Issue 155 October 2018 by AMUST

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AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

www.amust.com.au ISSUE # 155

Multicultural News & Views

OCTOBER 2018; MUHARRAM 1440

People power win in Maldives

NEWS PAGE 2

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Reasserting the role of women in the Ummah

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Interview with Tony Burke

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Stay-at-Home Mums Save Billions LIFESTYLE PAGE 22

Drought Relief: Muslims helping farmers

Photo courtesy of Dr Tarek Sari. Zia Ahmad Almost $100,000 was raised for helping Australian farmers for drought relief by “Sydney Muslim Cyclists’ and their sponsors where more than 100 men and women in 3 groups cycled from Belmore Sports Ground to Brighton Le Sands and back. The effort was part of an all day Human Appeal Farmers Drought Family Day Fund-

raiser on Sunday 23 September at Belmore Sports Grounds, the home of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, that also included a sausage sizzle and family fun activities such as jumping castles, face painting, zoo petting, pony rides and much more. A major Muslim aid organisation Human Appeal Australia (HAA) as part of the generous Australian community initiated an urgent drought relief campaign to keep the Australian farmers standing and working on their farms.

Conference calls for leaving your legacy Muhtab Khan The 6th annual Twins of Faith Conference was held in Sydney on Sunday 23 September exploring the theme ‘Legacy: Will You Be Missed?’ The scrupulously well-organised daynight event attracted more than 300 attendees from diverse backgrounds at the Bryan Brown Theatre, Bankstown. The conference sought to not only educate the community on leaving a legacy, but also on providing them with the necessary tools to engineer the change in their lives. Mercy Mission, the umbrella organisation responsible for the event, have routinely been offering charity services and educational programs for over a decade.

The funds raised will be used to give away food hampers, deliver water and bales of hay for livestock as well as provide cash support to farmers for financial relief. With NSW recording its driest year since 1965 and Australian farmers in the eastern part of the country suffering from extreme drought conditions affecting their crops and animals, Muslims have come to rescue in innovative ways from praying for rain, supplying farmers with feed for livestock and raising funds for food hampers and cash re-

lief for drought-affected farmers. Towards the middle of September, another major Muslim charity, Muslim Aid Australia (MAA) in partnership with other Muslim aid organisations in NSW and Queensland delivered 30,000 kg of hay bales to farmers hard hit by the ongoing drought. Three trucks rolled into Goondiwindi in the NSW-Queensland border, where the aid was delivered to dozens of farmers struggling with the current drought. continued on page 4.

Sheikh Daood Butt, Keynote Speaker from Canada at the 6th Twins of Faith conference.

Through Mercy Mission’s various products, of which one is the Twins of Faith Conferences, efforts are made to unite the community with sponsors and speakers to encourage dialogue on particular topics focused on inspiring positive change. Mr Tahir Usman, National Manager of Mercy Mission Australia articulated the aims of his organisation saying, “It’s about the simple basic stuff like remembering Allah every minute we can. It’s talking to people here about Allah and the Prophet (s). It’s through conversations and dialogues that we can remind ourselves and others. The more we remind people, the more the angels and Allah’s creations will make dua for us. That’s exactly what we try to achieve at these events”. continued on page 9.

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People power win in Maldives AMUST

Zia Ahmad The elections held in Maldives on Sunday 23 September 2018 have brought the opposition in power replacing an entrenched, corrupt and authoritarian government. The Maldivian Democratic Party candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has won the majority of votes and will take over as the President of the Indian Ocean island nation. The turnout of voters at this election was a staggering 89% with eligible voters casting their votes within the country as well as overseas. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that his priority was to unite the country after years of heavy-handed rule under the previous president, Yameen who came to power in 2013 in a disputed election that opponents said was rigged and was accused of eroding democracy, cracking down on dissent and jailing opposition leaders. “For many of us this has been a difficult journey. A journey that has led to a prison cell or years in exile. It has been a journey which saw the complete politicization and breakdown of public institutions. But this has been a journey that has ended at the ballot box because the people willed it,” Solih remarked. Former Maldives president and opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed in exile in Sri Lanka said that the election win should be a turning point for Maldives. “We want to see a smooth transition. We do not want to see President Yameen back to his old tricks. No more Supreme Courts, no more martial laws, no more emergency rule, no more suppression. We will again hopefully make a beautiful country,” Nasheed said.

Maldives’ opposition presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and running mate Faisal Naseem celebrate their presumed victory in the presidential election. Nasheed, who became the country’s first democratically elected President in 2009 and achieved worldwide praise for highlighting the effect of global warming on his country, was imprisoned in 2015 on politically motivated terrorism charges. Azim Zahir, a researcher at the Center for Muslim States and Societies at the University of Western Australia commenting on Maldives relationship with India and China said, “it will also try to extend its relations

with other countries, including China.” “Yameen compromised the relationship with India, and Solih will try to revert that relationship but I don’t think that Maldives will have the capacity to ignore any of these powers,” he further added. Maldives is an upmarket tourist destination especially for Americans and Europeans and increasingly with the Chinese in recent years.

Muslim Lawn KEMPS CREEK CEMETERY

Kemps Creek Cemetery now has a dedicated Muslim Lawn, offering a peaceful rural cemetery to the Muslim community. Located only 25 minutes’ drive from Blacktown and 35 minutes from Auburn. › Single and double burial graves available › 3 year interest free payment plans available

Part of the local community For further information please contact:

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Kemps Creek Cemetery on 02 9826 2273 from 8.30am-4pm 230-260 Western Rd, Kemps Creek NSW 2178 www.kempscreekcemetery.com.au

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Drought Relief: Muslims helping farmers Continued from page 1 In the acute absence of rains across NSW and parts of Queensland, the hay bales will go a long way in ensuring that the livestock are able to get a decent feed and continue being a source of income to the farmers. MAA’s Drought Relief is part of ongoing efforts to relieve the suffering farmers in Australia and continues the aid delivered last month, where over 100 Food Hampers were provided to farmers in Rowena, NSW. MAA is planning to distribute 10 more truckloads of hay bales to farmers during the month of October. MAA National, wholly and exclusively responsible for humanitarian aid projects inside Australia, is committed to helping everyday Australians in need. A number of other Muslim organisations have been raising funds over the last month to help Australian farmers. Earlier on Friday 7 September, the Australian Malayalee Islamic Association (AMIA) replaced its Eid celebration event with a community kitchen in order to raise funds for farmers. The funds were handed to Ms Julia Finn MP to be passed on to Rural Aid Australia, an NGO helping farmers. The cyclists’ groups in addition to Sydney Muslim Cyclists’ included Sydney Cycling Sisters and the High Street Flyers. The advanced riders cycled through the daunting hills of Alfords Pt and Bangor Bypass. The intermediate group navigated

Muslim Aid Australia delivered over 30,000kgs of hay bales as drought relief for farmers in Australia.

King Georges Rd, Tom Uglys and Captain Cook Bridge while the beginners rode through the scenic Cooks River Cycleway. Other participating players for the effort of fundraising included: • NSW Police Force / Campsie Police Area

Command • Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs • NSW SES Canterbury Unit • Councillor Bilal El-Hayek – City of Canterbury Bankstown • Deputy Mayor Nadia Saleh- City of Can-

• • • •

terbury Bankstown Lakemba Travel Centre Fettayleh Smallgoods Lighthouse Community Support Belmore Boys High School

Photo courtesy of Dr Tarek Sari.

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Indian belligerence against Pakistani peace overtures Imran Khan, soon after his victory at New York to attend the the Pakistani elections offered an ol- SAARC foreign minisive branch to India in order to solve ters lunch on Thursday disputes between the two neighbours 27 September where through dialogue. her Pakistani counterThis move was promptly reciprocated part Shah Mehmood by Prime Minister Modi and people on Qureshi will also presboth side of the border had high expecta- ent, the two could meet tions that this will herald a new chapter for on sidelines. building a peaceful relationship between “I can confirm that on India and Pakistan benefiting the masses the request of the Pain both countries hopefully with the open- kistani side, a meeting ing of borders, engagement in trade and between external affairs cooperation in other fields. minister & Pakistani In his congratulatory telephone call foreign minister will to Imran Khan on winning the elections, take place on the side- PM Imran Khan. Modi said that he hoped both countries lines of UNGA at a muwill “work to open a new chapter in bilat- tually convenient date eral ties”. and time,” said Ministry of External Affairs Picking up on PM Modi’s stress on spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. constructive engagement, Pakistan Prime However within a matter of days, on Minister Imran Khan sought resumption Friday 21 September, India made an about of a comprehensive dialogue between In- turn, cancelling the meeting and the same dia and Pakistan. Raveesh Kumar had this to say,“ in view of In a letter to Modi dated Friday 14 Sep- the changed situation, there will be no meettember, Imran Khan endorsed constructive ing between the foreign ministers of India engagement between the two countries. and Pakistan in New York.” In his letter, had suggested a meeting beRaveesh Kumar abruptly launched a tween the foreign ministers of the rude frontal attack on Pakistan and its two countries on the sidelines newly elected peacemaker Prime of the UN General Assembly Minister saying “the evil agenmeeting. da” of the neighbour has been He wrote, “Pakistan and exposed and the “true face of India have an undeniably the new Prime Minister of challenging relationship. Pakistan, Imran Khan, has Zia Ahmad We, however, owe it to been revealed to the world our people, especially in his first few months in Assalamu the future generations, office”. Alaikum to peacefully resolve all Pakistani leaders were outstanding issues, includvery much restrained and Greetings ing the Jammu and Kashmir responded with their disapof Peace dispute, to bridge differences pointment at this opportunity for and achieve a mutually beneficial peaceful dialogue. outcome.” “It is unfortunate that India has not givThe Pakistan PM further added, “Paki- en a positive response. India has once again stan remains ready to discuss terrorism.” wasted an opportunity for peace,” said ForIt was proposed by Pakistan and con- eign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. firmed by India that while Indian external Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will be in he was disappointed at India’s response to

EDITORIAL

AMUST ISSUE # 155 FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2018 17 MUHARRAM 1440 News

Senator Faruqi got it right. We are not going anywhere. The bigots will just have to get used to the fact that this is not 1958 Australia with just a smattering of English immigrants, who were also vilified by the way, and a White Australia Policy. We can take comfort in the fact that, despite the beat-ups in the mainly Murdoch media, the vast majority of our compatriots strongly support a multicultural society and are positive in their attitudes to the Muslim community. Bilal Cleland

Support refugee rights I would like to thank the two young people of Muslim background who are coming regularly to our protest in Sydney. When I told one of them that really there were very few identifiably Muslim people in the refugee rights protests, she pointed out that young people dressed as she was, wearing a hijab, were sometimes the target of abuse, and also that minority groups in Australia were generally keeping their heads down. I thank her for pointing this out to me... it is easy to forget. I applaud her courage in joining us. Last night a group of us protested at a forum (on the NBN) conducted by Tanya Plibersek, MP for Sydney, and Deputy Labor Leader. She is herself of refugee background; her parents came from Slovenia. In my opinion, she does feel conflicted over her party’s role in persecuting refugees here. I do not mean just the people held hosOCTOBER 2018 / ISSUE 155

and Christmas Island, not to mention the approximately 30,000 on impossible temporary visas, who cannot work and cannot study. I am not sure if we can stop the march of fascism in Australia. Some people think I am overstating it when I put it in this way. But we have next to no human rights protection, and it is always the most vulnerable who are targeted. And our very concentrated mainstream media manage to overlook it... look at the way the ABC hardly ever report on the 1500 people the government is holding hostage on Manus and Nauru. For those who say there is no ‘news’ from there, many of us say that is not true... just Google ‘Asylum insights’ or got to the Refugee Action Coalition website. Some of us are old enough to remember the Tehran Hostage Crisis. Each of the 444 days the US embassy staff were held, was ‘news’. Now, on Manus and Nauru, 1500 or so people, including remarkable people like Aziz and also Behrouz Boochani, are invisible. ‘Unpeople’. Australia has recently been specifically condemned by the Secretary General of the United Nations for its violation of the human rights of refugees. Has that been reported by the ABC? Again, please join us at the ‘Hostage Happening’ at the Queen Victoria statue, in front of the QVB in Sydney. And if you are reading this in Adelaide, Melbourne or Newcastle, please support the friendly weekly protests there too. Stephen Langford OT

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- Muslims helping farmers - Call for leaving your legacy - People power win in Maldives

PM Narendra Modi.

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Boomerang

- Indian belligerence against Pakistan - Betrayal of the Palestinian cause - Reasserting the role of women

Community

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- Muslim women speak at parliament - Dialogue with Ed Husic - Showcasing Kerala Muslim culture

Australia

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- Interview with Tony Burke - Australia for Uyghur Muslims - Consultation on dowry abuse

his peace overtures, termed it “arrogant” and “negative”, and said, “all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture”. Still showing a conciliatory attitude, Pakistan’s information minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Saturday 22 September that despite the “unfortunate cancellation” of the planned meeting of foreign ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Pakistan is ready to open the border for Indian pilgrims to access Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. Political analysts on both sides of the border have attributed the strange response of the BJB government in India towards peace with Pakistan to communal politics in the country in preparation for the national elections by the middle of 2019. It looks like the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party is developing a strategy to win elections next year by playing the communal card and create a Hindu-Muslim divide in the country in order to attract Hindu votes, that goes hand in hand with depicting Muslim Pakistan as the enemy as well as causing the fear of Muslim Bangladeshi’s infiltrating into India via the state of Assam.

Readers comments HAVE Re: “I am not going anywhere”: tage on Manus and Nauru, but the innocent people held hostage in the mainland gulag, Senator Mehreen Faruqi

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Lifestyle

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- Racism stops with me - Muslims in the West - Where to pray Jummah?

Ummah

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- Pakistan grants citizenship to refugees - Obesity causing cancer - School children movement

Education

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- Understanding “Sema” in Turkey - Significance of Ashoorah - Four types of Jahiliyyah

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- Superannuation Industry: Funds, assets and investments

Social

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- Muslims in the Mainstream - Islam: Mist of Peace in a gist!

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in articles, and Letters to the Editor, Website Comments are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Australasian Muslim Times.

AMUST Team

Editor-in-Chief: Zia Ahmad Managing Editor: Mobinah Ahmad Graphic Designer: Rubinah Ahmad Chief Adviser: Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad Multimedia Journalist: Zaynab Gul Multimedia Journalist: Faseeha Hashmi Sub-Editor: Mohammed Sinan Siyech Sub-Editor: Aisha Mohsin Columnist: Dr Abul Jalaluddin (Finance) Columnist: Bilal Cleland (Victoria) Columnist: Manarul Islam (ACT) Columnist: Dr Daud Batchelor (QLD) Columnist: Simon Harrison (QLD) Columnist: Anne Fairbairn (NSW) Columnist: Zahid Jamil (NSW) Columnist: Shahjahan Khan (QLD) Columnist: Prof Irfan Shahid (India) Columnist: Imam Malik Mujahid (USA) Promotion: Dr Wali Bokhari Web Developer: Shadow Approved Multimedia: iMoby Productions Printers: Spotpress Pty Ltd Distributers: Abul Fateh Siddiqui, Shujaat Siddiqui, Usaid Khalil, Aamir Ahmad, Ibrahim Khalil, Usman Siddiqui, Zahid Alam, Shahab Siddiqui, Mahmoud Jaame, Mateen Abbas, Rashid Idris, Sakinah Ahmad, Anjum Rafiqi, Hasan Fazeel, Dr Quasim, Ismail Hossain, Hanif Bismi, Zohair Ahmad, Luqman Landy.

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Betrayal of the Palestinian cause by Arab regimes AMUST

Dr Ameer Ali It is seventy years since the state of Israel was planted in the heart of the Arab world by the then superpower Britain and her Western allies. Israel was the absolution for the systematic and historical crime committed by these Christian powers against innocent Jews over centuries. Their criminal record finally ended with the greatest of crimes, the Holocaust. The Jews will never forget this horrendous episode. How can they? In creating the state of Israel however, the allied powers, and notably Britain betrayed the promises it made to Arab leaders not to sacrifice the interests of Palestinian Arabs. Today, thanks to the current super power, United States, Palestine itself is in danger of being gobbled up by an ever expanding and militarised Israel. The so called two state solution repeated ad nauseam by the Western powers and accepted by the Arab leaders is nothing but a chimera to hide the ultimate goal of allowing Israel to take over Pales-

tine, make Jerusalem its undivided capital and convert the Arab minority into a menial workforce subservient to Jews. Having lost comprehensively in all three wars against Israel the Arab nations have given up on Palestine. This is why the current generation of Arab leaders, especially the richer half of them, remain subservient to the dictates of the super power and focus solely in protecting and promoting their own political power and economic and commercial interests. In this, they are even prepared to increase economic and commercial contacts with Israel itself. What a turn of events! It is the Muslim communities in the non-Arab sector that are crying for Palestine, because it has the third holiest mosque, al-Aqsa; but do the communities matter in the larger picture of Arab-Israeli relations and Palestine? One should not forget however, that majority of the Arab masses are also not with their leaders in relation to Palestine. This, the West and Israel know very well, and that is why democracy is not allowed to prevail in any part of the Arab world. The Arab Spring of 2011 that erupted in Cairo and spread to other parts of Arab Middle East with a demand for democracy was deliberately thwarted by the US and NATO powers.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having lost

comprehensively in all three wars against Israel the Arab nations have given up on Palestine.

