Crescent Times newspaper- March issue 2010

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RESCENT

Issue N 17 March 2010

T IMES

Strengthening Our Community

E E R F

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Australia’s Muslim Cameleers in Melbourne!

‫ع يب ر حس ضش‬ ‫ال ض ت غ ث ق م ص ى‬

!!‫ بكل ألوان الطيف‬..

‫الهالل تايمز‬ ‫ملحق لجريدة الكريزنت تايمز بالعربي للجالية العربية بأستراليا‬

A new exhibition that tells the remarkable story of Australia’s first Muslim community and their role in the exploration and settlement of Australia’s arid interior is on at the Immigration Museum from 26 February 2010.

Australia’s Muslim Cameleers: Pioneers of the Inland 1860s to 1930s explores 80 years of Muslim society in Australia and traces the little known heritage of the Muslim cameleers who first arrived in 1860 to aid expeditions into outback Australia. These men from Afghanistan and British India (today’s Pakistan) travelled thousands of miles of desert tracks to open up the country and make possible

the creation of new inland communities.

The first Muslim cameleers arrived at Port Melbourne on 9 June 1860 to join the Burke and Wills Expedition, which this year marks its 150th anniversary. The ill-fated expedition was the first in Australia to use camels. Despite the venture’s failure it successfully demonstrated the ability of camels to survive the harsh Australian conditions. From the 1860s to the 1920s it is estimated that at least 20,000 camels and more than 2,000 cameleers arrived in Australia.

Photo: Courtesy Immigration Museum, Victoria

WA: Footy with the fuzz 28th March See p14

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National Social Networks: Security and Privacy Concerns:

Disconnect from them today, say experts

Launceston, Tasmania:

Call for for support to build a mosque Ayisha Varga El Shamandy Tasmania

Protesters in front of Egyptian consulate in Sydney. Photo courtesy: Jamal Daoud

Social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter have grown dramatically in the last few years as people use these tools to communicate rapidly with friends and family around the world.

Many people use such sites from home and it is important for all who do so to be aware of the risks and to use these sites cautiously and prudently.

Many people who use social networking sites are revealing far too much personal information about themselves and this can potentially lead to identity theft. It is possible for cyber-criminals to start the process of stealing your identity with just the following information: *Your name *Your phone number *Your date of birth *Your mother’s birth name Armed with this information from a social networking site together with some judicious use of Google, an identity thief would have enough information to steal your identity, open new bank accounts or apply for credit in your name. A posting on your Facebook page announcing a plan for a surprise and joint birthday party for you and your mother with some photos and captions of her in her youth provides just about everything that an identity thief needs to get started stealing your identity.

Facebook has changed their privacy settings recently and the default ‘suggested’ settings are that status updates are available to ‘everyone’. Note that ‘everyone’ does not just mean all your friends.

‘Everyone’ means that your comments and status

updates can be read by any Internet user anywhere in the world now and in the future and can never be deleted.

Recommendations *Review your privacy settings on all social networking sites and Facebook in particular. A good practice is to restrict everything and disable all options to start with and then open up each feature carefully and prudently as you see fit. Be sure to review the new privacy options. *Be extremely cautious in who you accept as a friend.

A recent experiment by a security firm involved the creation of a false Facebook account with a picture of a yellow rubber duck to complete the profile. 100 friend requests were then sent out to random users in the same (fictitious) age group. The results of the test were worrying from a security perspective. Some 46% of the recipients were happy to become friends with the rubber duck despite having no clue who he/she really was...and of those respondents, 100% revealed their email address; 89% revealed their full date of birth and 74% revealed their college or place of work.

Other highly personal information was also revealed.

This information gives an identity thief everything required to start the process of stealing an identity. The conclusions are easy to draw. Be very cautious about who you accept as a friend! *As with email, do not blindly click on links leading to unknown web sites as such sites can host malware. *Be cautious in all comments and posts that you make.

Such posts could come back to haunt you months or years later. Today’s teenagers are tomorrow’s jobseekers.”

Above: Sunday women’s classes organised by the Islamic Association of Launceston.

Photo: Courtesy Ayisha Varga

Asalamualaikum Brothers and Sisters, we are a small Muslim community in Launceston, Tasmania. At the moment the only place we have to pray is a small room on the university campus which is restricted to the students and their families. We have no Mosque and our community is growing. We are renting a small hall for just a few hours on Sunday to learn Arabic and Quran.

Our nearest Mosque is 200kms away and we desperately need our own Mosque. We need help in raising the funds so we can have our own place to pray and hold Jummah.

We are struggling here dear brothers and sisters and need your help. If you can help by donating or fundraising for us that would mean so much to us to have a Mosque and to have room for classes for all occasions.

Even if you can make Du’a for us to get some

type of accommodation this will all help. We are eager to build up our Ummah and make it strong and spread dawa in this area, Allah knows how much it is needed here.

Thank you again Brothers and Sisters, may Allah reward you all with His blessings.

For further information please contact Ayisha Varga El Shamandy, the vice president of the Islamic Association of Launceston, on: 0439 579 721.

are holding a second orphan sponsorship night to raise funds for our ongoing commitment to these orphans,’’ Mrs Hassan said.

Mrs Hassan delivered a short speech urging the sisters to dig deep into their pockets. She also screened video interviews she recorded during her last visit to Egypt, including interviews with some of the widows and footage of the

orphanage.

Photographs of the receipts and certificates indicating how every single cent of the money raised was spent were put on display at the dinner.

A total of $74,000 was collected. For more information on the orphanage, please visit www.resala.org

FOR DONATIONS: Our bank details are: COMMONWEALTH BANK Islamic Association of Launceston BSB 06 7600 Account number 10419181.

Orphan Sponsorship Night

issue 17, March 2010

Shayma Alshakshir Melbourne

“Seeking the shade of Allah” was the tag line for an orphan sponsorship dinner held last month in Melbourne.

