, and Inshallah their love for Allah and His
Noble Prophet Muhammed S.A.W will develop. Supported by
the Montessori method of teaching they will develop
their independence and will utilise equipment which will
enable them to develop and grow.
Montessori is a method of education based on
self-directed activity, hands-on learning and
collaborative play. The Montessori materials cover
developmental activities designed to meet the needs of
children in five curriculum areas:
Practical life skills, Sensorial activities,
Mathematics, Language and Cultural Studies.
By providing such an
environment, the children will develop a strong sense of
wellbeing and identity as Muslims and they will become
confident and involved learners with the ability to
communicate effectively and with confidence.
At Sisters
Suppprt Services Inc we have
qualified volunteers who help
women in their darkest moments &
time of need to empower them to
make the right choices for
better outcomes for their own
lives.
Here are some examples of our
cases over the past few months.
ALL names have been changed to
protect client identities.
1. Aisha, a victim of Domestic
Violence came to us for
assistance. We assisted her by
giving her money to buy clothing
and personal items as she left
her home quickly and with very
little. Aisha has also needed
ongoing counselling which she
has been receiving from us for
the past few months. She was
taken to appointments and
connected with the right people
who helped her start a new life
in a safe environment.
“Thank you so
much for your help. I am so very
grateful. Thank you to Sister
Services. Allah bless you all.”
2. Katie, a revert sister with
young kids needed ongoing
counselling and support as she
had not been coping well at home
and was not able to look after
herself and her family. Sisters
Support Services was there for
her; “I can’t tell you enough in
words how grateful I am, just by
listening to me when I was
feeling so low. Life is not
looking so dark anymore !”
3. Sarah also a revert sister
recently divorced with a young
child arrived in Brisbane with
virtually nothing. We have
helped her with everyday
essentials, food supplies &
assisted her to find suitable
accommodation. Sarah has some
health issues & needed financial
support with purchasing
medications & by being driven to
medical appointments by our
volunteers.
"So happy with
the help I've received from
Sisters Support Services."
Open Day and 6th Annual Toowoomba International Food
Festival
Islamic Society of Toowoomba
217 West St.,
Harristown, Toowoomba
0421 081 048
11AM to 3PM
20 April
21 April
(tentative)
Sat (EVE)
Sunday
NISF SHA'BAAN
(Lailatul Bahrat)
15th Sha'baan 1440
6 May
(tentative)
Monday
RAMADAAN
(start of the month of fasting)
1st Ramadaan 1440
26 May
(tentative)
Sunday
LAILATUL-QADR
(Night of Power)
27th Ramadaan 1440
5 June 2019
(tentative)
Wednesday
EID-UL-FITR
(end of the month of fasting)
1st
Shawal 1440
11 August
(tentative)
Sunday
YAWMUL ARAFAH
(Night of Power)
9th Zil-Hijjah 1440
12 August
(tentative)
Monday
EID-UL-ADHA
10th Zil-Hijjah 1440
17 August
Saturday
Eidfest @ Dreamworld
Eidfest
Dreamworld
0418 722 353
from 6PM
1 September 2019
(tentative)
Sunday
RAʼS AL-SANAH AL-HIJRĪYAH
(Islamic New Year)
1st Muharram 1441
16 November
Saturday
Annual Milad-un-Nabi
Al-Mustapha
Institute of Brisbane
TBA
0422 433 074
from 3.30PM to
Maghrib
PLEASE NOTE
1. All Islamic Event dates given above are supplied by
the Council of Imams QLD (CIQ) and are provided as a guide and are
tentative and subject to the sighting of the moon.
2. The Islamic date changes to the next day starting in
the evenings after maghrib. Therefore, exceptfor Lailatul
Mehraj,
Lailatul Bhahraat
and
Lailatul Qadr – these dates refer to the commencement of the event
starting in the evening of the corresponding day.
Every Sunday Quran Tafsir or Islamic Lesson
or Arabic Class.
After Magrib
Conducting by Imam Yahia Baej
Children Arabic/Quran Class every Tue-Wed-Thursday after
Magrib
ALGESTER
MOSQUE
Nuria Khataam
Date: Every last Wednesday of the month
Time: After Esha Salaat
Venue: Algester Mosque
Contact: Yahya
Ph: 0403338040
IPDC
HOLLAND PARK MOSQUE
Queensland Police Service/Muslim Community
Consultative Group
NEXT MEETING
Date: Thursday 21
February Time: 5.30pm – 7:00pm Venue: Upper Mt Gravatt Police Station
You are cordially invited to attend the South Brisbane
District Police /Islamic Leaders Working Group meeting on
Thursday the 21st of February 2019 at the Upper Mt Gravatt
Police Station from 5.30pm – 7:00pm.
The South Brisbane District Police aims to develop
strategies and services that reflect the needs of our
diverse Islamic community in order to foster a respectful,
peaceful and harmonious District through knowledge sharing
and dialogue.
This SBD working group will also include community leaders
from our neighbours in South East Region and Southern
Region.
The purpose of this working group is to focus on broad
issues of the Islamic faith, culture and religion and their
influence on policing.
The role of the working group is to:
Establish an information exchange mechanism that allows
the community to provide feedback on QPS Services on an
ongoing basis.
Consult with, and provide advice to our community.
Identify any emerging religious issues or trends likely to
create community interest or concern.
Facilitate effective communications between the QPS and
the Islamic community.
Formally report to QPS on matters of religious
significance.
Promote strategies and achievements to the broader
community.
HikmahWay offers online and
in-person Islamic courses to
equip Muslims of today with
the knowledge, understanding
and wisdom to lead balanced,
wholesome and beneficial
lives.
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Ms
Naseema Mustapha has been
appointed as the CALD
representative (culturally
and linguistically diverse
communities) on National
Mental Health Consumer &
Carer Forum (NMHCCF) by
Mental Health Australia.
Hi,
I'm CJ, a
journalist,
published
author,
political
commentator, and
activist who
provides
insights into
the
Israel-Palestinian
conflict,
injustices
carried out
against Muslims
under the guise
of the US'
global war on
terrorism, and
rising
anti-Muslim
discrimination.
Insights the
mainstream media
too often
ignores.
How
Islam Spread
Throughout the
World
An Orange Mosque (The Telegraph,
1931) (National Archives)
.jpg)
post comments on
our Wall
7
August 2011