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Today, Saudi Arabia is recognized by the West as the linchpin of the Islamic world. It is given a free hand to spread its ultra-conservative religious ideology and through its petro-purse allowed to lavish gifts and awards in varied fashion to the Muslim world so that world remains supportive of Saudi policies in the international arena. One of those policies is to ignore the real issue of Palestine and maintain the rhetoric of an unattainable two state solution. It is only Iran, which has been ostracized because of its Shiism that is showing any in-

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terest at all in the cause of Palestine. Good bye Palestine and good luck to Arab leaders who will one day sing the requiem for Palestine. Dr Ameer Ali is a Sri Lankan born Australian citizen. He is a retired academic and research fellow. He was a former president of AFIC and Head of Muslim Advisory Group under Howard Government. Ameer has authored more than fifty journal articles and is a regular contributor to newspapers and periodicals on Muslim affairs.

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Reasserting the role of women in the Ummah One of the major issues of community interest at present is that of the harassment and denigration of women, be it in the governing political party, in entertainment or in the street. The Muslim community is often referred to in this debate, typically quoting Saudi discriminatory laws, but also the occurrence of domestic violence and misogyny in Muslim practice. We are all familiar with mosques and imams who discourage women from attending their place of worship and who do not see a role for women in other than catering and cleaning, although these are diminishing in number. This is not however, the dominant picture. Despite the presence of misogyny, Muslim women are asserting themselves, reclaiming their traditional place in the Ummah.

One of the emerging scholars is Dr Zainab Alwani. Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies at the Howard University School of Divinity. In addition to being the first female jurist to serve on the board for the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA), Dr Alwani currently serves as the Vice President of the FCNA. Her research focuses on Quranic studies, Islamic jurisprudence, the relationship between civil and religious law in the area of family and gender, comparative religions, and inter-religious dialogue. In “Muslim Women as Religious Scholars: A Historical Survey,” she states “Since the beginning of the Islamic community in the earliest decades of the seventh century, women have taken a prominent role in the preservation and cultivation of the main sources of Islamic knowledge, i.e. the Qur’an and Sunna.” [http://www.zainabalwani.com] Dr Alwani argues that the women in the household of the Prophet enjoyed exclusive access to intimate knowledge about him. She points out that the Quran notes the

distinguished place of these women and that his wives are designated as Ummahat al-muminin. Women also had a dynamic role in the initial preservation of the Quran. For instance, an original handwritten copy of the Quran, out of which all subsequent copies were made during the first Caliphate, was said to be under the preservation and trust of Hafsa bint Umar, the daughter of the second Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (r). Dr Alwani argues that as the empire of the early Muslims grew, and became more urban, new concepts and ideals were introduced into “the social fabric of early Muslim society.” “Women, for the most part, lost the esteemed public roles they had gained under the Prophet and his imme-

Mahomet Allum, Australia’s leading herbalist-benefactor Dr Daud Batchelor Mahomet Allum dispensed herbal mixtures and advice without payment but accepted donations and gifted charities handsomely. He claimed the healing gift was handed down in his Afghan family for 400 years. The South Australian Worker claimed that daily attendance at his practise averaged 600 people. Published testimonials confirm his popularity, effective healing and charity. Perth’s Sunday Times noted: “‘Humanity’s Benefactor’ and ‘Good Samaritan’ are but two endearing terms in which he is referred to by thousands of Australians.” With the reputation of having accomplished many outstanding cures it expected to locate Allum in elaborate consulting rooms. Instead it found his practice in Adelaide’s ‘poorer’ section. Born around 1858 in Kandahar, Allum arrived in the 1880s and drove camels to the WA goldfields, South Australia, NSW and Queensland. An acquaintance wrote that Allum worked underground in Broken Hill to inform himself about miners’ ailments. “His philanthropy was known all over the Barrier.” In 1928 he settled in Adelaide setting-up business in Sturt Street. Allum criticised Western medical practices, condemning vaccinations, amputations and animal serum injections. He contended that Nature provided herbal remedies for every illness. He attacked vivisection as “a disgrace to humanity” and rejected animal experiments, eg a rabbit “is injected with patient’s sputum and put in a basket in a dark hospital corridor and developments awaited until it contracts a virulent disease, or is killed ... any right-minded person knows it is devilish.” Condemning vaccinations however, was mistaken as his dear wife died from preventable smallpox. In Adelaide’s Mirror, he effused, “30,000 people sent testimonials thanking me for restoring them to health when doctors failed. ... Hundreds of patients have sworn declarations that as many as 36 doctors failed to cure them before they came to me. ... I challenge medical profession members to take up this matter if I am wrong in exposing their inefficient methods and the success OCTOBER 2018 / ISSUE 155

of mine.” The authorities charged him in 1935 with ‘Imposture as physician”. Detractors described him as a ‘quack.’ The crown prosecutor referred to his ‘vindictive methods’ against the medical profession whose members Allum described as “devil’s agents who made money their God.” He marshaled forty witnesses to attest he never represented himself as a doctor. Allum was however, fined £45. Devoutly Muslim, Allum, sent newspapers letters and published pamphlets on Islam, the Qur’an, and healing. Combating racism he challenged, “If any Britisher can prove he is white and I’m black, I’ll unreservedly give him £500.” Bilal Cleland remarks, “His reputation for charity... was explained as ‘a practical demonstration of Islamic doctrine that all men are brothers’.” Halimah Schwerdt, Allum’s secretary, became first European lady in Australia to publicly embrace Islam. She considered herself “extremely lucky” to have met Mahomet Allum, as a Muslim ‘Wonder Man’ who had cured many. In 1940 Allum married Jean Emsley, and

had a daughter, Bebe. In 1953, after performing Hajj, his wife died and he returned to Adelaide. Was Allam Australia’s greatest herbalist? Allah hu Alam (God knows best). As an ‘Alien’ he was barred from citizenship. It wasn’t till 1973 that Whitlam’s government buried the White Australia policy. Mahomet however, died in 1964. His funeral procession exceeded one mile in length. Singapore magazine, Genuine Islam, recorded a fitting testament from the South Australian Worker: “Australia has produced many men of note – statesmen, pioneers, professional men – but it has been left to a visitor, from a far-off land, to show us what we owe to the sick and poor of Adelaide. Efforts of our great philanthropists dwarf into insignificance when we take into consideration the magnitude of the work of Mahomet Allum.” Dr Daud Batchelor, holds an MA in Islamic and Other Civilisations and a Diploma in Islamic Studies from the International Islamic University Malaysia, PhD from University of Malaya, MSc from the University of London. Mahomet Allum

diate successors, and by and large, an older, deep-rooted ideal of women as inferior gained greater staying power within religious discourses and society at large.” In her analysis of the role of Aisha, who for three decades after the death of Muhammad (s) passed on her knowledge, “explaining and interpreting and correcting misperceptions,” she points out that the beloved wife of the Prophet “countered

claims insinuating that women were inferior in either religion or intellect.” “In her opinion, it was not acceptable to only convey the meaning of a hadith, as the meaning was a matter of interpretation and could be modified as a result of the narrator’s limited memory or level of understanding.” The reassertion of the role of women in Islamic affairs is developing into a major movement. The Turkish Islamic Community (Diyanet) is actively supporting the revival of women preachers and teachers of Islam in Kosovo. Kosovo is not alone.

“Despite the

presence of misogyny, Muslim women are asserting themselves, reclaiming their traditional place in the Ummah.

“

Bilal Cleland

“Masooda Bano, professor of Development Studies at the University of Oxford, said there had been a surge in female Islamic preachers and scholars across the Muslim world as well as among Muslim communities in secular countries.” [Balkan Insight. 12 September 2018]. This is indeed a healthy development, emerging from what sometimes seems a very dark world pattern for the Ummah.

Bilal Cleland is a keen reader, a prolific writer and a regular columnist of AMUST based in Melbourne.

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Kerala floods: BJP government role questioned Hanif Bismi Kerala, the southern tiny state of India was hit by devastating floods in August 2018 which killed more than 400 people and displaced 1.8 million people crowded into almost 1500 camps. Entire towns and major public works were submerged including the main international airport in this worst flood since 1924 causing an estimated $3 billion damage to the state. The state government appealed to the residents to evacuate as 80 of the state’s dams had reached precarious levels and urged the central government in New Delhi to provide immediate assistance and declare a national disaster. Judaism, Christianity and Islam were spread in this state through sea trade and business relationships with Arabian countries for centuries. Kerala is well known for its high literacy rate both amongst males and females, better health care and for its religious harmony as a cohesive society.

Kerala’s biggest assets are its people, from labour, professionals and businesspersons, working internationally making the state economically self-sufficient. With the news of devastating floods, offers of help came from around the world particularly from the Persian Gulf countries UAE ($100 million), Oman, Thailand, Maldives ($50,000) and Qatar ($5 million) where many of Keralite work. Imran Khan, the newly elected PM of Pakistan sent his prayers and offered humanitarian assistance on behalf of the people of Pakistan. Peshawar Zalmi offered to donate 5000 tents and basic medical supplies and Pakistan Association of Dubai promptly despatched food and clothes to Kerala. Kerala received only 6 billion rupees, far short of 22 billion rupees the state requested from the central government. The Indian government declined relief assistance from foreign governments including the UAE and Qatar. The state finance minister said that the central government should compensate for refusing foreign aid complained that the central government’s stand against accepting the foreign aid was due to political discrimination.

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“The Indian

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government declined relief assistance from foreign governments including the UAE and Qatar.

People of Kashmir came in solidarity with Kerala flood victims and Jammu Kashmir Bank contributed 11 Crore rupees. Pervez Ahmed, the CEO of the bank personally offered his two months’ salary. Self-styled godman Chakrapani Maharaj of Hindu Mahasaba closer to the ruling BJP utilised the moment of need with offensive statements to fuel religious hatred such as “God is punishing people of Kerala because they eat beef.” Eating beef is banned in most of Indian states because of Hindu religious sentiments. Ruling Communist party in Kerala is extremely influential where minorities includ-

ing Muslims are safer compared to in other BJP ruled states in India. BJP is the right-wing Hindu hardliner party which forms the central government. The central government imposed heavy import taxes on foreign aid goods that arrived at various airports and could not be cleared on time. The role of the central BJP government with respect to Kerala flood relief has been very disappointing indeed. Hanif Bismi is a Sydney based historian, political analyst, community activist and an Advisor to ARO.

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Conference calls for leaving your legacy Continued from page 1 The theme this year was inspired by one verse of the Qur’an which was constantly referred to throughout the conference: “Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.” (Qur’an 36:12). In order to unpack this Qur’anic advice, the conference provided local and international guest speakers a platform on the main stage alongside workshop sessions, an interactive panel session and live entertainment. There were also family-friendly activities and opportunities for conference sponsors and Muslim businesses to showcase their products and services. The conference formally proceeded with a welcome by MC Mr Ramzy Alamudi, followed by the recitation of the Qur’an from Surah Yaseen by Qari Anas Yaghmour. Sheikh Daood Butt, an Al-Kauthar Institute instructor from Toronto, Canada began his talk ‘Phases of Life’ while empasising making the most of what you have been blessed with before it is lost. Imam Hassan Elsetohy, CEO of MAA International, spoke on traversing the way of goodness and influencing others onto that path. “With immense rewards on offer for the one who guides another to goodness, we should strive not only to do good ourselves, but help others onto that path,” he said. The females speakers session also included many topics which discussed the importance of female leadership and empowerment. Talks were given by Sister Ramia Abdo Sultan, Umm Jamaal Ud-Din, and Sister Zohra Sarwari, who came from Sacramento, California.

Speakers, organisers and volunteers at the 6th Twins of Faith conference in Sydney, Nasheed and spoken words artists Ilyas Mao, Essam Muhammad and Muhammad Khodr performed during the show with lyrics that captivated the audiences’ attention. Ilyas Mao performed inspiring nasheeds including his ‘Spread Your Wings’. Essam Muhammad appealed to the pathos of the audience, sharing a personal story and performing spoken words encouraging people to live in the moment. Muhammad Khodr traversed back in time and performed on some the famous personalities of Islam, including Salah ad-Din Ayyubi, reinforcing the message of leaving a legacy. After each session, the audience were givEssam Muhammad gave an emotional talk about his struggles growing up

en the opportunity to explore some of the Muslim business stalls, wind down and enjoy a meal in the park on a lovely sunny day with their families and friends. This interaction truly emphasised the collaboration between the community, the business stall vendors and the sponsors of the conference. Some of the sponsors that supported the event included AMUST, ICFAL, Muslim Aid, MCCA, Lakemba Family Health Care, Digital Backends and Darrusalam Book Shop. The conference concluded with the final talk by Sheikh Daood Butt on Dreams 2 Reality indeed a symbolic end. The talk emphasised that without action, knowledge accumulation is not beneficial and urged for joining the two twins of faith, knowledge and action.

Sheikh Daood Butt discussed some of the tools that are necessary in engineering and executing a positive change and leaving a lasting and memorable legacy from the knowledge learnt during the conference. The conference officially came to an end with a final collaborative performance by nasheed and spoken words artists Essam Muhammad and Ilyas Mao. The duo performed their famous nasheeds ‘Seasons’ and ‘Ummi’. Attendees left inspired and equipped with the necessary tools to work towards making a positive change in their lives and leaving a legacy for the future generations. Muhtab Khan is the Project Manager for the Twins of Faith Conference Sydney and is based in Sydney, Australia.

Ramia Abdo Sultan addressing the crowd.

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SAYIT ‘This Is Me’:

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Empowering young Muslim women

As a student on placement, this statement and process made me realise that life has challenges, and by overcoming these is to During term 3 of ‘This Is Me’, the SAY- always keep trying no matter how hard the IT juniors and senior girls participated process can be. in the activity of building and designing Throughout my time of SAYIT I discovtheir own mini treasure boxes and pil- ered the advantage of working as part of a lows, which was facilitated by the MWA group, I learnt that good teamwork is the (Muslim Women Association) team on key to success. The simplest things could Saturday 4 August 2018 at Felicity House be turned into something amazing if we put in Bass Hill. This session allowed young enough creativity and effort into working on girls to discuss and reflect amongst each them. other on how to overcome challenges. With the activity myself and other colThe title ‘This Is Me’ enables girls to leagues we used some simple materials identify who they are as an individual as such as glue, paint, paddle pop sticks, craft well as their strength and weaknesses; this materials. It was interesting to observe how will guide the girls to acthe girls help each othcept one another. er discover what their I had been given the The simplest strength and weaknesses opportunity by Feda are during the process Abdo, Communications things could of the activity. The girls and Community Rela- be turned into had worked together to tions Manager of MWA, use their knowledge on to deliver ‘This Is Me’ something which way could the Program. While facili- amazing if we put paddle pop stick stay totating the activity, I progether and by changing vided a safe environment enough creativity the position could actualfor the young girls with ly affect its performance. icebreakers and activities and effort into The program is defor them to be involved working on them. signed to support youths in during the lesson. in socialising and having Both projects were fatheir safe space by comcilitated throughout term 3, during the pro- municating with each other and being able cess of the activities the students discussed to participate in many different activities the many challenges of the process; several provided by the SAYIT team. As a student, girls stated ‘The paddle pop stick will not I know we all have challenging experiences stay and keeps breaking apart’ this was a in life which can affect our own well-being. challenging task for them, but they kept try- ‘This Is Me’ does not only allow students ing and did not give up. to be involved but also provides the girls to

Jinan Allam

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discover the importance of connecting to their faith and being a better person in life. Furthermore, I am looking forward to being part of SAYIT Program and to see how far it will grow within the near future. I personally think that MWA (Muslim Women Association) has put together a remarkable program for young girls within the community to socialise and being involved with many different activities as well as connecting with their faith. I think the MWA team are doing an amazing job with the community and being able

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to provide many programs not only for young girls but also Muslim women who are going through crisis. In addition, from this activity the one thing I have learnt from the girls was that there is always a light at the end of a dark tunnel no matter how hard the process can be, never giving up will always make you a stronger and better person. I am excited to see what my journey will lead me to while being part of the SAYIT Program. Jinan Allam is a fourth-year social work student.

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Muslim women speak at Victorian Parliament Gulhan Eryegit Yoldas Muslim students from Al Siraat College spoke at the Victorian Parliament House on Friday 31 August 2018 on the theme “My Vote My Voice: Diversity in Community Organisations. The annual event is organised by the National Council of Women of Victoria (NCWV) and in 2018 it was designed to encourage students to investigate the level of diversity (gender, ethnicity, age, disability), in community workplaces by visiting and conducting interviews. The focus of research is on diversity of leadership, decision-making and/or composition and then to make three-minute presentations in the Legislative Council Chamber to an audience of students, community members and a panel of eminent women. A select number of students from twelve reputable schools from across Victoria attended the event including students from Al Siraat College: Fatima Mohamed (Year 12), Hafsa Sarwar (Year 11), Aisha Arain (Year 10), Sondos Mahmandar (Year 10), Melike Cokmez (Year 10) and Nur Naziihah Hafidi (Year 8). The student speeches included reflections on Prophet Mohammad’s (s) wife, Khadijah (r) as an investor, entrepreneur and a respected leader of her community. The students also shared the Islamic perspective that both men and women are equal in the eyes of Allah except in piety and righteousness. One student explained that Al Siraat College was part founded by the former principal Ms Rahat Arain, a Muslim woman who wears a face veil, a respected leader in our community. During their research the students were able to interview City of Whittlesea’s Mayor Kris Pavlidis who has supported the students in understanding the current gender pay gap in Australia and the lack of equality for women in leadership positions and on corporate boards.

Speakers from left, Fatima Mohamed & Hafsa Sarwar.