This fundraiser was organised by a woman, for women. Hundreds joined to take part in this most worthy of causes.

Sarah Hassan was the woman behind it all.

She says it all started after a trip she made to her home country, Egypt.

“Over ten years ago, when on holidays in Egypt, my family came across a charitable organisation established in Cairo that offered people the opportunity to “sponsor” orphans living in some of poorest neighborhoods in Cairo,” she said.

“For only 20 Egyptian pounds per month, a small stipend would be paid to the guardian of the orphan to assist with daily living expenses,’’ Mrs Hassan said.

“Hence, a mother with four fatherless children would receive 80 Egyptian pounds, which is equivalent to one quarter of the average monthly wage in Egypt. The exchange rate between the Australian dollar and Egyptian pound is $1 AUD = 5 EGP,’’ she said.

“To sponsor an orphan for a little less than $5 AUD per month - we saw this as an incredible opportunity to really help some of the most vulnerable members of a society that has no social security schemes, many of whom are forced to drop out of school and enter into manual labour in order to assist their guardians in their upkeep.’’

Mrs Hassan and her friend Iknur began their mission by sponsoring 12 orphans for the first year.

“In 2006, I mentioned the organisation to one of my dearest friends (Iknur) who promptly rallied her family and friends here in Melbourne in order to sponsor a further 50 orphans, bringing the total to 120, ‘’ she said.

In 2006, Mrs Hassan and her friend Iknur hosted their first Orphan Sponsorship night.

She says it was a raging success.

“Alhamdulillah, the night was attended by members of the Australian Federal Police, sponsored by Fernwood Preston, Northlands Babyco, and Madinah Halal Meats, and raised over $42,000,’’ Mrs Hassan said.

This enormous amount of money enabled Sarah and her friend to sponsor 210 orphans fully paid for three years.

“Three years have come and gone, and here we

*BROTHERS ONLY EVENT*

Date: Sunday 21 March 2010 Time: 7:30 pm (please pray maghrib before arrival) Location: Grand Westella, 12 Bridge St, Lidcombe Cost: $100 Your Brothers at Bukhari House Association are pleased to announce the purchase of a 7000m2 property on which they insha Allah intend to build a Mosque, Islamic Institute and Youth Centre. The property is located at 1-3 Ferndell St, South Granville and is central to Auburn, Granville, Guildford and Chester Hill. Guest Speakers: Shaykh Omar El Banna, Associate Professor Mohamad Abdalla, Griffith Islamic Research Unit. Show your support by attending our first fundraising dinner. Tickets sold at Bukhari House Islamic Bookstores: 109 Auburn Rd, Auburn; 3 Matthews St, Punchbowl. http://www.masjidalbukhari.com. au

South Australia

Fear of a Brown Planet Date: 9 – 14 March 2010 Time: 6:00pm Location: The Tuxedo Cat Cost: $22 2008 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Best Newcomer Award. After two years away, Fear of a Brown Planet return in 2010 in their trademark confrontational style with a brand new show, Fear of a Brown Planet Returns. “Just go see it. It’s extraordinary. **** 1/2 stars” - The Age. Tickets available from www.adelaidefringe.com.au or phone 1300 FRINGE.

Victoria

Western Australia ‘Footy with the Fuzz’ Multicultural Friendship Games Date: Sunday 28 March 2010 Time: first games start at 8:00 Location:Herb Graham Recreation Centre in Mirrabooka The games will feature men’s and women’s teams from diverse ethnic communities within Perth, as well as teams represented by members of the WA Police. Sponsored by Smarter than Smoking, the Multicultural Friendship Games aims to reach out to teenagers and young adults from differing cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and offer a fun day of cultural and sporting exchanges. Previous events have proved a fantastic success, with players and spectators from diverse backgrounds covering South Africa, Sudan, Ghana, Somalia, Eritrea, Zambia, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. International students from the University of WA, Curtin and Murdoch are also expected to field teams. A number of communities will provide food stalls, market place and entertainment to showcase their respective cultures.

Annual Australian Islamic Conference (AAIC) Dates: 2 - 4 April 2010 Time: Friday 3pm - 8pm, Sat and Sun 10am 8pm Location: Copeland Theater, Melbourne University.

Cost: Free Centered around the theme of ‘Family Matters!’, packed with inspiring lectures from local & international presenters, interactive workshops, a dedicated Youth Program & fun filled Children’s Corner, there’s something for the entire family at the AAIC. For more information about the AAIC visit www.

International Women’s Day Multicultural mercymission.org.au Picnic - Bring and Share Date: 10 March 2010 Fear of a Brown Planet Date: Thursday 25 March 2010 – Sunday 18 Time: 10:30 am – 1:00pm Location: Russell Square in Northbridge. This April 2010 *No show Monday 29 March* Time: 7:00pm Monday, 7:15pm Tuesday- is at the Corner of James St and Parker St. Stop No 12 on the Blue CAT. Saturday, 6:15 pm Sunday The focus of the event will be to explore the Location: Melbourne Town Hall 2008 Melbourne International Comedy commonalities women have with each other.

Festival Best Newcomer Award. After two These commonalities will be embraced by years away, Fear of a Brown Planet return in sharing traditional foods, music, story telling, 2010 in their trademark confrontational style practical arts like face painting for kids and with a brand new show, Fear of a Brown Planet henna art, crafts, games and more. Women Returns. “Just go see it. It’s extraordinary. **** from all walks of life, young and old are 1/2 stars” - The Age. Tickets available from welcome!! Women are encouraged to bring www.ticketmaster.com.au or phone 1300 660 a hat, blanket or mat to sit on and sunscreen.

For more information please contact Adina 013 Buckland or Milambo Sichaaba at WHS on Youth Victoria Entertainment Extravaganza 9227 8122. See you there!

