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AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES
www.amust.com.au ISSUE # 172
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Multicultural News & Views
MARCH 2020; RAJAB 1441
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Demand for protection against hate speech
Anwar Ibrahim.
Zia Ahmad As a result of recent political intrigue, Anwar Ibrahim who had served as a finance minister and deputy prime minister in the past has been denied the incumbent position as the eighth prime minister of Malaysia. After a week of turmoil, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, resigned as PM leading to the appointment of Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister by the King on Sunday 1 March 2020. Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim, friends and foes from time to time, joined forces and pulled off a shocking election victory in May 2018 that ousted then highly corrupt Prime Minister Najib Razak, Mahathir, now 94, became prime minister with the understanding that he would hand over the Prime Ministership to Anwar at some point within two years. Due to one reason or the other Mahathir has been dragging his feet delaying the handover, now resulting in the surprise appointment of Muhyiddin Yassin as PM.
From left Mr Jihad Dib, Lakemba MP, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, Mufti of Australia, Ms Jodi Mckay, NSW Opposition Leader and Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman, President of ANIC. Photo by Zia Ahmad. Mehar Ahmad & Zia Ahmad With the anniversary of white supremacist terrorist attack in Christchurch falling mid March this year, Muslims in Australia are demanding consistent legislation against hate speech to be included in the Religious Discrimination Bill under consideration by the federal parliament. More than 160 national and state based organisations in the Australian Muslim community have put forward a submission with
proposals aimed at mitigating the chance of another terror event like those that befell Christchurch from occurring in Australia. Articulating the concerns of the Muslim community, Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) media spokesperson Bilal Rauf talked about religious discrimination bill to include legislation against vilification of Islam and demonisation of Muslims for their religious identity. “For the first time, we are also actively engaged on issues of legislation with the high level of collaboration and thought which has
gone into understanding laws relating to discrimination and vilification across the states and at a commonwealth level,” Bilal said. He further added, “In a clear and unified voice, we highlighted the glaring absence of protective laws at a state and federal level.” Bilal was addressing a joint gathering of NSW Labor party members and leaders of the Muslim community on Thursday 20 February 2020 at the Chullora offices of the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC). continued on page 9
Anti-Muslim riots in India take a heavy toll Mohamed Ainullah The attacks by Hindu mobs on Muslim localities in Delhi towards the end of February have resulted in the burning of mosques, businesses, homes, vehicles and the death toll of almost 50 people with more than 250 injured, many with bullet wounds with accusations of police complicity. A mob shouting “Jai Shri Ram” (hail Lord Ram), on Tuesday 25 February attacked a mosque, terrorising the worshippers out of the premises, beating the Imam and other worshippers and killed the muezzin. They then hoisted a saffron flag, symbol of the Hindutva extremists, setting fire to the mosque and then parading around the burning mosque in the Ashok Nagar area of the capital New Delhi. The shops around the area were looted and then set on fire while the mob selectiveProudly Printed in Australia by Spotpress Pty Ltd
ly targeted people who looked like Muslims, sometimes reportedly identifying them by taking their pants down. Many Muslim neighbourhoods were attacked in areas such as Karawal Nagar, Maujpur, Bhajanpura, Vijay Park and Yamuna Vihar in the Indian capital. A number of journalists were confronted, their cameras confiscated and if they were found to be Muslims, were mercilessly beaten. All this carnage happened while Narendra Modi, Indian PM was entertaining the US President Donald Trump in the same city. Bernie Sanders, the leading Democratic presidential candidate said, “Over 200 million Muslims call India home. Widespread anti-Muslim mob violence has killed at least 27 and injured many more. Trump responds by saying, “That’s up to India.” This is a failure of leadership on human rights. continued on page 17
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ISSUE 172 / MARCH 2020