The Al Siraat College students finished with the message that the underlying cause of gender inequality is lack of respect for the contributions of women, whether they choose to take up a role in leadership or take on a nurturing role. The speeches by the students received

thunderous applause across the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament House. The event was MCed by secretary of NCWV, Pam Hammond and inspiring talks were made by several remarkable women including Tina Hosseini, the past Youth Commissioner for Victorian Multicultural

Commission who talked about the importance of having diverse and inclusive workplaces. She gave the simple but powerful message that “Hate, fear and ignorance have no place in our workplaces.” Penny Scott, a Wurundjeri woman and advisor to the Victorian Public Sector Commission gave a passionate speech about achieving substantive and inclusive equality for women, people with disabilities, and Aboriginal people. The panel at this event included Hon Samantha Dun MLC, Mayor of Maribyrnong Cr Cruc Lam and former Mayor of Greater Geelong Council Barbara Abley. Each panelist offered the students practical advice and feedback about the presentations and encouraged the students to share their stories and personal experiences in their presentations and use humour to engage with the audience, especially when discussing the more difficult topics. Students from each of the schools were able to network at the end of the event to discuss opportunities to collectively demand better outcomes for their communities. The final speech was made by NCWV Youth Adviser Diya John, who only a few years ago was a student presenter herself at this very event. Photos have been supplied by Rod Hammond. My Vote My Voice 2018 had the support of the President of the Legislative Council, and the Education and Community Engagement Unit, Parliament of Victoria; Australian Local Government Women’s Association (Victoria); the League of Women Voters Bessie Rischbieth Trust and the Victorian Electoral Commission. Gulhan Eryegit Yoldas is on the advisory board for ECCV Gambling Harm project. She’s an active member of Whittlesea Interfaith Network and currently works as the Community Engagement Facilitator for Al Siraat College. Gulhan has a robust history of advocacy for Interfaith dialogue & building resilient, compassionate communities. She is passionate about empowering and developing Muslim youth as spokespeople for their communities.

Al Siraat College students and staff together with Tina Hosseini former VMC Youth Commissioner.

Vatican’s dialogue delegation meets interfaith leaders in Canberra

Manarul Islam

An official delegation from the Vatican visited in September to observe the fruits of dialogue with world religions here in Australia. As representatives of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID), their main task is to advise Pope Francis on the Catholic Church’s attitudes, teachings, dialogue and initiatives regarding building bridges of peace together. The Pontifical Council Delegation have

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explicitly called their visit a “pastoral visit”, to both encourage and learn, and to offer advice from the global Catholic Church on peacemaking through interreligious dialogue and listening. The delegation was headed by Bishop Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot MCCJ, Secretary of PCID, an expert on Islam and included Monsgr Indunil Kodithuwakku, Monsgr Santiago Michael and Father Markus Solo. The visit included Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. On Friday 21 September, Canberra’s local religious leaders from the Buddhist, Hindu,

Muslim, Jewish and Baha’i communities attended a lunch at the Archbishop’s residence, hosted by Archbishop Christopher Prowse, Catholic Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn and Chair of the Bishops Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue. “In welcoming this high-level delegation on interreligious dialogue from the Vatican, we look forward to sharing with them the gifts of interreligious dialogue in our ancient, but new land,” said Archbishop Christopher Prowse. “We also hope to learn from the global

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Catholic Church about how we can make that dialogue even more fruitful as a way of peacemaking,” he further added. Bishop Miguel stressed the need to leverage on the “rich salad” of the world’s religions to better understand each other for encouraging peace and prosperity. The Muslim community representation included Mainul Haque, President of the Canberra Muslim Community (CMC), Fethullah Erdogan, Director of Bluestar Intercultural Centre and Dr Majharul Talukder from Islamic Practice and Dawah Circle (IPDC).

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Women Acknowledging Women Baasila Awards winners for 2018

of adversity and discrimination. The women we seek to recognise are the future leaders of our communities, those Brave, Strong, Courageous. These were breaking new ground, despite facing opthe words encrypted on the awards certif- pression and severely limited opportunities. icates presented at the inaugural Baasila We specifically aim to recognise women Women Acknowledging Women Awards who are seldom seen, yet whose contribuCeremony at Melbourne’s iconic Moroc- tions and efforts go a long way in maintaincan Soup Bar in Fitzroy on 8 September ing social harmony. These women are nominated by their female peers, to embody the 2018. The winners of the Women Acknowledg- adage ‘when we lift and enable women we ing Women Award 2018 in four categories progress our entire society.” A moving speech was made by guest were: 1. Naima Usman: Women’s Empowerment speaker Helen Kapalos, Chairperson of the 2. Dr Sara Hassan: Community Leadership Victorian Multicultural Commission. Hel3. Amona Hassab: Youth Capacity Building en reflected on the resilience and strength 4. Aysha Tufa: contribution to STEM/Arts of her late mother, who’s birthday happened to be on that same day. She explained the Innovation The Baasila Awards is an incredible plat- importance of valuing the contributions of form pioneered to celebrate the substantial women, acknowledging “who we are, what we stand for, holding our contributions of Ausspace and being in our tralian Muslim women, truth.” where all nominations Muslim women The event MC role are made by women for continue to was shared between women. several of the event orThere was an overtranscend social ganising committee inwhelming interest in barriers and find cluding Anam Javed, the idea of these awards Zuleyha Keskin, Direcwhere more than 50 opportunities in tor of Islamic Sciences nominations across four social conditions & Research Academy categories were received and others including this year. of adversity and Hana Assafiri, Inaz Janif, Almost 100 Australidiscrimination. Nada Kalam and Sam an Muslim women took Haouchar. their seats as trays of arThis event was made omatic mint tea was offered, circulating on silver trays amongst the possible by the innovative thinking, genercrowd. The warm Moroccan colours and osity and financial contributions of a small traditional decor of the venue, combined group of Australian Muslim women with with the scents of a generous Middle-east- a vision to bring to the forefront the quiet ern vegetarian feast simmering in the kitch- achievers who strive for the betterment of en, set a welcoming scene for social justice their communities every day. More funding must be allocated for future advocate and owner of Moroccan Soup Bar, Hana Assafiri to make her opening remarks, Baasila award ceremonies and other plat“We created the Baasila Women Ac- forms of this nature where contributions of knowledging Women Award to celebrate the Australian Muslim women are highlighted, contributions of diverse Muslim women in valued and respected. Complete profiles of each of finalists our communities. We are aware that against a divisive and hostile backdrop, Muslim and nominees are available via the Baasila women continue to transcend social barriers Awards page. fb.com/womenacknowledgingwomen/ and find opportunities in social conditions

Gulhan Eryegit Yoldas

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Finalists Aysha Tufa (left), Dr. Sara Hassan & Amona Hassab (right) with VMC chair Helen Kapalos and Hana Assafiri.

New year celebrations and welcome to Hajis

Mohammad Chams Under the patronage of Darulfatwa, the Islamic High Council of Australia, The Islamic Charitable Projects Association (ICPA) held the new Hijri year celebration 1440 at Al Amanah College Grand Hall in Liverpool, Sydney on Saturday 15

September. The event was attended by a number of distinguished guests, sheikhs, pilgrims returning from Hajj, community leaders and a large number of families. Following the official opening welcome, the celebration began with a recitation of the Holy Quran followed by captivating chants performed by the ICPA chanting band.

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Dr Sheikh Salim Alwan, Chairman of Darulfatwa, the Islamic High Council of Australia during his speech related the story of the migration of the Prophet Mohammad (s) with his companion Abu Bakr (r) from Makkah to Madinah, an event that marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Sheikh Ibrahim El-Shafie also delivered a speech in English about the blessed Hijrah,

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migration to Madinah and the great lessons learnt from it for the Muslim Ummah. He congratulated Muslims who performed pilgrimage (Hajj), asking Allah to accept their Hajj. The celebration concluded with the handing out of memorial gifts to all the Hajis. ISSUE 155 / OCTOBER 2018

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ICSOA event: Community dialogue on IT and Communication with Ed Husic Zahid Alam

Ed Husic MP, Shadow Minister of IT and Communication shared his views with Muslim IT professionals of Indian origin on Monday 27 August over dinner at Himalaya Restaurant, Granville. The event, attended by more than 30 professionals was organised by the Indian Crescent Society of Australia Inc led by ICSOA-IT subcommittee coordinator Syed Jafar, also included a lively Q&A session. The program was started with the recitation of Quran by Mr Moez Khan followed by Mr Abbas Raza Alvi, President of ICSOA acknowledging traditional owners of the land and presence of guests including representatives of community organisations. He gave a brief outline of ICSOA activities and achievements and thanked its members for their cooperation in holding successful events such as this. Dr Fasihuddin Khan, Secretary of ICSOA introduced the chief guest, Hon Ed Husic MP and welcomed IT professionals and communication experts at the gathering. Mr Syed Jaffer shared his vision of bringing Muslim Australians of Indian origin associated with IT industry on one platform and addressing their concerns at events such as this initiative. Dr Habib Bhurawala, ICSOA Health subcommittee cordinator gave a briefing on initiatives taken by ICSOA in organising well attended events on health and well being of the community. Mr Ed Husic shared his view on the changing world and the role IT was playing

in bringing about this rapid change. The Shadow Minister highlighted the role which IT especially “Digitisation” was playing in the modern world and that combined with “Artificial Intelligence” would have a huge impact on our future living. A lively Q&A session ensued after Mr Husic’s address where the Minister was queried on a number of issues concerning newly arrived IT professionals from India. Mr Parveen Jung reflected on the challenges he faced while introducing IT solutions in the medical industry especially compliance. TheMinister responded that this takes time from the regulatory point of view and he will follow up and make sure process is in place to act fast on this type of regulatory issues.

Mr Siddique Panwala questioned about the not for profit sector and its policies implications on migrants, population growth and job opportunity. Mr Muhammad Javed enquired the government policy and funding to provide supercomputing power to the general public. Mr Husic agreed that the facility should exist and emphasised the need and his support for it. On being questioned by Mr Muhammad Javed regarding government’s vision and policy on the blockchain, Mr Husic agreed and was supportive of how blockchain may play a role in future. On Mr Moeen Qazi’s question of the scope of manufacturing in Australia, given the high cost of raw material, Mr Husic said

that he was aware of the problem. Mr Siraj commented that skilled migrants who arrived in Australia found it difficult to find jobs matching their skill. Mr Husic acknowledged that he is aware of this issue and the solution would be that big companies should get involved to help in this sector. Zahid Alam is a Project Manager in Telstra and AMUST correspondent based in Sydney. He immigrated to Australia in 2005. He holds a Masters of Engineering Management degree from the University of Technology Sydney and a diploma in Electronics Engineering from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.

Urgent call for collective action on climate change The conversation was Professor Will Steffen, Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University delivered an engaging and timely Lunchtime Lecture at Affinity on Wednesday 28 August titled, The Anthropocene: Rising Risks, Critical Choices. Professor Steffen, who is a Councillor on the publicly-funded Climate Council of

Australia, during his sobering presentation showed the impact of human activity on the planet. “The earth has experienced a temperature rise that goes beyond the envelope of natural variability. No matter what indicator we used, it all swings upwards,” he said. “This shows that what humans are doing is affecting the stability of the earth,” he warned. Professor Steffen claims that drastic human activity has pushed us out of the Holocene, and the earth is now in the Anthropocene epoch, an entirely human created era brought on what he terms the “Great Acceleration”.

Professor Will Steffen called for collective action to combat climate change. “Since the Industrial Revolution of 1950, everything took off, including population and the economy, resource use, as well as urbanisation and globalisation,” he said. This has resulted in erratic and unnatural weather conditions over the years, including droughts, excessive flooding, fires, storms, as well as the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef. “It is as if the climate is on steroids, and humans are feeding it to the earth,” he said. Professor Steffen warns, “we are pushing the earth into a new, and somewhat frightening geological and biological era.” When asked what actions each individual

could take, Professor Steffen called for collective action. “We must let our politicians know that we care about the climate and push for them to take action on it.” He further added, “on a more personal level, you can talk to your friends, family, neighbours about it. It starts with a conversation.”

“We are pushing the earth into a new, and somewhat frightening geological and biological era.

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Minh Ai Nguyen has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and International Comparative Literature from the University of Sydney. She is currently an Executive Assistant at Affinity Intercultural Foundation based in Sydney.

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Minh Ai Nguyen

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Showcasing Kerala Muslim culture in Multicultural India AMUST

Zahid Alam

The Australian Malayalee Islamic Association (AMIA) held a full-day event celebrating the culture of Kerala on Saturday 11 August 2018 at Old Government House in Parramatta as part of the National Trust’s exhibition “Tales from the East.” The Lonely Planet describes Kerala as South India’s ‘most beautiful state’, comprising 600 kilometres of glorious Arabian seacoast, glistening backwaters, and spice and tea-covered hills. It is home to famous backwaters, elegant houseboats, Ayurvedic treatments and delicately spiced, taste-budtingling cuisine, Kerala is also renowned for its fauna: wild elephants, exotic birds and the odd tiger. The event attended by almost 500 people with free entry for all was inaugurated by the Consul General of India, Mr Vanlavawnaon presented a rich array of activities including displays of beautiful saris, Kerala crafts, Cooking demonstrations of South Indian food, traditional dancing, and Henna painting. The program also included short talks on subjects including traditional medicine,

faith and culture and Lachlan Macquarie’s links with Kerala. The visitors experienced the delights of Kerala, had a glimpse of the historical narrative and viewed furnishings and collections

on display at Old Government House as part of the Tales from the East exhibition. AMIA NSW showed the best of Kerala Muslim’s Culture, for one and all to educate, learn, feel and then provide a platform to in-

tegrate. The world has witnessed and seen for the past 1400 years, that Muslim culture of Kerala co-existence with the numerous cultures, subcultures and with the value systems of Multicultural India with a long track record. Mr Hasim opened the event followed by a talk on General Macquarie & Kerala by Ian Stephenson, Kerala: A precis & its Islamic bequest, Dr Mohamed K Shaffi talked on Vibrant Transformations since AD 629 while Mr Nizar Moideen presented the Mesmerising Kerala Brand: The tales of Eastern Medicine and Dr Rafeena Kidavinintavida explained The Iconography of Prayer Rugs. The Consul General, AMIA President and chief coordinator of the event Dr Ali Parappil and Ian Stephenson inspected the exhibition and displays together followed by observing Kerala traditional Muslim kids activities: oppana ( little girls) and Duff muttu( boys) performances in the courtyard. The event concluded with the closing ceremony and awards of certificates to the participating kids by Nation Trust President, Brian Power, A special vote of thanks was given to Mr Ian Stephenson from the Old Government House for his help in holding the event.

Eid Al-Adha: Spirit of Sacrifice dinner at WSU Dr Jan A Ali Every year after the end of Islamic calendar of Dhu al-Hijjah, Western Sydney University at its Bankstown campus host the Eid Al-Adha - Spirit of Sacrifice - celebration dinner. This year was the event’s fifth year and was held on Friday 7 September 2018. The event is organised by Dr Jan A Ali, Senior Lecturer in Islam and Modernity, and is funded by the School of Humanities and Communication Arts from its Campus Life Grant. The aim of the event is to bring WSU Muslim and non-Muslim students and academic staff and organizational heads, both Muslims and non-Muslims from wider Sydney community together to engage in networking, cross-cultural exchange, and interfaith dialogue. There were around 70 people in attendance including WSU undergraduate and postgraduate past

and current students, academics from WSU as well as other universities such as the University of Sydney and Charles Sturt University, Christian church leaders, heads of Muslim community organisations, sheikhs, and social and community activists. The Reverend Dr Peter Barnes from the Presbyterian Church in Revesby delivered a talk on the concept of

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sacrifice from a Christian perspective. He emphasised the similarity between the three Abrahamic traditions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and connected the concept of sacrifice to the trials and triumphs of Prophet Ibrahim. Following Reverend Dr Peter Barnes’ talk, Dr Faroque Amin, a former Western Sydney University

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graduate spoke about the concept of sacrifice from an Islamic perspective in which he discussed the aims and objectives of sacrifice particularly in the context of Eid Al-Adha. He noted that during the Hajj which takes place in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, Muslims remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of Prophet Ibrahim. During the celebration of Eid alAdha, Muslims commemorate and remember Prophet Ibrahim’s trials by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a lamb, goat, camel, cow, or buffalo. He said that this is an act of sacrifice and Allah loves sacrifice. However, he clarified that Allah is in no need of sacrifice and it is not the actual sacrifice such as the slaughtered animal that reaches Him but the piety. After the two talks, a short video on Hajj was shown to the audience and then dinner was served where people mingled together and networked. ISSUE 155 / OCTOBER 2018

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Senator Faruqi addresses academics at ICAN Mouna Elmir Sydney Muslim academics gathered on Saturday 8 September for Eid Al Adha Networking Brunch organised by the Islamic Community Academic Network (ICAN) with the guest speaker Senator Dr Mehreen Faruqi in Newtown, Sydney. The Islamic Community Academic Network is an academic network organised and formed by Dr Derya Iner, a senior lecturer at Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisations (ISRA) at Charles Sturt University. The network was founded in 2016 through the networking of women academics, who gathered periodically through breakfast serious. The network has been expanded to include male academics since April 2018. Senator Mehreen Faruqi, an academic herself, who completed her PhD in environmental engineering eloquently articulated the need for academics to work hand in hand with politicians to solve the community problems. She encouraged the academics present at the event to get involved into politics and voice their views and opinions. “The media also looks for expert opinions, do not shy away to write a paper and send to the editor or media. That’s the only way change can happen,” Senator Faruqi advised. To further emphasise the significance of taking part in democracy, Senator Faruqi added that you don’t need to be an MP as