Date: Sunday 16th May 2010 Location: Wyndham Events Centre (80 International Women’s Day Dinner and Awards Night Derrimut Road Hoppers Crossing) Youth Victoria, an initiative by the Muslim youth, Date: 20th March 2010 invites you to participate in its entertainment Time: 6:30pm-10:30pm extravaganza. This entertainment night aims to Location: The Boulevard Centre - 99 The showcase statewide talents of Muslim youth in Boulevard, Floreat a friendly Islamic environment. We invite and Cost: $50 pp (includes a 3 course dinner) encourage Muslim youth of Victoria and their Tickets must be purchased prior to the event. families to join us for this momentous night The Muslim Women’s Support Centre of aiming to further raise funds for future Muslim WA is hosting a Formal Dinner to celebrate youth activities. We are looking for *Rap, Song, International Women’s Day 2010. Join us in poetry, *Stage Plays, *Short Films, *Comedy awarding and acknowledging local women who Sketches, *Other suggestions? Entries close have been nominated for their achievements, 10/04/2010 YOU CAN HELP MAKE THIS courage and strength. Awards will be presented for the following categories: Muslim Youth, NIGHT A SUCCESS For more information and to apply for a time Muslim Mother, Muslim Business Women, slot visit www.youthvictoria.com.au or call Muslim Senior, Muslim Volunteer, Muslim Abboma 0433 042 093 or Rashid 0425 856 657 Women from a New and Emerging Community.

Tickets are available from the Muslim Womens New Joint Islamic Studies program at Support Centre on 9451 5696 or go to the Monash University and Australian Catholic website www.mwsc.com.au. This is a sisters only event.

University (ACU) Date: 2010

in Australia’s Largest Annual Islamic Community Event

Right: It’s that time of the year again, the Annual Australian Islamic Conference (AAIC) is back for 2010. This year the AAIC will be held from 2 - 4 April at Copeland Theater, Melbourne University. Centered around the theme of ‘Family Matters!’, packed with inspiring lectures from local and international presenters, interactive workshops, a dedicated Youth Program and fun filled Children’s Corner, there’s something for the entire family at the AAIC. In 2010 the Family Matters!

For more information about the AAIC visit www.mercymission.org.au . For more details see advertising on front and back pages.

Crescent Times Victorian bureau Organisers of this year’s Annual Australian Islamic Conference in Melbourne say Muslim children and youth will be a major part of the event, with workshops and sessions dedicated to young people. And they’re looking for young Muslim writers to showcase their work to the community.

The free 2010 event by Mercy Mission follows last year’s successful conference, and is scheduled to take place at the University of Melbourne over the April 2-4 long weekend.

The theme of this year’s AAIC is “Family Matters”, and organiser Adel Mohamed says there are a lot of incentives to get younger members of the Muslim family involved.

“The youth are the future of the Ummah and it is important that we invest in them,” Mr Mohamed says.

“This year we have a dedicated ‘Youth Program’, which gives the youth exclusive time with conference

speakers to address matters that concern them.”

Mr Mohamed says organisers have planned workshops about some of the key issues facing Australian Muslim youth (such as religious motivation and dealing with friends) as well as a dedicated session with a visiting North American expert.

“It’s called “Heart2Heart”, about identity, peer pressure, whims and desires. Muslim youth shouldn’t miss this one. We would like all parents to encourage their children to attend the Youth Program events.“ Two competitions are being run

by Mercy Mission to encourage children to get involved in the AAIC – the Budding Writers competition for those aged 5 to 18 years, and the Little Mum’ins colouring-in competition for children aged 3-4 years.

Organisers say they’re excited by the quality of the entries they’ve received in the writing competition so far.

“We decided to run the Budding Writers competition as a means of stimulating young minds,” Mr Mohamed told Crescent Times.

Zionist “anti-terrorist” training on Australian soil

Shayma Alshakshir Melbourne

The Leibler Yavneh Jewish school in Elsternwick has been found to be in breach of council regulations after it conducted “anti-terrorist” training sessions for students outside the school grounds.

Concerned neighbours lodged formal complaints at the local city council.

Glen Eira Council Mayor Steven Tang said their investigations showed that the school exceeded its permitted property.

“Our investigations have established the school was training outside the permitted property and we have asked them to cease their training,’’ he said.

The ‘Modern Orthodox Zionist Jewish’ school (as they describe themselves on their school website) held training sessions every six months for two years.

Leibler Yavneh College head of administration, David Fisher, says the training was necessary because Jewish schools are at risk and under threat.

“There is an ostensible threat to the Jewish community and some people see violence is the way to go,’’ he said.

Mr Fisher says there have been instances where people have verbally abused the school.

“It doesn’t have to be a terrorist attack,’’ he said.

“Saying racial remarks and being anti-Semitic,’’ is an attack itself he said.

“So we wanted our students to be alert to any suspicious activities,’’ Mr Fisher said.

When asked about the security measures they will seek to protect the school and its members, particularly now that the training has been ceased, Mr Fisher replied “We have ceased the training and the matter has been resolved,....whatever measures the Jewish community wishes to take will be for them, it is not something we will want to publish.” he concluded.

“Entries have already started to trickle in and Mashallah some of the insights from our youngsters have really blown us away. We look forward to reading many more and sharing these with the community.”

He says all entries in the writing competition will be published on the Mercy Mission website, and entries in both the writing and colouring-in competitions will be displayed at the AAIC. Muslim children attending the event itself will also be catered for, with a Children’s Corner.

This is an area where the kids can come and enjoy some craft activities, get their face painted, attend storytime or bounce around in the bouncy castle,” explains Mr Mohamed.

More information about the competitions, as well as speakers and details of the Annual Australian Islamic Conference can be found on the Mercy Mission website. www. mercymission.org.au The deadline for competition entries is 26 March 2010.