Politics of Higher Education and National Identity in Pakistan Dr Jan A Ali Postgraduate Islamic Studies Network at Western Sydney University held its second workshop titled Politics of Higher Education and National Identity in Pakistan on Thursday 30 August 2018 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Bankstown campus. The workshop which was convened by Dr Jan A Ali included two presenters, Junaid Amjad and Heba Al Adawy, who discussed their PhD research projects. Junaid Amjad is a PhD candidate in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts at Western Sydney University and his research topic is the Formation of Pakistan National Identity. Heba Al Adawy is also a PhD candidate in the School of Politics and International Relations at Australian National University and researching the Politics of Policing Dissent in Pakistan Higher Education. The abstracts of their presentations are given below. The Postgraduate Islamic Studies Network at Western Sydney University has an interdisciplinary and inter-institutional focus designed to bring postgraduate students who are conducting research on any aspect of Islam together to exchange ideas, create opportunities for collaboration, and engage in networking. The workshops run on the last Thursday OCTOBER 2018 / ISSUE 155

one can still get actively utilise the democracy through enquiries into state or federal parliaments. Senator Faruqi concluded her speech by offering her office and email address and inviting the academic to have a chat with her. Dr Iqbal Barakat, a lecturer in Screen Production at Macquarie University, a screen writer and a film director also invited to his upcoming theatre-screen work and symposium to the ICAN members. Dr Derya Iner, as the convenor of ICAN

gave a brief introduction about the vision and mission of ICAN and explained with some examples the bearing fruits of ICAN regardless of its short history. Dr Iner also invited her colleagues to nominate themselves to take part in the steering committee of ICAN emphasising the need for collectively owning and running the network. The amazing turn out of the academics who made time to attend this event showed their motivation and support to network,

Junaid Amjad of each calendar month and are open to postgraduate students and their supervisors from any Australian universities and the general public. Politics of Higher Education and National Identity in Pakistan Formation of Pakistan National Identity Junaid Amjad is a PhD student in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts at Western Sydney University. In his PhD research, Junaid is exploring the formation of Pakistani national identity. On 14 August 1947, after an extensive struggle, the people of sub-continent finally succeeded in securing independence from the British empire. The independence produced two independent states - India and Pakistan. Since the birth of Pakistan, the issue of national identity is a continuous debate. The Two-Nation Theory had inspired the idea of an independent state for Muslims of the Indian sub-continent and the Leadership of Pakistan Movement used religion first to justify the independent movement. This study is an analysis of the formation of Pakistan’s national identity and an investigation of the questions “what was Pakistan supposed to be, precisely?” “what is it now?” and “what obstacles Pakistan is facing in its attempt to form a national identity?” This study will discuss both narratives of secularist and Islamist to address the above questions. Politics of Policing Dissent in Pakistan Higher Education

Mouna Elmir is a Arabic Lecturer at Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisations (CISAC) Charles Sturt University (CSU). She is a member of the research team at CISAC/ISRA.

Heba Al Adawy

Heba Al Adawy is a first year PhD student at the School of Politics and International Relations at Australian National University. Her previous MPhil degree was in Modern Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford, and BA (High Honors) in History and International Relations from Mount Holyoke College, USA. Recent transformations in global higher education have been explained on one hand by world culture theorists such as John Meyer, who emphasizes the salience of the ‘world society’ in contributing to educational isomorphisms globally, and critics such as Roger Dale, one the other hand, who underscore the capitalist underpinnings behind the drive to compete in the global knowledge economy. In dialoguing with Meyer and Dale, I foreground the neoliberal restructuring of higher education in my analysis of the politics of policing dissent in Pakistani higher education. Meanwhile, Meyer lends a heuristic quality to my research. If educational institutes adapt to a common script the more connected they are to their international ‘organizational carriers,’ then what might this mean for higher education institutes within what scholars have called the ‘neoliberal security state’ of Pakistan? The higher education sector in Pakistan has evolved in the post 9/11 era in accordance with global shifts in emphases and the deepening influence of the development-security nexus within bilateral and multilateral donor agencies. This has been complemented with recent efforts to centre education

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connect and communicate with their fellow academics from different fields and universities. Dr Iner also invited the audience to follow ICAN –Islamic Community Academics Network from its linkedin and Facebook pages and the website: www.academicnetwork.com.au

(and ‘a positive national narrative’) as a counter-extremism measure within the National Internal Security Policy. Drawing upon concepts of neoliberal higher education from the International Political Sociology of Education, of (in) securitization of nationhood from the Paris School (IPS) of critical security Studies, and the ‘social control of dissent’ from social movement literature, my research intends to examine the micro-practices of state or institutional actors as they ‘construct’ and/or ‘police’ dissent within(public sector) higher education institutes. In particular, I intend to examine how these practices may regulate knowledge claims in terms of pedagogy, and discipline behaviour by setting out the parameters of permissible activism and criminalized dissent within the university. Simultaneously, I intend to focus on the contestation of these practices or the ‘push-back’ from students and teachers. In so doing, I question whether the post 9/11 neoliberal ‘sanitization’ of curriculum and securitization of education by the state represent a new mode of social control and whether the changing dynamics within the higher education sector (paradoxically) also represent the possibility of emancipatory politics at the margins of a neoliberal order. Dr Jan A. Ali is a Senior Lecturer in Islam and Modernity in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts at Western Sydney University. He is a Sociologist of Religion specializing in Islam with a research focus on existential Islam.

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Open Day at Muslim Lawn AMUST

Anjum Rafiqi An Open Day was held on Saturday 8 September at Muslim Lawn, Kemp’s Creek Cemetery attended by a large number of Muslims, both men and women representing Sydney’s multicultural community. Two busloads of middle and mature aged men and women from the Afghan community were joined by members of the Indonesian Islamic Association, the Islamic Association of Western Sydney (Rooty Hill Mosque), the Hills Awqaf Trust, Quakers Hill Mosque, the Malaya association from Arncliffe (Masjid Darul IMAAN) and Dee Why Mosque arrived to take part in the inauguration of the Muslim Lawn. The community leaders and their families were greeted with a warm welcome by Mr Peter O’Meara, the CEO of the Catholic Cemeteries Trust. Upon arrival, the visitors made dua (supplication) at the site of the recent first burial, from the Afghan community, that had taken place during the last week. Mr Nader Azmi showed the visitors around the Muslim Lawn and explained the process of allocations and burial at the cemetery. The cemetery has just begun taking Muslim interments, facilitating both single and double depth interments. Mr Azmi, joined by Mr Tamim Anwaryar,

Photo by Anjum Rafiqi praised the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Riverstone Muslim Cemetery Board and the

Catholic Cemeteries Trust that has allowed for Muslim burials at Kemp’s Creek to become a reality.

In front of the prayer and ablution facility at Muslim Lawn, Kemp’s Creek Cemetery: From left, Mr Anjum Rafiqi, Mr Kazi Ali, Dr Rafiqul Islam, Dr Muhammad Khan and Mr Shah Mustaque Parvez. Photo by Zia Ahmad.

The Afghan community leaders, both males as well as females together planted a native tree in their allocated section to mark the occasion. The visitors were also shown around the recently built prayer and ablution facility that is available for community members to use, when visiting their loved ones during the opening hours of the cemetery. Mid-day Zuhr prayers were performed in congregation led by Mr Usamah Alamudi in the main pavilion, followed by some tasty refreshments contributed by the hosts as well as the guests. Mr Kazi Ali and Mr Peter O’Meara thanked the community members and pledged to continue to work together as they sought to extend their inter-faith engagement into the future. Community representatives, Mr Abdur Rahman Crossingham, Mr Sohail Shamsi, Dr Muhammad Khan also thanked the Kemp’s Creek Management for their cooperation and pledged their support to the Catholic Cemetery Trust projects, seeking to make more burial sites available to the wider community. At Kemp’s Creek Cemetery, community organisations are able to reserve or pre-allocate burial places in the Lawn dedicated to their community. This empowers organisations to extend immediate assistance to their communities, particularly during the difficult time when loved ones have passed away. The Riverstone Muslim Cemetery Board (RMCB), a not for profit organisation run by volunteers, has been at the forefront of facilitating burials in Sydney’s West since 2000. The RMCB, alongside Islamic Co-operative Finance Australia, is also finalising the first Member Burial Expense Funds in association with interested community organisations. Queries regarding burials and/or pre-allocations at Kemp’s Creek Muslim Lawn Section may be directed to the RMCB by contacting Kazi Ali on 0406 626 744 or Azam Ali on 0432 169 026. Queries about the forth-coming Member Burial Expense funds may be directed to Anjum Rafiqi on 0403 022 786 or by email at: rmcb.general@gmail.com Anjum Rafiqi is a community volunteer associated with the Riverstone Muslim Cemetery Board.

Islamic Museum’s Gala Dinner to celebrate Muslim contributions Mei Nee Cheong-Green Performances by Ilyas Mao, Canadian Acappella singer, composer and songwriter will be just one of the highlights at the Islamic Museum of Australia’s (IMA) upcoming Gala Dinner on Saturday 20 October 2018. Held annually since the Museum’s inception in 2014, the Gala Dinner is a colourful celebration of Muslim contributions in Australia and the world. IMA General Manager Ali Fahour said the Gala Dinner was an opportunity for both Muslims and non-Muslims to come together in a relaxed setting for a night of great food and entertainment. “Just like the Museum itself, we welcome everyone, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, to join us at the Gala Dinner. Along with performances by Ilyas, there will be a panel discussion with sporting personalities including Essendon Football Club’s Adam Saad, and recently retired two-time

World Title Champion boxer, Billy Dib. And just to make sure the discussion remains light-hearted, it will be moderated by comedian Nazeem Hussein,” said Mr Fahour. He further added, “A Muhammad Ali robe, a 7-night holiday in Thailand and a Richmond Football Club signed guernsey plus a fishing charter experience with Bachar Houli are some of the auction items guests can bid on as part of the auction held on the night.” Professor Mohammad Abdalla, one of Australia’s most prominent and respected Muslim leaders will deliver the keynote address at the event. The Gala Dinner will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and is supported by La Trobe University, the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Victorian Government (Multicultural Affairs and Social Cohesion Division, Department of Premier and Cabinet). Tickets can be purchased online

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at www.islamicmuseum.org.au The Islamic Museum of Australia is located in Thornbury, in Melbourne’s north. It is the only Islamic museum in the country and provides educational and cross-cultural experiences for all ages. The Museum is open 10am – 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Mei Nee Cheong is the Media and Marketing Manager at the Islamic Museum of Australia and is based in Melbourne, Australia.

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Ilyas Mao, Canadian Acappella singer, will be at the Islamic Museum of Australia’s Gala Dinner. ISSUE 155 / OCTOBER 2018

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Multicultural Australia and Modern Australia same thing

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Exclusive Interview with Tony Burke MP In late August, shortly after the Liberal’s ousting of Malcolm Turnbull as Australia’s Prime Minister, Labor’s Tony Burke MP, granted Manarul Islam, representing AMUST, an exclusive interview. Mr Burke is the Federal Member for Watson, which includes Sydney suburbs of Bankstown, Lakemba, Canterbury and Strathfield and, amongst other positions, is the Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Australia. AMUST: How does Labor differ in its policies and approach towards minorities and the multicultural communities compared to the Coalition and others parties. TB: I never accepted that multicultural Australia is somehow a minority. Multicultural Australia and modern Australia are the same thing. Australia is a nation of more than 25 million different stories and each of those stories is as Australian as the other. They’re all stories that have either a link to this land all the way back to the first sunrise or they’re stories that at some point have involved immigration. Any attempt, which has been made too often, in particular by the coalition and the far-right parties, to claim that somehow the British immigration story is more legitimate than any other immigration story simply fails to understand modern Australia. AMUST: We’re already seeing a bit of a change in terms of who the prime minister has now allocated for immigration and multicultural affairs. Does Labor differentiate in terms of the policies? TB: Okay, let’s not be any doubt about what Scott Morrison’s done. Peter Dutton is still the cabinet minister in charge of immigration. The policy decisions at the cabinet table are still made by him. The government is trying to send one message to one part of Australia and a different message to other parts of Australia. Nobody should be conned by what Scott Morrison is doing. They are still a party where every single one of them voted to amend section 18c to allow for more racial hate speech. They are still a party where every one of them voted to introduce a university level English test which had exceptions based on whether or not you came from a country that was predominantly white. There is nothing that the most recent reshuffle has done that changes their voting record or changes the contempt within which this government has held people

from Non-English speaking backgrounds and multiculturalism in Australia. Scott Morrison is now Prime Minister, and is the same person who was reported to have taken to the Shadow Cabinet a proposal that they should capitalize on anti-Muslim sentiment in Australia. There are no excuses for this sort of behavior. In the next few months I have no doubt there’ll be a series of party members turning up to community functions and saying the exact opposite of what they’ve been doing for the last two and a half years and people should see through their attempts as political spin and nothing more. AMUST: Is labor complicit in the dehumanisation and mistreatment of refugees considering it was the party that established the offshore detention centers we have currently? TB: When Labor took the decisions on immigration in government there was a very clear and decent reason why we made those decisions which was to stop people from drowning. We made clear that people had to be resettled and our priority at the time was clear in that with both Nauru and Papa New Guinea they were 12-month agreements. Our intention had been that everyone would have been processed and resettled in as close to that timeframe as possible. What the g o v -

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Any attempt, which has been made too often, in particular by the coalition and the far-right parties, to claim that somehow the British immigration story is more legitimate than any other immigration story simply fails to understand modern Australia.

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Manarul Islam

ernment’s done is to approach the issue completely differently. They have wanted to use people’s pain and people’s treatment as a direct deterrent. That is never how Labor operated. We did take action and we were right to take action to try to stop people from drowning on their way here. Some of those decisions were extraordinarily difficult but they were the right thing to do. There is no way of comparing those decisions with the indefinite detention and five-year delay that has happened under this government. AMUST: Population and immigration levels and the infrastructure to support them are issues for many Australians. How can Labor address these issues without xenophobia and scapegoating migrants specially Muslims? TB: On the occasions that members of the Liberal Party have sought to demonise the Muslim community, Labor has always stood firm. In fact, more often than not, I have been the person who on behalf of the Labor Party has stood u p

and made clear that the behavior of the Liberal Party has been completely unacceptable. The way some in the government have sought to use the population debate is completely transparent. They failed to invest in infrastructure, for years refused to give any money to public transport at all and then wanted to blame immigration for the fact that our infrastructure wasn’t up to scratch. I understand completely when people complain about how crowded the roads are and how crowded the public transport is. I use the roads, I catch the train every week. I know exactly what that congestion is. The cause of it has been Liberal government cuts and a federal government refusing to invest properly in infrastructure. They shouldn’t be allowed to use population as cover. The immigration program will always need to be varied and responsive to the needs of the nation at different times. When there are particular jobs that we can’t fill locally, we will always turn to immigration to provide this short term availability of labour and that won’t change but it is desperate politics in the extreme to have a government that has refused to invest in infrastructure all this time to now say it’s the immigrants fault rather than their own. AMUST: What will Labor’s first priorities be if it wins office in the next Federal election? TB: Look, there’s a whole series of announcements still to come from Bill Shorten. The simplicity of our priorities are that we want better schools and better hospitals not bigger banks. A whole lot of additional promises will continue to come out between now and the election to give form to all of that. The other thing you’ll get from the Labor government is that our central objective will be to bring Australians together not to divide them against each other and that is a fundamental difference in the language that comes from government and the Islamic community know better than anyone else that the language that comes from government has a significant impact on how people treat each other in the street. AMUST: Why should Muslims vote for Labor? TB: Muslims want somebody who, on the toughest day, will still stand firm and stand with them. Over a lot of years I believe my party and me as the spokesperson have shown that we don’t go missing on the tough days. We haven’t, we don’t intend to and our approach will always be to bring people together not to divide them. Manarul Islam is an IT professional, community worker and AMUST correspondent based in Canberra.

Muslim support for Uluru statement Uzma Husaini In 2017 Australia’s First Nations issued a statement from their sacred land of Uluru which came to be known as the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’. “This sovereignty is a spiritual notion: the ancestral tie between the land, or ‘mother nature’, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who were born therefrom, remain attached thereto, and must one day return thither to be united with our ancestors. OCTOBER 2018 / ISSUE 155

This link is the basis of the ownership of the soil, or better, of sovereignty. It has never been ceded or extinguished, and co-exists with the sovereignty of the Crown.” This statement was their call for understanding and recognition. Muslims Australia, in a statement released on 18 September 2018 said that it supports the contents of that statement and urges the political leadership to enter into a genuine dialogue with the First Nations in response to it. “Islam has a strong sense of justice and

standing up to oppression. As Muslims, and Australians who care about this country, we stand with the people of our First Nations. They have voiced their concerns and we owe it to them to listen, hear and respond” Dr Rateb Jneid, AFIC President said. The AFIC statement stated that the Muslim community of Australia stands in solidarity with our First Nations and the struggle for recognition of their rights and the injustices that have been perpetrated on them since white settlement. Australia is still a young country with an

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opportunity to forge a future that is built on mutual respect and recognition. But this cannot occur without us acknowledging the plight of our First Nations and the injustices they have, and continue, to endure. This issue is not about current generations being held to account for what the predecessors may or may not have done. It is about current generations accepting the true history of this nation and setting a future course that is built on honesty and a genuine recognition of what befell our First Nations.