To advertise your business with Crescent Times : sales@crescenttimes.com.au Or call: 0414 155 366

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Bukhari House Association Mosque Fundraising Dinner

Location:Monash University’s Faculty of Arts and the Australian Catholic University (ACU) In an exciting new initiative between Monash University’s Faculty of Arts and the Australian Catholic University (ACU), students will be able to study a diverse and well-researched range of units in all aspects of Islamic studies from 2011. Units will cover Arabic language, Qur’an and Hadith studies, Islamic history, law, contemporary thought, art and comparative studies. A limited range of units will be available in 2010 including: Arabic language (Monash), Islam: Principles, civilisations, and influences (Monash), Introduction to Islam (ACU),Approaches to the Qur’an and Hadith (ACU). For more information, go to: Bachelor of Arts with a major in Islamic Studies http:// www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/aos/ arts-ug-islamic-studies.html Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Research) in Islamic Studies http://www.monash.edu.au/ pubs/2010handbooks/courses/3937.html Course coordinator: Dr. Salih Yucel, Lecturer, Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology, Monash University, salih.yucel@arts.monash. edu.au Or Prof. Ismail Albayrak, Fethullah Gulen Chair in the Study of Muslim-Catholic Relations, Australian Catholic University (ACU),ismail.albayrak@acu.edu.au

Support the newspaper that supports you DONATE to SUPPORT YOUR NEWSPAPER Crescent Times was established to support and serve the Muslim community. The journey is long and the financial hardship of the start is hard to overcome despite the huge success of our editorial content and readership.

To provide for the printing cost of the newspaper, and to deliver a free copy for you we need your financial support.

Donation details: * Send cheque to “Crescent Times” P. O. Box: 628 Mirrabooka, 6941 WA * On line transfer to Crescent Times bank account: BSB: 016498 A/N: 481145891

issue 17, March 2010

New South Wales

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Australia Wide Community Events: Muslim Youth Urged to Take Part

Page 3

Community events

Page 4

National news

Islamic Practice and Dawa’h Circle Cricket Tournament 2010 IPDC v INDIA

Melbourne: Al Furqan Mosque Project

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CT EXCLUSIVE Melbourne with great heart, finished the game with a magnificent 6.

And thus IPDC Vic Sports won the game by 1 wicket.

At the end of the game the chief guest Cr Sel Sanli (Mayor, Maribyrnong City Council) delivered a short speech praising the good management of the Islamic Practice & Dawa’h Circle (IPDC), praising all cricketers and the audience as well.

Award Ceremony: Cr Sel Sanli Above: IPDC Captain Al-Amin with Cr Sel Sanli ,Mayor, Maribyrnong City Council presented the awards Photo: Courtesy Al Amin with Khurshed Alam (Ameer/President India won the toss and decided to bat first, of IPDC, Victoria), Abu Rashid (Secretary finishing with a score of 8 wickets for 163 General of IPDC) and Nazrul Islam Pramanik runs in 25 overs. IPDC Vic Sports started very assisting him. slowly because of an early loss of a wicket. They The awards went to: did come back into the game after 10 overs. Man of the tournament: Mustadir Litu (134 The last 8 overs were excitement filled. When runs and 4 wickets) of IPDC Vic Sports the final over came, both teams were under Man of the Match: Mustadir Litu (41 runs and tremendous pressure to win. IPDC Vic Sports 2 wickets) of IPDC Vic Sports required 8 runs in 6 balls to win the match. On Best Bowler: Emran ( 8 wickets) of IPDC Vic the other hand, they had only 1 wicket in hand. Sports It came down to two more balls, one more Best Batsman: Mustadir Litu (134 runs) of run! What a moment! Tareq, a small player IPDC Vic Sports

WA: Al-Hidayah Clean up Australia day:5th of March 2010

Al Furqan is delighted to announce that we have successfully negotiated the purchase of our current Islamic centre in Springvale South.

We have been renting our current centre for several years and the owner put it on the market for sale last year (starting at $365,000). It was sold late last year but the purchasers were unable to get finance to settle, which now gives us the opportunity to offer a more reasonable price ($315,000).

The last two Ramadhan we have raised just over $100,000 Alhamdulillah, for the purpose of buying or building a centre/masjid, now we are offering the opportunity for all Muslims to invest in their akhirah by supporting our humble yet lively centre, and the necessary renovations to accommodate our constantly growing community.

Alhamdulillah we have raised an additional $81,000 in the last month.

We have to raise the balance of $140,000 (at time of print) by the 20th of April for settlement, any extra will go to extending the masjid area as we are full every Friday at salatul Juma’ah, weekend classes and taraweeh during Ramadhan.

In preaching tawheed and the sunnah, al furqan has been active for a decade, having moved several times due to leasing premises, now is the time for us to take a stand by purchasing our centre bi fadl lillah, solidifying it as a fortress of Islamic dawah in the

south eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

For those unfamiliar with the centre, it is in fact a masjid as well (except for the condition of ownership

by Muslims which inshaAllah we are about to rectify) serving dozens of Muslim families and individuals living in the immediate neighbourhood, and the hundreds living in the suburb and surrounding areas.

We offer 5 daily prayers, Friday sermon, taraweeh prayers in Ramadhan, Islamic classes, youth/social activities, bookshop, libraries of both Arabic and English books and dvds, regular dawah outreach to non-Muslims and so on.

Anybody who would like to visit the centre is welcome for any of the regular classes or daily salat at the times listed on our blog (http:// aswjaustralia.wordpress.com/), or contact us by email: (furqancentre@aswj.com.au) for specific arrangements.

To donate now one can use ‘chip in’ to pay online: http://alfurqan.chipin.com/buy-alfurqan-building or our direct deposit bank details (Australia) are: ANZ Bank Name: al furqan building fund BSB: 013280 A/C: 525906729 Finally we ask the readers to supplicate to Allah for us, our dawah, our guidance and steadfastness on it.