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Muslim family awarded for saving Jewish girl Philip Feinstein A Bosnian Muslim family was recognised on 29 May 2018 for saving the life of a Jewish girl, Nadica, now living in Australia, from the Nazi regime during World War 2. Before and during World War 2 the Nazi regime carried out atrocities that the whole world knows about. Whilst there are many stories of bravery on the battlefront, there are also counts of heroism that to this day are only now being told. One such account is of a Bosnian Muslim family by the name of Prohić who risked their lives in order to save Nadica, a young Jewish child. This is the story of the Prohić family. A Jewish couple Viktor (pharmacist) and Helena Kolman moved to Grac’anica in Bosnia. They became good friends with the Muslim family Prohić, in particular Avdo, the first Muslim doctor in Grac’anica. During the war, Viktor was shot and killed fighting the Nazis. Helena who was on the run, got pneumonia and was very sick together with their 12 month old daughter Nadica. When Avdo heard about their grave situation, he fetched them and brought them back to Grac’anica and treated them in hospital. Helena was later arrested and killed by the Croatian Nazis in August 1943. Avdo took Nadica to his home and looked and cared after her together with his mother Esme. When they heard that the Nazis were looking for a Jewish child, it became too dangerous for her to stay in Grac’anica. Avdo’s brother Rukib Prohić and his fiancé Mujesira took her pretending that it was their child to Zagreb to Sabria and his wife Safeta who already had 3 children of their own. Nadica lived with them for over 2 years. They often hid her with nannies in many different properties Sabria owned.

Rejhan, Aviva and Egon with “Righteous Among the Nation” award and medal. Helena’s older sister Erna with her hus- the Muslim Prohić family. The award was presented in Bosnia on band Albert and 2 sons, Kurt and Egon, survived the war by moving with false docu- 29 May 2018, as that is where the deed ocments from Bosnia to Italy and Switzerland. curred. Present at the ceremony were Aviva After the war Erna and Albert went to (Nadica) and her husband Louis, plus Egon Bosnia to look for any survivors of Erna’s and Miriam Sonnenschein with members of family. All had been killed except little 3 their family. There were also 35 descendants of the years old Nadica whom they found with Prohić family. Ambassadors of Israel, RoSabria’s family. They adopted her. After moving to Israel mania, Greece, Sweden, Germany, Switzerwhen Nadica was 7 years old, South Africa land and Slovakia were also present. There followed and they finally settled in Sydney. were many international media outlets reEgon Sonnenschein, one of Erna’s two porting on this momentous occasion of how sons, recently made contact with Yad a Muslim family came to protect a young Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to the Jewish child. The four names of the Prohić victims of the Holocaust. He got the Pro- family will be engraved in a special place at hić family honoured for their great deed of Yad Vashem forever. In a conversation I had with Aviva Fox, saving a young Jewish girl during the Nazi now a successful teacher at Kesser Torah fascist regime. After submitting much evidence, docu- College, she concluded by saying “I was mentation and photographs, the award was lucky to be among amazing people, the Progranted posthumously to four members of hić family.”

Aviva with three nannies from house of Sabria It should be noted that a similar Yad Vashem award was presented to the family of Aboriginal elder William Cooper of the Yorta Yorta tribe, who just weeks after Kristallnacht in 1938, led a delegation to the German consulate in Melbourne to deliver a petition condemning the Nazi treatment of the Jews. Note: It is a condition that a recipient of this honour must not be Jewish, must have put themselves in danger while doing a great deed, and no money or compensation could have been paid for the action taken. This award is called the “Righteous Among the Nations” which is the highest award by Yad Vashem in Israel. Philip Feinstein is a Sydney based writer, musician and activist working for MUSIC FOR REFUGEES www.musicforrefugees.org

Australia to pressure China over plight of Uyghur Muslims

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Mr Chris Hayes MP, Federal Member for the NSW seat of Fowler and Chief Opposition Whip spoke in the Federal Parliament, Canberra on the deteriorating human rights situation facing the Uyghur Muslims in China on Monday 17 September 2018. He called on the Australian government to increase the pressure on China over the reported mass detentions of the Uyghur Muslims and use its position on the UN Human Rights Council, in coordination with other members, to continue to put pressure on the Chinese government. He urged the Australian government to ensure that the Uyghur communities here in Australia have every assistance possible to ensure that they are able to contact their family members and friends in their homeland. “We cannot simply take the role of bystanders in the hope of change. Australia must have the courage of its convictions when it comes to human rights,” he said. The following is the transcript of his full speech. ‘I feel hopeless. We are seeking a peaceful life but our life is not in peace… All night I have to fight with my nightmares, as if I am living in those camps. And worse, I know the world doesn’t care.’ This is a statement made by one of my constituents, Zulfia Erk, who is a social worker and mother of three and who is very prominent in our community. We are fortunate to have Zulfia and her husband here with us today in the gallery, and I take the opportunity to thank them for

their tireless advocacy on behalf of Australian Uyghur communities. Zulfia puts in perspective the dire human rights situation faced by the Turkic Muslims, the Uyghurs, in China’s north-western region. Zulfia Erk has been a passionate advocate for the Uyghur community, having personally been affected by the human rights situation in China given the fact that five of her brothers are in detention camps in Xinjiang presently. A recent report by Human Rights Watch highlights the gravity of the situation, providing evidence of China’s arbitrary detention and mistreatment of the Uyghur people. Through the region, the Turkic Muslims, a population of 13 million people, are subjected to restrictions on movement, mass surveillance and significant limitations on their religious freedoms, all in violation of the universally accepted principles of human rights. In describing the large-scale crackdown on human rights in this region, Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, says that the Chinese government is committing human

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rights abuses in Xinjiang on a scale unseen in the country for many decades. In a recent review, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination cited estimates that up to one million people are currently being held in re-education camps in Xinjiang alone. The conditions in these camps are rife with torture and solitary confinement, and deprivation of food and sustenance is widespread. The gravity of the conditions is highlighted in a number of interviews conducted by Human Rights Watch with former Xinjiang inmates. Rustam, a former detainee who spent months in a re-education camp, says: Nobody can move because they watch you through the video cameras … we were watched, even in the toilet. In political education camp we were always under stress. The detainees in these political education camps are being held without any rights to due process. People are reportedly being detained for simply having family and friends abroad, asking the authorities for the issue of a passport or simply making plans to go overseas.

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Unlike the United States, China remains a permanent member of the United Nations Human Rights Council and, as such, clearly has a responsibility for the promotion of human rights globally. We support an economically strong and prosperous China, and we think it is an important role that China has to play internationally in promoting peace and the recognition of human rights. In saying this, I emphasise that our support for this motion is purely based on the grounds of human rights, as Labor is deeply concerned about the human rights situation faced by the Uyghur people. We do not support any separatist agenda, and we remain fully committed to our one-China policy. Nevertheless, China is one of Australia’s longstanding and close friends, and our dialogue with it should not simply be confined to trade, economics and regional security. We should be open to discussing with it all matters associated with our respective human rights obligations. On this note, I call on the Australian government to increase the pressure on China over the reported mass detentions of the Uyghur Muslims. The Australian government should use its position on the UN Human Rights Council, in coordination with other members, to continue to put pressure on the Chinese government. I also call on the Australian government to ensure that the Uyghur communities here in Australia have every assistance possible to ensure that they are able to contact their family members and friends in their homeland. We cannot simply take the role of bystanders in the hope of change. Australia must have the courage of its convictions when it comes to human rights. ISSUE 155 / OCTOBER 2018

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Making peaceful connections for living in harmony that the whole race of their people should not be held accountable. I am a proud Jewish Australian, but don’t With all the misunderstandings in our so- always agree with decisions made by the ciety, the writer of this article instigated a governments of Israel or Australia. After a very positive meeting Vic invited recent meeting between two Green Councillors from the Randwick City Coun- Lindsay and Philipa to visit the Sydney Jewcil and the chief executive of the NSW ish Museum in Darlinghurst. He commented: “The Sydney Jewish Jewish Board of DepuMuseum is all about ties, Vic Alhadeff. At a human rights and undercoffee lounge in Bondi I think it is vital standing where racial haJunction the four of us that we all work tred and bigotry can lead. included Mayor LindIt delivers a powerful say Shurey and Philipa together as a message which says that Veitch. We discussed racist violence doesn’t antisemitism and othcommunity to with violence, but er prejudices that surprevent a repeat of begin with words. round us. We greatly appreciI initiated our meeting the horrific human ated the leadership of by pointing out that berights abuses that Randwick City Council cause the Australian govundertaking this tour and ernment makes poor demarked much of understanding how a civcisions on their handling ilised nation such as Gerof refugees, it does not the 20th century, could carry out the mean that all Australians and which are still many Holocaust – the murder are bad. of six million Jews.” And the same can be occurring today. The museum tour endsaid about Jewish peoed with the four of us, ple. While many people rightfully disagree with some decisions plus Randwick Executive Manager Luke made by the Israeli government, I ques- Fitzgerald, going to the cafe in the museum tioned why some people then held negative for coffee. Once again the conversation was very positive and focussed on our wonderful sentiments against Jewish people. The matter was discussed at length culmi- multicultural society. On reflection of the tour, Councillor Philinating in agreement that if any government makes negative decisions about an issue, pa Veitch said: “It was a great honour to vis-

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Philip Feinstein

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Vic Alhadeff, Philipa Veitch. Lindsay Shurey and Philip Feinstein visiting the Sydney Jewish Museum. it the Jewish museum today. Museums such It was so heartening to see many school as this play an incredibly important role in children listening attentively to the stories, ensuring that new generations do not repeat which for some would have been the first the horrific mistakes of the past. time they had heard them.” They drive you to question yourself – The successful meeting of bringing Green What would I have done then? What can I Councillors and Jewish historians together do now? I think it is vital that we all work was aptly summarised by Randwick Exectogether as a community to prevent a re- utive Manager Luke Fitzgerald: “The mupeat of the horrific human rights abuses that seum is a powerful reminder that whilst the marked much of the 20th century, and which actions of a person can be devastating, those are still occurring today.” actions do not define a nation, a culture or In a similar vein Mayor Lindsay Shurey its people”. added: “It was humbling to be reminded of Surely the time has come for all groups, the horrors of Hitler’s ‘Final Solution’ set religions and different cultures to recognise out so graphically in the museum. I thank and respect all people, no matter what their Vic Alhadeff for taking the time out to show history is. us around and sharing his own family story.

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Community consultation on dowry abuse Mobinah Ahmad Labor representatives held a roundtable with community stakeholders to discuss the Senate Inquiry into the practice and incidence of dowry abuse in Australia on Thursday 6 September in Sydney. A thorough investigation looked into the practice and the prevalence of dowry in Australia, as well as its potential links to family violence. The purpose of the Senate Inquiry is to raise awareness about the issue in the wider community and provide an avenue for community members to have their voices heard. Julian Hill MP emphasised that dowry abuse did not belong to one particular culture or religion. He also raised the issue of dowry abuse in Parliament which generated a strong community response. This helped begin the conversation and pave the way for the inquiry to be initiated. “Dowry perpetuates a culture of ownership of women, which runs against the cause of equality. Dowry extortion has been recognised as a direct cause of family violence and horrific murders and suicides. The detailed submissions received from across

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The purpose of the Senate Inquiry is to raise awareness about the issue in the wider community and provide an avenue for community members to have their voices heard. Australia show the extent of concern and point the way to changes that may be needed in family law, criminal law, migration sys-

tems and policing responses,” Mr Hill said. Community stakeholders and leaders provided important feedback through the Senate Inquiry process. Michelle Rowland represents a large and growing Sub-continent population in her electorate of Greenway in North West Sydney and has received representations from local women’s support services, legal support services and constituents about dowry abuse. “Dowry abuse and family violence have a terrible impact on women and families. It is crucial the government does all it can to reach out to women in need and support families in our community. Labor is passionate about ensuring all women from diverse cultural and linguistic

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backgrounds are treated with respect and can live free from all forms of violence, including in the form of dowry abuse,” Ms Rowland said. The Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee Senator, Louise Pratt said “The practice of requiring dowries can result in abuse and have devastating impacts on women and their families. Despite laws prohibiting it in Australia, we know this practice still exists.” The final report is due back to the Senate on Thursday, 6 December 2018. Mobinah Ahmad is the NSW Executive Officer of The Australia Arab Chambers of Commerce & Industry (AACCI).

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Spring things to see and do in Brisbane Suraya Daly It’s been a few weeks of a brand new season, and after months of shivering in the early mornings, the change in temperature is very much welcomed this side of the world. Gone are the days where our morning coffees are going cold too soon. The sun shines all through the morning, giving us 25-degree averages by midday. The highly anticipated warmer weather brings with it an array of places to see and things to do in the Sunshine State. Whether you’re into arts and culture, if you fancy yourself as a foodie, or you’re the outdoorsy type, this list of things to do this spring in Brisbane offers something for everyone. Spring is known for the fresh produces we all delight over from the beautiful farmland as it gets warmer. So why not start the list with Brisbane’s best farmers’ markets? The well-known-and-loved Rocklea markets offers the largest fresh food and lifestyle market in Brisbane. The Saturday Fresh Markets boast over 220 stalls with fresh fruit and veg, flowers and meats, plants and lifestyle products. Check it out when it’s on every Saturday, 6 am to 12 pm. the Toohey Forest tracks in the Southside The city centre offers the Riverside Mar- runs for 3 km and takes about an hour to kets located at the City complete on a hike. Botanic Gardens and You’ll find koalas, echidAlbert Street, being a nas, and gliders that live The highly favourite for locals and the forest. anticipated warmer in Dubbed tourists for 30 years. as Brisbane’s Here, you’ll find Queensweather brings with best wetlands, the Boonland art and fashion on Wetlands is an easy it an array of places dall display, with live music and flat walk through. A to see and things to diverse range of wildlife and international food and coffee every Sunday, do in the Sunshine and a bird-watching hut from 8 am to 3 pm. make for picturesque State. If getting out there and scenes through this trail. keeping active is how Known to dazzle Brisyou enjoy making the most of the sunshine, bane music lovers every year at this time of

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the year, the Brisbane Festival will be doing just that this year when it transforms the city over three weeks from 8-29 September. The program includes theatre, music, dance, circus and opera, with the Riverfire fireworks display ending the spectacle with a bang, literally, on Story Bridge. Boasting one of the world’s most significant collections of contemporary Asian and Pacific art, the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art is a show not to be missed. It showcases contemporary art from the Asia Pacific when it arrives on our shores in late November. If you love culture and interesting spaces, the Brisbane Open House will delight as vis-

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Racism does stop with me Chris Hayes We must stand against racism. I’m proud to say that that’s exactly what occurred recently in our federal parliament. It was one of the few instances where we’ve seen the parliament come together. At that time, we condemned the derogatory and offensive statements made by Senator Fraser Anning. His was a speech belittling our people, dividing our community and, quite frankly, inciting hatred towards fellow Australians. It was a display of complete ignorance not only towards our Australian Muslims but also to those of the Jewish faith, as it invoked the term ‘final solution’ to fulfill his filthy agenda. To be an Australian should be dictated not by your religion or your ethnicity but by your love for this country and the contribution you make to our great nation. I have the honour of representing one of the most multicultural electorates in the whole of Australia and, on behalf of my constituents, I can tell Fraser Anning that his vile comments are not welcome and have no place, certainly not in this parliament. This sort of behaviour should never be tolerated, and we should always condemn it for what it is, and that is pure racism. What do we hear from his party leader, the Member for Kennedy? No remorse and no apology, just a rambling statement claiming that he backs Senator Anning 1000 percent. What’s worse is that he claims that 90 per-

itors are invited to go behind the scenes in design studios, places of worship, heritage spaces, and medical labs over one weekend on 13 and 14 October. Suraya Daly is a graduate of the Queensland University of Technology in the qualifications of the Graduate Certificate in Creative Industries and Journalism. She works in technology sales and has a passion for writing, where she would often hone her creativity by contributing articles which can be found on her blog on www.surayaspeaks.wordpress.com

May hope rise again Dr Reginald Naulty A rainbow in the misty air, diamonds in a woman`s hair, incense rising to the light, the moon brightening the sky at night, music in the room, a candle in the gloom. May current skepticism wane, may hope rise again, through the door open wide may light pour inside.

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Dr Reginald Naulty, originally from Adelaide, has taught at Charles Sturt University and has been a prolific writer since 1972.

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cent of Australians do so as well. What next? Burning crosses? Wearing white-hooded gowns? Setting up a parliamentary branch of the Ku Klux Klan? Unfortunately, people like Senator Hanson and the One Nation party have made a career out of racist ideologies. Now Senator Anning and the Member for Kennedy seem determined to join her in a race to the bottom of Australian politics. This bigotry and racism must stop. It’s completely un-Australian and has no place

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here. We must never be silent when our fellow Australians are subject to such vile behaviour. By remaining silent, we are simply giving credit to those racist views that seek to divide our communities. The truth is, racism does stop with me. Mr Chris Hayes MP is the Federal Member for the NSW seat of Fowler and Chief Opposition Whip.