JazakumAllahu khairan

QLD- Murder trial: Kaihana found not guilty!

CT Queensland bureau

issue 17, March 2010

Above: Year 2/3 Girls Class Cleaning up the School Courtyard Photo: Courtesy Al Hidayah school

Al-Hidayah Islamic School students were actively involved in cleaning the surroundings of their school on the 5th of March 2010 as part of national Clean up Australia Day. Before the event, students were educated about the responsibility they have to keep the environment clean as per Islamic values and good citizenship. Prophet Mohammed (SAW) said that: “Cleanliness is half of Iman” (Faith) - reported on the authority of Abu Malik al-’Ash’ari. The students also learned about the Earth being a gift from Allah and that everyone will be asked by the All-Mighty about how they looked after the gift.

Al-Hidayah school seeks to link everyday

activities in daily life with Islamic teachings.

Clean Up Australia Day in Perth was also supported by Crescent Times with an enthusistic turnout to clean up Balga Heritage Park in the north of Perth. The clean up crew removed an alarming collection of dangerous items from the park including new and used needles and syringes, beer bottles, house breaking equipment, and two large bags of pornographic magazines. These materials were concealed in various locations in the bush land at the park. Crescent Times thanks those involved in cleaning up the park and looks forward to an even bigger turnout next year.

On February 17th 2010, after a two-week trial in Brisbane’s Supreme Court, Kaihana Hussain was found not guilty of the 2006 murder of her mother, Shaheda Hussain.

It had been alleged that the rebellious teenager Kaihana killed her mother and attempted to kill her father because she wanted to change her religion and move interstate to live with her boyfriend.

She pleaded not guilty to the murder of her mother, the attempted murder of her father and an alternative charge of committing a malicious act with intent.

The now 20-year-old Kaihana sobbed uncontrollably as the jury, after less than two hours of deliberation, returned a not guilty verdict on all charges.

As Kaihana left the court, she refused to speak to the media, however, surrounded by her legal team and supporters, she was greeted and embraced by members of the jury who had just decided her fate.

Defence lawyer Denis Lynch named Kaihana’s father, Dr Muhammad Hussain as the killer of his wife Shaheda, however he may be safe from prosecution after apparently securing indemnity from further investigation.

Dr Hussain said, at his daughter’s trial, that before speaking to the authorities for a second time he obtained written assurance that he was not a suspect and that he would not be investigated.

However, Queensland’s Director of Public Prosecutions failed to respond to questions from The Australian newspaper about whether Dr Hussain had been given indemnity from prosecution.

In a brief statement released on February 19th 2010, the DPP directed inquiries about further investigation of the crimes to the Queensland Police Service, stating that they did not offer Dr Hussain freedom from investigation.

A Queensland police spokesperson said that while the case remained open, it was now likely to be referred to the Coroner.

The not guilty verdict leaves a scenario where a woman is dead, the prime suspect has been cleared, and the only other person at the scene is not a suspect.

Sources: The Australian, and the Courier Mail.

Retail and seconds outlet shop Orders Welcome

Pies, Pasties, Sausage Rolls, Cakes, Tarts, Slices, Bread, Croissants, Donuts, Muffins Shop 5 Dyer Road, Bassendean, WA Ph: 08 9376 9319 Monday to Friday 7.00am - 3.00pm Saturday 7.00am - 11.00am Monthly Specials

National news

Photo: Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, the Hamas leader assassinated by Mossad in Dubai last month.

financial issues. Paul McNamara form Yasaar Media, who are hoping to open an office in Melbourne in mid 2010, gave an interesting example in a story of a conventional bank which wants to sell non-alcoholic beverages to the market.

Typically, what would happen is that the banker with a conventional hat on would take grapes, make wine, and think about ways to free the drink from alcohol. Not only is this process inefficient, but it highlights the need for Islamically trained professionals who will ensure that Islamic banking remains Islamic and authentic with the process pure and direct.

The initiative of Associate Professor Ishaq Bhatti, Director of the Islamic Banking and Finance Program at La Trobe University, to start the first Masters of Islamic Banking and Finance offers hope for the Australian sector. The introduction of any development program is crucial as the whole world gears towards the reality that 50% of 1.7 billion Muslims are expected to be involved in Islamic Banking by 2020.

In a world where banks are converting to entirely Islamic modes of operation, two million trained people will be in demand to service the market.

While I was working on the documentary film “Muslims in Australia since the 1600s” I was impressed by the early Muslims’ contribution to building Australia. Today, Islamic finance can play a significant role in building a better and more ethical system which will benefit individuals and society.

Connecting clever people and ideas with resources on a fair and ethical basis is the cure for today’s financial cancer.

Michael Moore in his documentary “Capitalism: A Love Story” asked the question “what financial system would Jesus participate in?” I hope that my new documentary film “Islamic Banking and Finance” will answer that question. *Almir Colan (MBA) is a research assistant at the La Trobe University (The School of Economics and Finance). Almir is currently working on production of a new documentary film “Islamic Banking and Finance” and can be reached vie email acolan@ gmail.com for any comments or suggestions.

Page 5

Australia changes Israel vote in UN

It seems that Australia has softened its traditionally staunch support for Israel in the United Nations while denying that this change of heart was linked to tensions over Israel’s apparent use of forged Australian passports in the Mahmoud al-Mabhouh assassination in Dubai.

At the latest vote in the UN General Assembly - where Australia has been one of Israel’s strongest supporters - Australia abstained from a resolution demanding that Israel and the Hamas authorities in Gaza investigate possible war crimes during Israel’s assault on Gaza in 2008.

Three months ago, Australia voted against a similar resolution which sought to endorse the Goldstone Report - a UN sponsored paper that stated there was evidence that Israel and Hamas had both committed war crimes.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the change in Australia’s vote was not related to the passport scandal and that Australia abstained because the latest resolution did not specifically endorse the report.