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Muslims in the West: A spicy blend indeed Irfan Yusuf If you believe much commentary and political rhetoric about young Muslims, you’d think anyone aged 18 to 30 growing up in a Western country and identifying as Muslim shares a common genetic makeup. Even much of the academic stuff on this topic, especially that emerging from the counterterrorism “industry” (recipient of plenty of research grants and media attention) says pretty much the same. There are a few notable exceptions. One of them is UK scholar Dr Sadek Hamid’s 2016 work, Sufis, Salafis and Islamists: The Contested Ground of British Islamic Activism. The title itself displays a nuance arising not only from academic research but actual on-the-ground experience. The book started out as a PhD thesis which in turn was inspired by an irreverent article, published by a British Muslim journalist, which sought to explain in a humorous fashion all the various “players” that

influenced the collective religious activism on UK campuses. Hamid speaks not just of his own experiences but also about people from a host of factions, denominations, jamaah’s etc. These include “salafi da’wa” (in various forms), Hizb ut-Tahrirand “traditional” Islam. (I’ve written something similar about Sydney Muslims of my own generation in Once Were Radicals, though my book only dealt with one generation of activism.) Young British Muslims are at least a decade ahead of us Aussie Mossies when it comes to such devotional and ideological mass debates. But the faultlines of youth in London

or Manchester aren’t the same as those in Lakemba or Broadmeadows. For a start, British Islam (at least in its most public form) is largely a South Asian affair. South Asian Muslims are a complex mix of language, ethnicity and history. So are Aussie Muslims, though the language, history and politics are very different. Pakistan is a Muslim-majority country. Bangladesh is also a Muslim-majority country that used to be part of Pakistan until a violent struggle saw a partition in 1971. No doubt all this, not to mention Mughal and British colonial era stuff, have an impact on how British Muslims of South Asian heritage understand their faith as well as how their kids may rebel against it. Australian Islam

also has a strong South Asian element. But Australians of South Asian heritage, unlike their UK counterparts, have in recent times been a very middle-class phenomenon. Meanwhile, UK Arabs are very middle-class while South Asians are more working class. Australia has a very substantial Turkish element which has been heavily influenced by the Turkish Diyanet (Ministry for Religious Affairs). Religious divisions are largely based on divisions inside Turkey and among the European Turkish diaspora. This doesn’t take into account Australia’s growing Shia communities of Iraqi, Lebanese, Afghan and South Asian backgrounds. Last Muharram, I spent time among Sydney’s South Asian and Arab Shia communities. The difference between various groups were quite profound. If you thought Shia were blind lovers of all things Iranian, think again. When it comes to Muslim youth variety, things can get very spicy indeed. Irfan Yusuf is a lawyer and an award-winning writer and reviewer. He is a PhD Candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship & Globalisation, Deakin University.

Reopening of Bhai Gurdas Ji Library Tarlochan Singh Sydney’s Bhai Gurdas Ji Library at Glenwood was reopened with the inauguration taking place on Saturday 22 September 2018. The Australian Sikh Association (ASA) is very excited to launch the official re-opening of the Bhai Gurdas Ji Library. The library has been newly renovated with a fresh look and purpose, to be a multi-use space for learning. Dr Surinder Singh, the Managing Director of the Guru Nanak Punjabi School, Glenwood and the Director of Bhai Gurdas Ji Library welcomed the guests and thanked them for blessing the occasion by their presence. Hon Michelle Rowland MP and Hon Kevin Connolly MP were the chief guests at the occasion. Librarians Mrs Parvinder Kaur and Mr Ajit Pal were also very excited to find the fresh look of the library. Mrs Parvinder Kaur who has been working as a librarian at the Bhai Gurdas Ji Library for the last 14 years said, “The main purpose of the library is to increase the interest of kids in the library and that the ed-

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ucation of Sikh children and youths should be the highest priority for Gurdwara Sahib management and members.” The primary purpose of Bhai Gurdas Ji Library is to provide books, materials and services which will help each person develop his or her faith in Sikhism. The library

will also function as a Sikh Research Centre facility. In the coming years we will see the library become a role model to other libraries in the area. This project comes as part of the ASA’s greater educational vision. So far, the great-

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est successes include running the largest Punjabi language school in Australia and being the largest provider of Sikh Special Religious Education teachers to Public Schools. The ASA is working to create a largescale Sikh Research Centre in Australia for Sikh history and religious studies.

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Stay-at-Home Mums save billions for the economy Having mothers stay at home has economical, societal and psychological benefits, most importantly, improving the health and wellbeing of children. “How are you? What are you doing? Working?” “Yes, busy with kids, their studies, house work.” “No, I mean do you have any job?” This is a typical conversation a stay-athome mums face. It is not easy especially for single mums with no moral or emotional support from ex-husbands. When circumstances compel mothers into performing the duties of both a father and a mother, the franchise of motherhood is in crisis. Mothers are forced into sacrificing their important role – their role as architects of human society. While society is ready to acknowledge that an imbalance in the environment leads to climate change catastrophes, it is rarely

This is your country Frazia Ali This is your country You are citizen of this country This is your garden You are flowers of this garden The beauty of this country depends upon you This is your country You are stars of this country The greatness of this country depends upon you This is your country You are hopes of this country The future of this country depends upon you This is your country The land of this country is yours Oceans of this country are yours Mountains of this country are yours You are owner of this country This is your country The progress of this country depends upon you So you should work hard to progress this country This is your country You should follow rules and regulations of this country to keep justice in this country Frazia Ali is a Pakistani American Muslim single mother. She has two children and lives in San Ramon California, USA. She started writing poetry to spread peace and love through her writing.

acknowledged that an imbalance in the role of parenting causes chaos in families with catastrophic effects for the society. All human cultures and civilisations emphasise the significance and importance of the family unit. Quite often, the family is described as the glue which binds society together. When this unit breaks down, the negative implications for society are catastrophic. When children are unable to look to positive parental role models, they may develop psychological symptoms including aimlessness, insularity and depression. The danger of these symptoms in young children and teenagers is that they may manifest themselves in substance abuse and anti-social behaviour. Mothers with committed and caring husbands can solve many problems related to health, depression, anxiety, and anti-social behaviour in young children and teenagers. Being a Mother is one of the noblest contributions that a woman can make to civilisation. The importance of nurturing young children at home is unfortunately impossible when single mothers are forced to go to work and send their children to child care facilities. In Islam, motherhood is a sacred and sac- many mothers are now going to work and rosanct vocation. These are the glowing their children’s mental and physical wellbeterms with which the Prophet (s) described ing is suffering. Australia’s prosperity is masking an una mother’s status. “Paradise lies under the feet of your moth- palatable truth - the health and wellbeing of our children lag unacceptably behind those er”- Prophet Mohammad (s) declared. Motherhood is not a thankless mundane of many developed countries. In 2015-16, the Australian Government activity, rather it is a spiritual journey, wherein every bit of sacrifice will be ac- spent $9 billion on mental health including on children aged 4-17, for mental disorders knowledged and rewarded. like ADHD, conduct disHaving mothers-stayorder and major depresat-home has many soMotherhood is sive disorder. cietal benefits. Most https://goo.gl/eBEP2n important among these, not a thankless In 2011 Australian is the betterment of the health and wellbeing of mundane activity, government spent $54 billion on tackling dechildren. Mothers can rather it is a pression and other psysolve many behavioural chological, social and and mental disorders and spiritual journey, behavioural issues in other complexes in chilchildren (ABS). dren. wherein every bit Mothers at home reNobel-Prize-winning of sacrifice will be duce the burden on hospsychologists have conpitals and health servicfirmed that it is vital for acknowledged es: children to get proper atThe aim of every countention and nurturing at a and rewarded. try’s economy should be very young age. the physical and mental Children need attention like answering their queries, making them wellbeing of the citizens, not just the surplus in the budget. Moreover, citizens with poor feel loved and cared for. Children also learn to care and show af- physical and mental health place a great fection from the actions of their parents. strain on the budget. Former Australian of the Year and ARAThis training at home reduces the chances of CY Board Chair, Professor Fiona Stanley, a child becoming a bully or dysfunctional. Unfortunately, in the contemporary world, AC states, “While Australia’s economic

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Tahera Chaudhary

and technological progress has been strong over recent decades, these benefits have not resulted in significant improvements to the health and wellbeing of the nation’s young people.” One of the most pressing health problems is childhood obesity. In 2011 the government of Australia spent $21 billion on direct obesity costs. Mothers who cook healthy food at home can reduce these expenses. Also, reducing the consumption of junk and canned food can lead to the decreased use of food resources, packaging, less factory pollution and reduction in the use of preservatives in food. The problem of obesity can only get worse as obese children grow into obese adults. There could be an ‘epidemic of stillbirths’ in Australia in the next few years if the nation’s obesity rate continues to soar and more women aged over 35 have children, researchers have found. The strain of financial burdens on individuals and families, the unregulated and unjust fiscal policies of the banks and the government, and the loss of vital family values are all catalysts to the deterioration of the family unit, ultimately affecting the mental health and wellbeing of our children, our future. Stay-at-home mums have no need to apologise. Their contribution to their families and the society is uniquely valuable.

Project Rozana: Building bridges through healthcare Suraya Daly Project Rozana is an Australian-inspired initiative to raise funds to treat critically-ill Palestinian children in Israeli hospitals from centres of conflict. Launched in 2013 by Hadassah Australia, it was inspired by the remarkable story of a young Palestinian girl, Rozana Abu Ghannam. After falling from the ninth floor of her family’s apartment near Ramallah, four-year-old Rozana Salawhi sustained life-threatening injuries back in 2012. The quick-thinking of her mother Maysa Abu Ghannam saw Rozana being sent to Ha-

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dassah Hospital in Jerusalem, using Israel’s healthcare system, instead of the local Palestinian hospital. There, Rozana survived and her conditions improved. It was then that the decision to create and fund “opportunities that would reverse the imbalance between the two systems” was made. All over the world, people from all faiths and political beliefs have embraced Project Rozana, working hand-in-hand with the medical and administrative leadership of Hadassah Hospital and other Israeli healthcare centres. They provide treatment for critically ill and injured Palestinian children, and children from countries of conflict such as Syria

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and Iraq. The Head of the Palestinian Delegation here in Australia, Izzat Abdulhadi, has played a significant role in the project. The Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Government both support the project. The Australian Board for Project Rozana includes prominent Australians including Professor Dame Marie Bashir, the patronin-chief who is a mental health professional and former Governor of New South Wales, Dame Quentin Bryce who is an Australian lawyer and former Governor-General of Australia, and Tim Costello, the Chief Advocate of World Vision Australia and a globally respected Human Rights activist and commentator. ISSUE 155 / OCTOBER 2018

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Where to pray Jummah? New South Wales

Hampden Road Mosque Where: 35 Hampden Rod, Artarmon, 2064 When: 1.15 p.m.

Harrow Road Auburn Islamic Centre Where: 12 Harrow Rd, Auburn, NSW, 2144. When: 12.15 pm Winter/1.15 pm Summer.

Brava Avenue Musallah Where: 38 Brava Ave, San Remo, 2262. When: 1.15 p.m

Hampden Road Mosque Where: 35 Hampden Rod, Artarmon, 2064 When: 1.15 p.m.

Manly Warringah Mosque Where: 12 Souch Creek Rd, Dee Why, NSW, 2099. When: 1.30 p.m

Banool St Musallah Where: Terry Lamb Complex, Abbott Park, End of Banool St, Chester Hill, NSW, 2162. When: 12.15 p.m. or 1.15 p.m. during daylight savings

Guildford Masjid Where: 62 Mountford Ave, Guildford, 2161. When: 1.15 p.m

Queensland

Gold Coast Masjid Where: Lot 1, 2, 144 Allied Dr, Arundel QLD 4214. When: 1.00 p.m.

QLD Uni Musallah Where: 323 Hawken Dr, St Lucia, QLD 4067. When: 1.15 p.m.

MEC Lifestyle Centre Where: 262 Fryar Rd, Eagelby, QLD 4207. When: 12.45 p.m.

Canberra

Victoria

ANU Musallah

Abu Bakr Siddique Mosque

Where: North Rd, Acton ACT 2601. When: 1.15 p.m.

Where: 116 Elsworth St East, Canadian Victoria, 3350. When: 12.30 p.m.

Canberra Islamic Centre

Sunnah Mosque

Where: 221 Clive Steele Avenue, Monash ACT 2904. When: 1.00 p.m.

Where: 41-43 Plumpton Av Glenroy 3046. When: 1.25 p.m

Canberra Mosque

Monash University Masjid

Telegraph Rd Masjid

Where: 130 Empire Cct, Yarralumla, ACT 2600. When: 1.15 p.m.

Where: 119 Telegraph Rd, Bald Hills, QLD 4036. When: 1.00 p.m.

Notaras Multicultural Centre

Fuller St Masjid

Where: 180 London Cct, Canberra ACT, 2601. When: 1.00 p.m.

Where: 91-101 Boundary Road North Melbourne VIC 3051. When: 1.30 p.m

Canberra Uni Mussalah

Union St Masjid

Where: 33 Fuller St, Lutwyche, QLD 4030. When: 1.00 p.m.

Sunshine Coast Masjid Where: 11A Millwell Rd East, Maroochydoore, QLD 4558. When: 12.30 p.m.

Piabila Musallah Where: 11 Andrew St, Pialba, QLD 4655. When: 1.20 p.m.

Kingston Rd Musallah Where: U 21, 390 Kingston Rd, Slacks Creek, QLD 4114. When: 1.00 p.m.

Tasmania

Where: 16 Beddoe Ave Clayton VIC 3168. When: 1.15 p.m

Where: Kirinari St, Bruce, ACT 2617. When: 2.00 p.m.

Islamic Centre of Victoria

Canberra Islamic Centre Where: 221 Clive Steele Avenue, Monash ACT 2904. When: 1.00 p.m.

Western Australia William St Masjid Where: 427 William St, Perth, WA 6003. When: 1.00 p.m.

Western Australia Uni Musallah

Where: Churchill Ave, Sandy Bay, Tas 7005. When: 1.20 p.m.

Where: 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, When: 1.15 p.m

Rooty Hill Masjid

Warwick St Mosque

Malvern Rd Masjid

Where: 33 Headcorn St, Mount Druitt, 2770. When: 1.15 p.m

Where: 166 Warwick St, West Hobart, Tas 7001. When: 1.20 p.m.

Where: 7 Malvern Rd, Rivervale, WA, 6103 When: 1.00 p.m.

Where: 6 Wilson Rd, Hinchinbrook, 2168. When: 1.15 p.m

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Amssa Centre

Where: 103 Union St, Windsor VIC 3181. When: 12.30 p.m

TUU Mosque

Masjid Bilal

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Where: 66-68 Jeffcott Street, West Melbourne VIC 3003. When: 12.00 p.m.

Melton Community Centre Where: Darlingsford Barn, 13-15 Darlingsford Boulevard, Melton, Victoria 3337. When: 1.30 p.m

Melbourne Madinah Where: 26 Therry St, Melbourne VIC 3004. When: 1.10 p.m. Zaynab Gul Zaynab Gul is a university student studying Law and Media at UNSW.

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Qurbani reaches Afghan villagers suffering from devastating floods Emily Mays “This year’s Eid-al Qurban Appeal had a special purpose; to sacrifice 100 sheep at the village of Pushgoor in Panjshir Valley, where just a few weeks ago a devastating flood destroyed much of the village.” In 2018, Mahboba’s Promise directly delivered fresh Qurbani meat to thousands of Afghan people most in need. With gratitude to generous donors, the organisation was able to reach hundreds more families than any year prior. This Eid Al-Adha, Mahboba’s Promise distributed high quality meat to 6 Provinces in Afghanistan (Kabul, Parwan, Panjshir, Bamyan, Takhar and Badakhshan), most of which were rural areas that are difficult to reach by most other charities. The organisation targeted communities and families whom hardly ever receive sup-

Founder of Mahboba’s Promise, Mahboba Rawi, distributes fresh Qurbani to the orphans of Kabul Hope House.

port and are considered the poorest and most vulnerable, such as children, women and the elderly.

The Qurban was sourced from local farmers to ensure they are given the opportunity to use their skills and take part in the Islamic tradition, while simultaneously strengthening the local economy. The organisation ensured only the healthiest and highest quality Qurban sheep and cows were sacrificed and delivered straight to the targeted communities. This year’s Eid-al Qurban Appeal had a special purpose; to sacrifice 100 sheep at the village of Pushgoor in Panjshir Valley, where just a few weeks ago a devastating flood destroyed much of the village. To the people who have lost everything, including their homes, livelihood and loved ones, the days of Eid al-Adha were a much-needed blessing. More than 400 households lost their homes and livelihoods, and while most of these families have taken refuge in the crowded homes of relatives, over 90 families are living in tents. The prospect of a cold and bitter win-

ter spent in these tents loom heavily in the minds of these families, especially the mothers. Qurban was the first step in Mahboba’s Promise’s mission to rebuild the village. This Eid acted as a reminder that the people of Pushgoor have not been abandoned, nor forgotten. Every morsel swallowed strengthened the hope that more good things are to come. All in all, two-thousand families were reached during the days of Eid al-Adha, with the remaining meat able to feed the orphans of Kabul, Badakhshan, Panjshir and Takhar Hope Houses for at least a couple of months. To the people of Pushgoor Village, who have experienced every hardship conceivable, this blessed time was a reminder that there is hope. If you would like to join Mahboba’s Promise’s mission to rebuild Pushgoor Village, please visit their website at: mahbobaspromise.org/emergency-flood/ or call (02) 9887 1665.

“This Eid acted

as a reminder that the people of Pushgoor have not been abandoned, nor forgotten.

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The orphans and widows are handed a bag of fresh Qurbani, enough meat to last months.