“Our vote on the resolution was neither determined nor influenced by recent events,” he said.

“The Australian government always considers United Nations resolutions on a case-by-case basis and on their merits. Australia abstained on this resolution because, unlike previous resolutions, it did not endorse the Goldstone Report.’’

But a source in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told The Age there was no doubt the abstention was intended as a sign to Israel not to take Australian support for granted.

“We were also aware that the UK’s decision to vote in favour of the resolution was influenced by the fact that so many of their citizens had been caught up in the Dubai assassination.”

Six other countries also changed their votes, including Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Some countries, such as Britain, France and New Zealand, shifted from abstention to supporting the resolution.

Mr Smith last week summoned the Israeli ambassador, Yuval Rotem, over the apparent use of three forged Australian passports by Israeli spies in the assassination of a senior Hamas operative in Dubai.

Mr Smith warned that if Israel was behind the forgeries “Australia would not regard that as the act of a friend.”

Israel has refused to confirm or deny involvement in the assassination.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who has described himself as a “lifelong supporter of Israel,” indicated that he did not believe Israel’s response to the incident was acceptable.

On the other hand officials and investigators from the Australian Federal police flew to Israel to investigate the forged Australia passports.

According to a Haartiz Israeli newspaper poll around 87% of those polled supported the assassination and would happily offer their own passport to be used in a similar case in future.

Source: The Age and news agencies.

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

You can have the smartest people in the room, the best business plans and still end up with no output unless you have fuel to Above: Islamic finance seminar. fire up that engine. If Photo: courtesy Almir Colan leadership is about direction, then money global trend towards IBF, corporations like is about movement. In Islamic finance, Citybank, JP Morgan/Chase, Goldman the combination of both leadership and Sache, USB, HSBC, ABN Amro, BNP money is translated through a partnership Paribas, Societe Generale, Deutsche Bank, arrangement that adds value to the real Nomura Securities and many more are economy. joining the game.

Australia’s Islamic financial landscape To put it into global context we only is changing and competition is heating have to look at the IBF situation in the UK up. The National Australia Bank Muslim- with 22 banks in London (including five friendly loans, Kuwait Finance House that are fully Shariah compliant), twenty moving to Melbourne, establishment of sukuk issues raising US$11 billion listed an award winning LM Australia Alif Fund on London Stock Exchange, 20 law firms and most recently, Westpac’s commodity- supplying services in Islamic finance and a trading facility (believed to be the first number of institutions offering education Islamic financing tool for institutions in and training products supporting the IBF Australia), are just signs of things to come. industry.

Last month Australian Trade Commission One of the major local players keeping (Austrade) in partnership with Dubai a close eye on all these developments Export Development Corporation in relation to IBF in Australia is MCCA organised its second Islamic Financial (Muslim Community Co-operative Services Mission to Australia. Amongst Australia). Established in 1989 MCCA the participants were Noor Islamic Bank, has the knowledge and experience to Amanie Islamic Finance Consultancy take the next step and become Australia’s and Education, NASDAQ Dubai, Islamic first Islamic bank. While MCCA works Advisory Group, Yasaar Media and Dubai to ensure a level playing field for Islamic International Financial Centre. finance in Australia, it is eagerly anticipating A series of meetings and seminars in long overdue government moves to Sydney and Melbourne was designed remove impediments to Islamic finance by to identify business opportunities and addressing taxation, legal and regulatory support the growth of the Islamic banking obstacles as previously identified in the and finance (IBF) sector in Australasia. Johnson Report.

The mission coincided with the federal Islam prohibits making money by money, government unveiling a booklet entitled but it allows legitimate profit by allowing “Islamic Finance” prepared by the money to be used to trade tangible assets.

Australian Trade Commission. The report As explained by one of the leading experts highlighted that fact that Islamic finance is Dr. Mohamad Daud Bakar, the only means growing at over 10% per annum, while the to benefit from the money is to convert its global IBF industry was estimated to be monetary function to economic function worth more than AUD$1 trillion (US$822 through either trading or investment. Thus, billion) in 2009. Trade Minister Simon the Qur’anic verse “Allah has permitted Crean pointed out that “Islamic financing is trade and has forbidden interest (usury)” a crucial plank in the government’s strategy [2:275] is the reason why Islamic finance to make Australia a financial hub in the Asia in its essence must always be asset, service Pacific region.” or project based.

While Australia’s financial sector has While Islamic finance does not feature remained strong, specific opportunities any of the factors that led to the global include “attracting foreign full-fledged financial crisis, Dr. Mohamad Daud Islamic banks and conventional bank Bakar warned that Islamic finance is also Islamic windows to establish operations in vulnerable if care is not taken - not in terms Australia”. of its product structuring, but in relation to Nevertheless, Australia must act fast if non-performing financing due to its credit it is to remain competitive and a relevant policies. financial hub for the almost one billion The final challenge is a lack of Islamically Muslims in the Asia-Pacific region. In the correct solutions for contemporary

the use of forged Australian passports:

www.crescenttimes.com.au

Almir Colan

After the Dubai assassination facilitated by

issue 17, March 2010

New Era for Islamic Banking and Finance in Australia

www.crescenttimes.com.au

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

Page 6

Native matters

Get our troops out of Afghanistan and stop state sponsored terrorism!

Native Ya Sheikh, Wherefore Matters Art Thou?

Editorial

the country. In the course of the hostilities in Afghanistan, the Taliban have been accused of oppressing women, planting drugs and fighting the invaders and foreigners - none of these “cultural issues” have been tolerated by the invading forces - indeed they have been used as reasons to pursue the war in Afghanistan. It is only when allies perpetuate these types of crimes that they are tolerated in the name of “culture.”

Several billion dollars every year from Australian taxpayers goes to Afghanistan. Not to build new schools and hospitals but to destroy villages and kill innocent civilians sleeping quietly in their beds. Even assuming that the Australian soldiers are there to “fight the Taliban,” it appears that after years of resistance the Taliban has not lost significant ground.

Either the Australian troops are not fighting the Taliban or they are not achieving the stated goal. In any case, it is time that they came home and Australian taxpayers money was put to better use.

Please dear politicians, stop cheating us and get our troops out of Afghanistan immediately if not sooner! Please!

Eugenia Flynn*

While the U.S government and media overlook the crimes of their military, some brave Australian media, and one Canadian newspaper choose to speak out.

It has been reported that Australian troops recently invaded a house in Afghanistan in the dead of night, killing five family members. Why? By mistake - they were supposed to be at a house up the road. This excuse itself seems pointless as it implies that it is OK to carry out such slaughter as long as you do it in the “right” house!

Canadian chaplains working with forces in Kandahar revealed to their commanders incidents of Afghani soldiers raping children and demanded intervention. The response of the commander was: not to worry, not to interfere! He informed them that these rapes were a cultural issue that the chaplains should tolerate!

Apparently, this cultural tolerance does not apply to Taliban policies in their resistance or ruling of Crescent Times editorial team

In February I commemorated eight years of Islam in my life. A friend asked me what my reflections were of the last eight years and I told him that it was a bit odd, I felt like my knowledge of the Deen had deepened and that the way I viewed Islam in my everyday life had changed. I suppose I have matured in my knowledge and understanding of the world in which I live and this makes me view Islam and its place in my life differently.

One of the biggest things for me has been the maturing of my thoughts on race matters within an Islamic context. Initially when I reverted it was a pure shock to be around others who were either outright racist or more simply ignorant. This then turned to a kind of stand-off between myself and other Muslims, I became insular, sticking to myself and feeling heartache about those in the Ummah that I had dealings with, who were not completely up to speed with how my Black State of Mind was thinking and reacting to the racially polarised world we live in, but that it seemed only I was acknowledging.

Moving along to eight years later, I have gained a firmer positioning of my thoughts on race relations within my Western life and am now further prepared to consider how these fit within an Islamic context.

You see, Islam is a global religion, meaning

Pakistan: Police torture suspects live on television!

issue 17, March 2010

*Eugenia Flynn is an Aboriginal, Chinese and Muslim woman. In 2007 Eugenia founded the Indigenous Muslim Support Network (IMSN), which she continues to lead. Eugenia is the Deputy Chair of the National Indigenous Youth Movement of Australia (NIYMA) and is the Company Manager of an Indigenous youth performing arts company based in Adelaide.

MUSLIM

Syed M. Hassan* Pakistan It was the most humiliating moment for the police department and the society of Pakistan to hear and see the terrible acts of Pakistani police torturing robbers in public in Chiniot, a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan.

Soon after the incident occurred some Pakistani news channels broadcast this awful act.

The Chief Minster of Punjab and the Police Inspector General have taken action after the incident and ordered the arrest of the five policemen who in carrying out the torture have tainted the image of the entire police department.

The Inspector General has also ordered senior police officers to warn and train their subordinates to avoid repeating such inhumanity in future.

The Police Inspector General has decreed that if any similar case of police violence is reported in future, the officers of the region, district and city would be held responsible and should be prepared for severe consequences.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against the five policemen. Despite their condemantion and imprisonment, the Station Home Officer (SHO) was quite heated, antagonistic and threatened more hostility to

little old reverts like me who are firm in our cultural context, must find application of the Deen to our everyday lives and understanding of the world around us. In a heated online discussion recently, it became clear to me that a lack of understanding of racism and black and white relations in Australia (and more generally in the Western world) means that some applications of Islamic injunctions are, baldly put, null and void.

Without going into the debate that triggered all of this, I want to state that through debate I have been enabled (alhumdilillah) to clearly articulate what I have longed for throughout my journey in Islam – that is, a religious scholar that I can go to who has a thorough understanding and knowledge of the nuances of racism and black and white relations in Australia and the non-migrant Western context globally, as this is my cultural reference for being.

This subconscious longing and subsequent non-fulfillment has left me feeling very fragile as a Muslim, although it has taken some time to come to this realisation. I suppose, as the longing was subconscious for so long, there may be someone out there who I can turn to, I just have not found them yet as I was not searching for them consciously.

So now that I have come to the full realisation of this longing, I ask, ya Sheikh, wherefore art thou? Who will rise to the challenge?

RADIO SHOW

Above: Pakistani police torturing their victims

the victims.

The Police Inspector General ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the inhuman acts carried out by the five police officials. If the official report confirms the events, additional action will be taken against the accused police.

Three victims of the assaults were sent to the District Hospital for assessment and treatment.

Medical reports have confirmed the torture of the victims.

Prominent civil society activists condemned the horrible incident and commented that police personnel should be trained about human rights and act according to well

thought-out guidelines.

Police Inspector General of Punjab, Tariq Salim Dogra, said that no one is higher than the law; the Chiniot incident is a theme of shame for the entire police department. Whoever was found involved in this wicked act is a criminal and harsh action will be taken against those who are found guilty.

In this regard the District Superintendent of Police (DSP) was suspended with immediate effect and three other police officials were sent to jail. *Sayed Mohamed Hassan is a Pakistani freelance journalist. His work has appeared in Pakistani and international media, he speaks several languages.

Hosts: Rashid and Shayma Alshakshir Radio station: 3CR 855am (can be streamed online) When: Last Sunday of every month from 6pm-7pm Discussing issues related to Muslim youth, politics, world news and interviews with international muslim artists/singers To make any suggestions for guests or topics to be discussed on the show Or if you are a muslim organisation or business and would like us to air your advertisements Contact Shayma on 0432 517 364 or email : shayma.alshakshir@live.vu.edu.au

:‫بعونه تعالى‬

HIJRAH

Australian Muslim lifestyle magazine coming soon!