Indian supreme court decriminalises homosexuality Zahid Jamil On 6 September 2018, a 5-judge constitutional bench of Supreme Court of India invalidated part of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code making homosexuality legal in India. Earlier gay sex was punishable by up to 10 years in prison, though the law was not implemented in practice. What is surprising is that the Supreme Court in India seems to be far ahead of the time in Indian social context. In the Western world, these issues have been discussed for the past few decades now. As these societies enjoyed the Western concept of freedom, homosexuals exhibited their sexual orientation openly and formed activist groups to promote their cause for many years. It is understandable that these societies have reached a point where marital rights to homosexual couples are being discussed extensively and social support gathered through extensive campaigns to legislate such unions. The Western societies have at large given up the traditional religious following and have formulated their own standards of

human living which they claim are based on humanistic principles and scientific research. For them, it is the genetic make up of this section of the human population, which cannot be treated through clinical or psychological intervention. In Australia, the referendum on marriage equality was held in Nov 2017 and while 61.6 % voted Yes to Same-Sex marriage, 38.4 % voted No. Thus here too, it was not a clean sweep as nearly 40% of the population opposed it openly and even protested against the concept. Catholic Church vehemently opposed the idea and Muslim Imams were equally forceful in their opposition despite them being very small in number. However, India is still a very religious and highly dogmatic society. Public discussion of homosexuality in India has been inhibit-

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ed by the fact that sexuality in any form is rarely discussed openly. India is a multi-religious nation where religion plays an important role in day to day affairs at all levels of society. With very poor health standards and lack of health awareness among masses, devastating health implications of the practice on individuals and the risk of them transmitting the diseases to wider community are far higher. The Supreme Court, however, failed to consult all players on this issue. Human right advocates are the winners but medical fraternity is disappointed. Not consulting religious leaders is a serious omission too. Then there is the Indian community, the most important segment in a democratic country, whose opinion has been totally discarded. However, it is interesting to note that

though majority of Hindus are antagonistic to homosexuality, many justify it based on old Hindu scriptures and depictions. Rigveda, one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism says Vikriti Evam Prakritimeaning what seems unnatural is also natural, which some scholars believe recognises homosexual/transsexual dimensions of human life, like all forms of universal diversities. The ancient Indian text Kamasutra dedicates a complete chapter on erotic homosexual behaviour. Many Historians believe that homosexuality has been prevalent across the Indian subcontinent throughout history, and that homosexuals were not necessarily considered inferior until about 18th century. The supreme court judgement has ignited debates on various forums and Indian Muslims in particular are expressing frustration in changing attitudes in India that are contrary to Islamic views on such and other issues related to public morality. Zahid Jamil is an engineering post graduate from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and runs a financial planning practice based in Sydney. He heads South Asian Muslim Association of Australia, SAMAA: http://samaa.org.au ), a benevolent institution offering wide range of services to the community elders. He also moderates an Islamic website “Islamic Forum for Education and Research” http://isfer.info/

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Pakistan to grant citizenship to Afghan and Bangladeshi refugees Displaying his humanitarian concerns, Prime Minister Imran Khan has pledged to implement existing Pakistani laws that would grant citizenship to all Afghan and Bangladeshi refugees who were born on Pakistani soil, a major departure from previous policy. “These poor migrants from Bangladesh, they have been here for more than 40 years, their children are grown now … we will give them passports and ID cards, as well as those Afghans whose children have been raised here, who were born here, we will also give them [citizenship],” said PM Khan in Karachi on Sunday 16 September. Pakistani law allows citizenship for all those born in the country, with the exception of children of foreign diplomats, “enemy aliens” and those who migrated away from territories that became Pakistan after the partition of the subcontinent in 1947. Pakistan is home to more than 1.39 million registered Afghan refugees, according to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), many of whom have been resident in the country for more than 30 years. There are also more than 200,000 ethnic Bangladeshis in Pakistan, most of whom

live in the southern city of Karachi. Many of them were stranded in the city after the war in 1971 when Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, gained independence. The UNHCR welcomed the development, but said it was awaiting specifics on how Khan’s government intended to move for-

ward. “UNHCR welcomes the statement on Afghan children born in Pakistan. We look forward to working closely with the government of Pakistan on this issue in the coming weeks.”

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Obesity to become leading cause of cancer in women

Cancer Research UK estimated that 23,000 British women will suffer from obesity-related cancers by 2035 — just 2,000 fewer than the number of cases caused by smoking. By 2043 obesity will become the most common cause of cancer in women if current trends continue the researchers have concluded. “Obesity is a huge public health threat right now, and it will only get worse if nothing is done,” said Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s prevention expert. They analyzed cancer incidence data between 1979 and 2014 to make the projections and used the results as a further call for national campaigns and legislation to reduce the prevalence of obesity by following the blueprint used for smoking campaigns. Over a quarter of the UK’s population is obese, and the country has the highest obesity rates in western Europe, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). “It is alarming that obesity could soon become the biggest preventable cause of cancer in women, but sadly not surprising,” said Caroline Cerny of the Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of over 40 organizations and charities working to reduce obesity. Canada declares Myanmar Rohingya killings ‘genocide’ | News | Al Jazeera.html “Environmental factors such as advertising and promotion of unhealthy food and drink are contributing to this public health crisis,” Cerny added.

Canada declares Myanmar Media Rohingya killings ‘genocide’ Scan Canadian parliament have unanimously voted on Thursday 20 September to declare crimes committed against Rohingya Muslims by the Myanmar military to be genocide. This was an endorsement of UN fact-finding mission on Myanmar that found “crimes against humanity have been committed

against the Rohingya” and that these acts were sanctioned by top Myanmar military commanders. Rights organisations have accused Myanmar military of committing extrajudicial killings, gang rape, and arson during their bloody campaign launched in August last year.

BJP President, Amit Shah calls Bangladeshi migrants ‘termites’ Muslims living in the Indian state of Assam who form almost one-third of the state’s population of 33 million have been dubbed as illegal migrants from Bangladesh and called “termites” by Amit Shah, President of the BJP, the Hindu nationalist party ruling India. “Should they be thrown out or not? Millions of infiltrators have entered our country and are eating the country like termites. Should we not uproot them?” Amit Shah said at a public meeting in the capital New Delhi last week and again repeated the same at an election rally in Gujarat on Friday 21 September. In a post on Twitter on Monday 24 September, human rights group Amnesty India said it was “horrified” by Shah’s remarks and urged him not to “dehumanise” people. “Even before the NRC (National Register of Citizens) process is over, it is horrific to

hear Amit Shah dubbing Bangladeshi migrants as ‘termites’. Dear Mr Shah, please STOP dehumanising people, irrespective of them being in the NRC list or not,” Amnesty India tweeted. For the past few months, the NRC, a register of Indian citizens residing in the northeastern state of Assam, has remained a contentious issue for declaring four million of the state’s residents as foreigners. Andrew Stroehlein, European media director at the US-based Human Rights Watch, said Shah’s statement was “disturbing” and reminded of a “path to genocide”. “The president of India’s ruling party crosses a disturbing and well-known line. The path to genocide and other mass atrocity crimes is always first paved by powerful politicians using dehumanising language of “termites”, “cockroaches” or “vermin”,” Stroehlein said on Twitter.

Jailed Saudi activists awarded “the alternative Nobel prize” Abdullah al-Hamid, Mohammad Fahad al-Qahtani and Waleed Abu al-Khair were jointly awarded a one million kronor ($113,400) cash award by the Right Livelihood Award Foundation “for their visionary and courageous efforts … to reform the totalitarian political system in Saudi Arabia.” Previous winners include former NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden, the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), a UKbased NGO working towards the abolition of the international arms trade, and the White Helmets, a Syrian rescue group that OCTOBER 2018 / ISSUE 155

helps victims of the country’s brutal civil war. The jury for the awards states: “The three laureates have challenged this authoritarian system through peaceful methods, calling for universal human rights, and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy,” the jury said. As a consequence of their courageous struggle for a more pluralistic and democratic society, the three men have been sentenced to between 10 and 15 years imprisonment and all are currently in jail.

Human rights observers called the declaration as a significant milestone. They also urged the UN Security Council to refer the case to the International Criminal Court (ICC), while also calling for Myanmar’s generals to be investigated and prosecuted “for the crime of genocide”.

Ainullah

Freedom and Justice Party urges UN, EU to stop Egypt executions

In letters to the United Nations, the European Union and the African Union (AU), Egypt’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) have written that the sentencing by the Cairo Criminal Court amounted to a “miscarriage of justice” and “violated” the international standards of a fair trial. “The mass trials and extraordinary harsh and disproportionate sentences that have been taking place since 2013 are clearly designed to suppress civilian opposition to the military-backed government,” the letter added. The letter was in response to the Egyptian courts court’s sentencing to death 75 people, including top Muslim Brotherhood leaders. The political wing of Muslim Brotherhood has urged the international community to take “urgent measures” to halt their execution and investigate the “improper” mass trial. Since then further death sentences have

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been given to a large number of people in Egypt who were involved in protests after the military overthrew the democratically elected government. On Saturday 8 September , the court in the Egyptian capital sentenced more than 700 people, including hundreds of members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, for inciting violence and organising protests against the military coup that overthrew the government of Egypt’s first freely elected president, Mohammed Morsi, in 2013. Amnesty International called the mass trials a “disgrace”, while the UN human rights office asked Egypt to overturn the death sentences. Since the 2013 coup, a police crackdown against the Muslim Brotherhood, which maintains that it is a peaceful organisation, has left hundreds dead and tens of thousands in jail, many under draconian anti-protest laws.

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Lessons from the school children movement in Bangladesh Dr Faroque Amin It was a regular weekday like any other in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, a country with the third largest Muslim population in the world. On 29 July 2018, a group of year 11 and 12 students were waiting for public buses in front of their school located in the bustling Dhaka Airport Road. While two buses were arriving there at the same time, they started racing in order to reach first as the one arriving before the other will get most passengers. One of the drivers lost control and ran down the waiting crowd. In this tragic moment, several students were severely injured. According to the government statement and news reports, 14 students were taken to a nearby hospital and among them, year 11 student Dia Khatun (16 years old) and year 12 student Rejaul Karim (17 years old) had already died on the spot. In Bangladesh, road accidents are a regular phenomenon where on any given day a reader will find news of such accidents and casualties in any newspaper. This was certainly a tragic event, and loss of such young souls resulted in mourning and sorrow among the people. However, at that time, nobody realized the ramification of this accident unfolding throughout the following days. In a regular press conference on the same evening, journalists questioned the Minister of Shipping Mr Shahjanan Khan about the accident. He happens to be the President of the ‘Bangladesh Road Workers’ Federation’ as well which is the largest national and partisan union of transport workers in the country. While expressing his opinion regarding this tragic event and death, he started smiling generously and told the journalists that this is not something of importance. “33 people died yesterday in India in a road accident. Now, look at them! Do they talk much about that? …. as we make noise here?” he said. Something phenomenal took place in Bangladesh that night. The smiling face of the minister sparked a wave of rage and anger among the people. The outburst in the social media was spontaneous and incredible. In a country where people are now regularly arrested, detained and imprisoned for writing on Facebook or any other media anything against the governing party, such uncontrolled free opinion surprised everyone. The infamous and draconian cyber law, Information and Communication Technology Act, known as Section 57, failed to stop people’s reaction and it started spreading fast. On the day of the accident, students of that particular school blocked the Airport Road for few hours and stopped all public buses on that street for few hours. However, on the next day, students of primary and secondary schools and colleges in the whole capital city came out to the streets protesting against the corrupted transportation system and demanding the resignation of the Minister. They continued to do so on the following day during regular school hours and police used brutal forces including hot water cannons, tear gas and batons in order to disperse the protesters and remove them from the streets. On the fourth day, 1 August, besides capital city Dhaka, the protests spread in most of the other cities of the country. The protesters being school students wearing their school uniforms took control

of the major streets. Instead of blocking the roads, thousands of students started traffic control and safety check on vehicles in all cities. They checked drivers’ licences and instructed the vehicles to follow the traffic signals and rules. They separated one lane for the emergency vehicles, which is unprecedented in Bangladesh. During the next few days, the government remained silent in responding to this completely apolitical and social movement run by the young school students all over the country. The photos and videos of several incidents became viral on social media during this period. The students stopped a minister’s car and accompanying security vehicles because the motorcade was moving on the wrong side of the street, which is a very common practice of the VIP motorcades in Dhaka in order to avoid the slow traffic of the regular and lawful lanes. The students checked and stopped numerous government vehicles carrying members of the parliament, senior government officials, police and paramilitary forces officers, journalists, even the High Court judges drivers did not have any driving licences or were not following traffic rules. This may seem to be unthinkable by many but the reality of Bangladesh is different. Getting a driving licence means going through such a tedious process of giving bribery that most transport workers simply choose to drive without any licence or training at all. Corruption is so widespread that anybody can drive as long as they pay an instant bribe to traffic police amounting as small as $2 during any traffic checks. Moreover, transportation companies such as bus and truck companies maintain an ongoing monthly payment system with traffic department and therefore they do not stop any vehicles of those specific companies for any traffic checking. As a result, Bangladesh is one of the top-ranking countries in terms of road accidents and casualties. According to a 2015 report published by the World Health Organisation, 21,000 people died in Bangladesh in the previous year due to road accidents. However, the number would probably be much more than this, as the country does not have a proper and structural system of keep-

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ing records and statistics. Nevertheless, Bangladesh government started to react to this school children movement after five days of silence and observation when it became clear to them that the students would not stop easily and they were getting popular support and sympathy from their countrymen. On 4 August, members of the ruling Awami League party’s student-wing came out to the street with sticks, knives and firearms. During the next 4 days, they indiscriminately beat the students causing injuries and removing them from the streets. This was an open season of beating and bashing on the streets of Dhaka and other cities, police acted as an auxiliary force to them and often participated in student beatings. Thousands of school students were shot, stabbed and beaten. Some of them even became blind by rubber bullet injuries in their eyes. Government goons abducted many of them, tortured and left them on the side of the street. Police arrested dozens and took them for interrogation. Journalists were also beaten and any cameras or mobile phones seen to be capturing any photos were snatched. Unarmed schoolchildren eventually stopped coming out to the streets and the movement was subdued like any other political and non-political protests in Bangladesh over the last nine years. There were no protests taking place on the streets after 8 August. However, police have been arresting the students and harassing them until now. One of the major aspects of this remarkable student movement was the demonstration of people’s will while facing an autocratic regime’s cruel oppression. During the last days of their protest, school children started to focus on only one slogan, ‘WE WANT JUSTICE’. A well-known photojournalist mentioned this aspect in a live interview with Al Jazeera TV channel. In that interview, he said that the real reason spurring this apolitical movement is the non-elected government which does not have any mandate to rule, coupled with its massive corruption, political persecution and oppression of democratic rights of the people. However, plain-clothed government forces in more than a dozen vehicles surrounded his house just after a few hours of broad-

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casting that interview. They seized all CCTV cameras at his residence and took him to an unknown place. Upon increasing public and media reaction, he finally appeared in the court on the following day as arrested by the police and with clear signs of physical torture. He is currently in prison facing trial with a charge of previously mentioned Information and Communication Technology Act. This unprecedented civil movement without any organisational structure or leadership as spontaneously organised by school children all over the country demonstrated the failure of the civil society and media of the country as well in performing their expected roles to support and protect people’s rights. During those days, there was an outcry in social media reactions and comments questioning the inactivity on general people’s part. Everyone kept asking why the adults kept silent while the children were on the streets with a simple demand for accident-free natural death! However, the adult population simply kept observing til the end and did nothing. The reason of this perhaps is due to their experience of facing government oppression over the years. Over the last nine years, police and government partisan thugs jointly killed, abducted, arrested and tortured tens of thousands of people indiscriminately whenever they took to the streets with their political demands. Protest by school children is not completely unusual in the world. In the recent past, we have witnessed another example of such movement in the USA against gun violence. However, the US government did not use any brutal force to disperse the protesters. Unlike the USA, Bangladesh government used not only rubber bullets and batons without any justification but also instructed its civilian thugs to attack the school children and take control of the streets. Surprisingly, the police accompanied those helmet-wearing thugs when they attacked the children. However, in reviewing this unique student movement and looking at it with hindsight, one can certainly say that this non-political social movement shocked the government. School children of Bangladesh have clearly demonstrated people power for their rights. There are valuable lessons to be learned from their ten-day long activism. Their slogans were creative and methods were constructive. Through a completely non-violent protest, they simply made the flaws of the country openly visible. They showed that with willingness and sincerity, rule of law can be enforced and an utterly chaotic and corrupted traffic system can be changed and controlled in a systematic manner. With their slogans, they taught us that under an authoritarian rule one must protest to survive otherwise remaining silent would continue the oppression forever. They also taught us that “things didn’t happen” doesn’t mean “it will never happen”, we all must put our hands together to make it happen. Although adult masses did not join this movement this time, rather they kept observing and sympathising with the students, it certainly renewed their belief in their strength and their anger against the non-democratic government. Undoubtedly, this unprecedented school children movement and government brutality on them will remain as a significant chapter in the history of Bangladesh. Dr Faroque Amin works with Suprovat Sydney, a Bengali community newspaper published from Sydney, Australia. ISSUE 155 / OCTOBER 2018

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Understanding “Sema” in Turkey Hosneara Zaman Ali We had the wonderful journey travelling to many parts of Turkey in this year in 2018 and had the opportunity to feel and experience some of their culture. We also visited some of the local shows that includes “Sema” the dervish ceremony while we were in Konya, a prominent place in Anatolia where the great Sufi Poet Jalaluddin Rumi resided and departed from the world in December 1273 CE. “Sema” the whirling dervish ceremony is the inspiration of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi as well part of Turkish custom, history and

beliefs. It is one of the important heritage of Turkish culture as a tradition that is almost 800 years old. The “Sema” ceremony is a spiritual journey of Dervishes whirling for devine love. The ceremony represents the mystical journey of man’s spiritual ascent through mind and love to perfection. Turning towards the truth, a Dervish grows through love deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrives at “Perfection”. Then returns from his spiritual journey as a Man who reached maturity as greater Perfection, so as to love and to be of sevice to all of the creation without discriminating in regards to beliefs, class or race. Contemporary science definitely confirms that the fundamental condition of our existence is to revolve. There is no object or being which does not revolve. Revolving that include all smallest particles to the stars in

the sky, the moon, the sun and the earth. As a consequence of this similarity, everything revolves man carries blood on his body is circulating. Man is coming from the earth and return to it by revolving with the earth itself. In this Sema ceremony the Dervishes with their head-dresses representing the ego’s tombstone and their white skirts representing the ego’s shroud are spiritually born to the truth by removing their black cloaks and they take a journey to spiritual maturity through the stages of the Sema ceremony holding their arms in a criss-cross position they represent the number one and testify to God’s unity. While whirling, their arms open their right hands directed towards the sky and ready to receive God’s beneficence., gazing up, they turn their left hands towards the earth and

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turn from right to left pivoting around the heart. The Sema ceremony has several parts of body movement with different meaning. That include four salutes. One of the salute means that the dissolution of rapture into love and thereby the sacrifice of the mind to love. It is complete submission to God. This state of ecstasy is known as “NIRVANA” in Buddhism and “FENAFILLAH” in Islam. In Buddhism this is the highest state of ecstasy. However, the highest rank in Islam is that reached by the Prophet (s) : He is called God’s servant foremost and subsequently His messenger. The aim of Sema is not unbroken ecstasy and loss of conscious thought, but realisation of submission to God. In Konya, we observed the whole performance being presented beautifully and it was quite inspirational.

The significance of Ashoorah in Muharram Shagufta Ahmad The sacred month of Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. It is a month of great blessings, perhaps the most promising being its potential to unite people. Ashoora, or the 10th of Muharram is a day of great significance in Islam as it commemorates the births of several Prophets as well as is the day that Muslims believe the world was created and the day that it will come to an end. However, historically the most significant event by far that occurred on this day after the advent of Islam is the martyrdom of Imam Husain (r), the blessed grandson of Prophet Muhammad (s) Love for Ahlul Bayt, the family of Prophet Muhammad (s) is a mandate for all Muslims. Fasting on the day of Ashura, being kind to dependents and increasing charity are actions exhorted to all Muslims. OCTOBER 2018 / ISSUE 155

Lessons of courage, patience, sacrifice, and standing up to oppression and injustice are universal takeaways from the martyrdom of Imam Husain (r) and his companions. Historically, this event has inspired both Muslims and non-Muslims alike to stand against oppression, tyranny and injustice. Great Muslim leaders and their followers have taken inspiration from the example of Imam Husain (r) throughout the Islamic history to stand for justice. Nelson Mandela is reported to have said, “I have spent more than 20 years in prison, then on one night I decided to surrender by signing all the terms and conditions of

government. But suddenly I thought about Imam Hussain and the Karbala movement and Imam Hussain (r) gave me the strength to stand for the right of freedom and liberation and I did.” Similarly, Mahatma Gandhi is reported to have said, “My faith is that the progress of Islam does not depend on the use of sword of its believers, but the result of the supreme sacrifice of Hussain (r), the great saint.” Ashoora is a poignant reminder to all Muslims that in order to serve Islam and humanity, we must engage in spiritual self-sacrifice as well as physical sacrifice on demand. The Islamic calendar ends with reminders

of sacrifice during the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations and then begins with more reminders of sacrifice on Ashoora. To this effect the poet-philosopher, Dr Allama Iqbal penned: “Ghareeb-o-sada-o-rangeen hai Daastaane Haram. Nihayat iski Husayn, ibtidaa hai Ismail” Translation: Strange, simple and colorful is the legacy of the Haram (Kaaba). It ends with the martyrdom of Hussain (r) and began with (the prescribed martyrdom of) Ismail (a). Hence, the commemorations of Ashoora have the incredible ability to strengthen ties among Muslim Ummah and contribute towards easing tensions based on sectarian, political and national divisions. Shagufta Ahmad directs the services of the Islamic Educational and Cultural Research Center (IECRC) in the Kingdom of Bahrain. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Santa Clara University, California and an MBA in Islamic Finance from Open University Malaysia. Her professional career is engaged in building research capacity for the MENA region.

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Four types of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance) Sheikh Emad Hamdy The term Jahiliyyah is an Islamic term that refers to the period of time, and the state of humanity before the call of the Prophet Muhammad (s), where the landmarks of the prophethood were forgotten, and the traces of monotheism were erased.

In the Holy Quran, there are four certain words, which are mentioned in connecting with the term of Jahiliyyah which collectively represent the aspects and characteristics of the Jahiliy community.. Sheikh Emad Hamdy is the Imam at Cabramatta Mosque, South West Sydney, operated by LMA. He has a High Degree in Islamic studies in English from Alazhar university in Egypt and has served as an Imam in the Alawkaf in Egypt for 13 years.

Firstly: The thought of ignorance

Secondly: The laws of ignorance

In Surat Al-Imran, Allah says which means: “Then after the distress, He sent down security for you. Slumber overtook a party of you, while another party was thinking about themselves (as how to save their own selves, ignoring the others and the Prophet) and thought wrongly of Allah - the thought of ignorance ….”(Quran 3:154).

In Surat Al-Maa’idah( The table ), Allah says that means: “Do they then seek the judgement of (the Days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allah for a people who have firm faith.” (Quran 5:50).

In this verse, Allah describes how the hypocrites ascribed to Allah what the polytheists ascribed to Him regarding the doubts in His decree and denying His messenger’s call.

Commenting on this verse Ibn Katheer said: “The Almighty Allah criticizes those who refuse and deny the rightful judgment of Allah that includes all what is good and what is free from all evil, and they prefer to follow the human desirable, misguided and prejudiced views instead.

In addition, the verse described the hypocrites’ suspicion in two atrocious descriptions which are: wrong thoughts and thought of ignorance because every wrong thought is considered as a thought of ignorance. This type of Jahiliyyah is the Jahiliyyah of thought, doctrine, and perspectives.

The question in the verse is confirmatory, which makes it clear that no law is better than Allah’s law. This indicates that any ruling other than the ruling of Allah is invalid, and every law that contradicts the law of Allah is evil, unjust and abominable. The type of Jahiliyyah in this verse is the Jahylyya of law, ruling and legislation.

Thirdly: The behaviour of ignorance

Fourthly: The false pride of ignorance

In the Surat of Al-Ahzab (The Confederates), Allah says that means: “And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance….” (Quran 33:33).

In Surah Al-Fath (The Victory), Allah says that means: “ When those who disbelieve had put in their heart’s pride and haughtiness of the time of ignorance…” (Quran 48:26).

Talking about ignorance in this verse came in the context of directing Muslim women to virtues and forbidding them from vices. The verse warns the mothers of the believers (the prophet’s wives) from doing what the women before Islam used to do of displaying themselves and exposing their beauties and their hidden adornments to the non-mahram men.

The verse talks about the treaty of Hudaibiya when the disbelievers of Quraysh prevented the prophet and his companions from entering Makkah to perform Umrah.

It also considers such acts as ignorant and cheap behaviour, that shouldn’t be carried out by the mindful, disciplined, aware and chaste woman. This type of ignorance relates to social and moral living.

They did so out of their false pride and haughtiness. This is the national and the political type of Jahiliyyah. By looking and reflecting on the four verses quoted above and categorization of Jahiliyya, we clearly find a brief description of the pre-Islamic society with its ignorant characteristics, perceptions, behaviour and beliefs in opposition to the enlightened Islamic system established by the prophet (s).

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Superannuation Industry: Funds, Assets and Investments FINANCE Dr Abul Jalaluddin

Australian superannuation is an exceptional retirement savings system in the World. Employees including self-employed persons become members of superannuation funds; they make compulsory and voluntary contributions to the funds; the contributions are invested by the funds over the employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; working life and finally the sum of the contributions plus earnings minus taxes and fees are paid as an income stream or lump sum to the contributors when they retire. There are various types of superannuation funds in the industry. Retail Funds offer superannuation products to general public. Industry Funds draw members from the employees of a range of employers across an industry. Public Sector Funds have a government agency or government-owned corporation as their sponsoring entity. Corporate Funds are sponsored by one or more employers and generally focus on the employees of a particular company or company group. Lastly, Small Funds sector comprises Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) and Small APRA-regulated Funds (SAFs). Both SMSFs and SAFs can have a maximum of 4 members and all other funds have more than 4 members. The total number of superannuation fund with more than 4 members were 202 at the end of June 2018, including 24 corporate funds, 39 industry funds, 18 public sec-

tor funds and 121 retail funds. There were 596,225 SMSFs as of 30 June 2018, an increase of 2.5 per cent from the total funds of 581,720 as at 30 June 2017. Small-APRA regulated funds totalled 1,983 in the same year, compared to 1,951 funds in 2017. The Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) is the prudential regulator for the superannuation industry including

other entities in the financial services sector such as banks, credit unions, general insurance, reinsurance, life insurance, private health insurance, building societies and friendly societies. Unlike other superannuation entities, SMSFs are regulated by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Australian superannuation industry is one

of the largest in the world. According to APRA, the total assets of the superannuation industry was $2.7 trillion as of 30 June 2018, an increase of 7.9 per cent from an amount of $2.5 trillion as at 30 June 2017. MySuper is a no frills product in the superannuation industry and the total assets in this product was $675.6 bill ion at the end of the financial year ended 30 June 2018. Over the 12 months from June 2017, there was an increase of 13.6 per cent in the total assets of MySuper product, from an amount of $594.9 billion in June 2017. AS at 30 June 2018, the assets of SMSFs totalled $749.9 billion, a rise of 6.4 per cent over the total assets of $704.6 in June 2017. The superannuation industry financially performed well in the year ended 30 June 2018, although it was a bit less than the average rate of return in the last 5 years. In this year, the industry-wide annual rate of return for funds with more than 4 members was 7.6 per cent and the average rate of return was 7.9 per cent over the last 5 years, from June 2013 to June 2018. In the quarter ended 30 June 2018, 51.3 per cent of the funds were invested in equities with 24.1 per cent in international listed equities, 23.4 per cent in Australian listed equities and 3.8 per cent in unlisted equities; fixed income and cash investments accounted for 31.5 per cent with 21.2 per cent in fixed income and 10.3 per cent in cash; property and infrastructure accounted for 13.5 per cent and 3.7 per cent were invested in other assets including hedge funds and commodities. Dr Abul Jalaluddin is an Islamic Finance expert, taxation advisor and a regular columnist for AMUST. He is based in Sydney.

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Saara Sabbagh Saqib Imran Khokar SBS Women’s Day

Saara Sabbagh was featured in a panel on 22 September hosted by the Australian Women’s Day: United we are the revolution in Melbourne. This event is a chance for women to say, ‘We are the ones. We are the change makers. We are the people who will step forward.’ United We Are the Revolutionis an afternoon to explore the intersection of our identities and how they can influence social and cultural change. It’s a chance to examine who we are as Australian woman - what unites and what divides us - and get a better understanding of what it’ll take to come together and work as a powerful and cohesive force in society.

Forty-two-year-old Saqib Imran Khokar was featured on SBS. He works as a property manager and lives with his wife and kids in Melbourne. In December 2015, he was diagnosed with cancer of the appendix (Metastatic Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma), one of the rarest cancers in the world. For Saqib, it was something too unexpected, too sudden and too early in life. “I am a very ambitious person. I had been jumping stages in my life and was progressing successfully. I had started my business, starting planning for a large organization. I had 17 employees in my company.”

Dr Iqbal Barkat Mac Uni

Amani Haydar ABC News

Dr Iqbal Barkat participated in a panel discussion on “how do we have a conversation about Islam?” in reference to ‘Terrorist/ Apostate’ written by him in collaboration with actor Fadi Alameddin, which explored the struggles around identity, belonging, acceptance, Islam and its position in our world today. The Symposium aims to engage members of the community, scholars, artists and community activists on the problems of defining Islam and the impacts of such definitions on the lives of contemporary Muslims in Australia today.

Amani Haydar wrote an opinion piece published on the ABC News platform on 7 September, titled “I lost my mum to domestic violence but I won’t let fear of racists keep me silent.” Amani Haydar is a lawyer, artist and executive board member at Bankstown Women’s Health Centre dedicated to advocating for the health and wellbeing of women. This year, she was a finalist in the Archibald Prize and the Law Society of NSW Just Art Prize and is currently completing a Masters in Islamic Studies at ISRA/CSU.

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Shukufa Tahiri SBS

Ahmed Abdo ABC

Refugee advocate Shukufa Tahiri says she is honoured to be named as a “woman of influence” and says it will spur her on to continue her work changing peoples’ attitudes towards refugees and asylum seekers. Twenty-four year-old Shukufa Tahiri has been named one of Australia’s most influential women for her refugee advocacy work. In its seventh year, the 100 Women of Influence Awards recognises the achievements of women who have overcome adversity to reach a position of influence. Shukufa Tahiri was born into a Hazara family in Afghanistan. Forced to flee Shukufa’s family lived in Pakistan before being reunited with their father in Australia in 2006, where they arrived as refugees.

Sheikh Ahmed Abdo featured on ABC’s Radio National - God Forbid. This episode new year festivities in the Coptic Orthodox Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious traditions. Father Antonios Kaldas, Sheikh Ahmed Abdo and Rabbi Zalman Kastel reflect on the significance of the New Year for them. In Australia, we have high rates of inter-marriage – one in five Muslims marry non-Muslims, and for Jews it’s more than one in three. Sheikh Ahmed Abdo: Muslim teacher and chaplain. He’s the founder of the Shifa Institute, which combines traditional Islamic teaching in a modern context.

Basim Al Ansari SBS

Basim Al Ansari was featured in an article by SBS recently published a story about the annual commemoration of Ashura. “Australian Muslims have taken the Shia commemoration of Ashura to talk to the general public about their faith and dispel any negative misconceptions. “It is a way for us to be part of the public, so when we go out with our message, we say ‘here we are, this is who we are’, said Basim Al Ansari, one of the event organisers, told SBS.

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Tusif Ahmed Telegraph

Tusif Ahmad was featured in The West Australian newspaper recently to promote his exhibition. Influenced by traditional, intricate patterns and symbols found in Islamic art, paper-cutting artist Tusif Ahmad will display some of his most recent works in a seven-day exhibition at The Labyrinth Path Art Gallery in Kwinana. The exhibition, which opens on Saturday, September 22, will feature about 17 pieces of paper-cutting artwork. ISSUE 155 / OCTOBER 2018

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Talk about stealing and appropriating eastern culture, H&M have just bloody come round and stole our dads jummah outfits smh, what will he wear to mosque now? #culturevultures

Islam: Mist of peace in a gist! Abdul Muqtadar Syed Islam is the name of the religion of Allah (God). The name stems from the Arabic word “Salaam” which means peace. It is the world’s second-largest religion and, the fastest-growing major religion in the world with over 1.8 billion followers or 24.1% of the global population, known as Muslims. The followers of Islam are called Muslims (a male is called as Muslim and, a female is called as a Muslimah) or believers. The non-muslims who do not believe in Islam are called disbelievers or Kafirs (who hide the truth). The people of books/scriptures (Christians & Jews) were the early Muslims. It is a monotheistic religion which is being followed since Adam (the first man on earth sent down from the heavens) & Eve (the first woman and, wife of Adam) and, all the people till date. It is a complete lifestyle which guides all the human beings (not only Muslims & Arabs) to lead a successful life in this world and, the life in the hereafter. Islam has been chosen by Allah for all the human beings. All the prophets including Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and, Muhammad (s) preached & practised Islam according to the divine law & commandments (Sharia) received by them in the form of holy books for their times and the last one for all times. The five pillars of Islam are: Tauheed (Faith), Salah (Prayers), Saum (Fasting), Zakah (a tax of 2.5% on excess savings OCTOBER 2018 / ISSUE 155

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given to the poor as alms/charity), and Hajj (pilgrimage of around five days to Makkah that too for those who are Muslim, an adult, possess a healthy mind, have enough strength to take the journey, has enough provision to support the expenses and all this just once in a lifetime) Faith: To pronounce the oath, and believe in Allah, all His angels, and His books (4), and His messengers. Shahadah (usually invoking a divine witness): “There is no god except Allah, and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger.” Aside from the theological viewpoint, Islam is historically believed to have re-originated in the early 7th century CE in Makkah by Muhammad (s). The cities of Makkah, Madinah and Jerusalem are home to the three holiest sites in Islam. The formal beginning of the Muslim era was chosen, reportedly by Caliph Umar (r), to be the Hijra in 622 CE. The Islamic calendar Months are: 1.Muharram 2.Safar 3.Rabi’ al-awwal 4.Rabi’ al-Thani 5.Jumada al-awwal 6.Jumada al-Thani 7.Rajab 8.Sha’ban 9.Ramadan 10.Shawwal 11.Dhu al-Qidah 12.Dhu al-Hijjah. The most important Islamic festivals are Eid al-Fitr on the 1st of Shawwal, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha on the 10th of Dhu alHijjah, coinciding with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage. Abdul Muqtadar Syed lives in Australia and has a flair to write articles on Faith, Health, Wealth, Poetry, Spirituality, Wisdom and Diet based on his excerpts from anecdotes, sermons, media, memoirs, & nostalgia.

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