Since 1972, Israel has assassinated more than 23 people on foreign soil, including in Rome, Canada, Cyprus, Paris, Brussels, France, Athens and Nicosia, breaching international laws and damaging diplomatic relations with those countries in the process.

Following the most recent attack, failure to adopt strong measures to deal with Israel will have dramatic consequences locally and internationally. In Dubai for example, foreign businessmen may be afraid to invest or will not be given the opportunity to do so, as they begin to be treated with suspicion. This, in the long term will have an adverse effect on the global economy. Furthermore, Hamas might now change its policies of not carrying out attacks abroad, with potentially catastrophic repercussions.

Israel now terrorises the lives of people around the world, as it takes its war abroad. Our Australian passports were instrumental in our ‘royal’ treatment at international airports, but now that has been abrogated by Israel’s actions. Every time we enter a Muslim country, we are now suspects.

Although Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said the forged passport scandal has a “way to go,” his actions are far less serious than those of Britain, Ireland, France and Germany, all of which have had their passports misused. While Britain sent Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) officers to investigate allegations when they first arose, Australia chose to reaffirm its “long support of Israel.”

When the results of a poll commissioned by the EU in 2003 which showed that 59% of Europeans thought Israel was the greatest threat to world peace were leaked to El Pais and the International Herald Tribune, it was dubbed anti-Semitic and sparked an international row.

A major Jewish human rights and lobbying group, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, accused Europe of suffering the worst outbreak of anti-Semitism since World War Two. So rejecting an occupation that the United Nations has ruled illegal, that dispossessed millions

UK: 2 Muslim women refuse to take ‘naked’ full-body scan

On 3 March, two Muslim women became the first passengers to refuse to subject themselves to controversial “naked” full body airport scans.

The pair - who security officials insist were selected at random - opted to miss their flight to Pakistan and forfeit tickets worth £400 each rather than be screened.

An estimated 15,000 people have already passed through the scanners, with the pair the first passengers to refuse a scan.

The X-ray machines allow security staff to see a “naked” image of passengers to show up hidden weapons and explosives, but it has attracted criticism for also showing clear outlines of passengers’ genitals.

Manchester Airport confirmed the passengers had refused to be scanned but said it had received no complaint from the women.

However, civil liberties campaigners say the

of people, that until now murders women and children, that destroys civilian homes, that causes children to live in fear and bombs civilians with white phosphorous makes me anti-Semitic?

The suffering the Jews experienced at the hands of Hitler doesn’t make it acceptable for them to recreate a Holocaust on others. The use of the same victim card has become boring, and frankly embarrassing for the Jews. While they try to convince the world they were the victims in the past, people are realising they are currently the perpetrators. As Mordechai Vanunu, former technician at the Dimona nuclear plant in Israel said, “[Israel] used to remind the world ‘holocaust, holocaust’ every hour, every day, but in fact Israel have a holocaust factory.”

The Australian Government has sent agents to Israel to investigate the passport fraud.

While they do, we as Australians should think and think again as to why we would forgive Israel for such a hideous crime? What guarantee do we have that this won’t happen again? How can we be sure our identity will not be used for the next hit?

Australia’s unconditional and continuing support to Israel makes one wonder, since the Palestinian people have never attacked Australians, why can’t they be our friends too? * Rashid is Melbourne manager of Crescent Times, a university media student and cadet journalist.

incident could form the basis of a legal test case to challenge the use of the Rapiscan device in airports.

Alex Deane, director of campaign group Big Brother Watch, said the organisation would represent the women if they wished to challenge the decision in court. The scanners have also been criticised by the human rights group Liberty and the government’s own Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Two weeks ago, a week after the scanners were introduced at Manchester and Heathrow airports, Islamic scholars in the U.S. said Muslim travellers should not pass through the scanners because they violate religious rules on nudity.

The Fiqh Council of North America issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, warning Muslims not to go through the scanners. “Islam highly emphasises haya (modesty) and considers it part of faith. The Quran has commanded the believers, both men and women, to cover their private parts.”

Source: Daily Mail, UK

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

Australia’s support for the State of Israel goes right back to its creation. The Australian Foreign Minister in 1947, H.V. Evatt, played an important role in the creation of the state of Israel through his Chairmanship of the United Nations International Commission on Palestine. When a vote was called that year on General Assembly Resolution 181 to establish separate Jewish and Arab states, the Australian delegate was the first to vote, and that vote was in favor.

Since then, this intimate relationship has been left unchanged, but is our Government’s agenda of simply being consistent with previous Governments’ one sided policies, without re-assessing those policies, hindering our ability to move forward? Could our simple, ‘follow the leader’ approach with the US be leading us into participating in what will one day be a shameful history that the next generation of Prime Ministers and Presidents will apologize for?

The recent assassination of Hamas figure Mahmoud alMabhouh on the 19th of January is an alarming reflection of the incongruous strategies employed by an occupying state that our Government unconditionally supports.

For the past 60 years the international community has allowed Israel to do what it likes without holding it accountable for its actions. The Israeli spy agency, Mossad, has long held a reputation for gang-like kidnappings and murders. Their actions remain unchanged, even after the botched assassination attempt on the life of now Hamas leader, Khalid Mishal.

In 1997, they betrayed Jordan, who was the only US/Israeli ally in the region at the time, caused King Hussein great embarrassment, and as a result, were coerced into the release of Palestinian prisoners; including wheelchair bound Sheikh Ahmad Yassine who was later assassinated by Israel.

In 2004, New Zealand had its own problems with Israel, after two Mossad agents unsuccessfully tried to steal the identity of a wheelchair bound man with cerebral palsy.

Just glancing at the graph above is enough to see how absurd it is to claim that “all terrorists are Muslims.” That statement is nowhere near the truth. Source: Europol 2009.

Amanda Charmand-Mazumder* reports:

Since 2001, 38 people have been prosecuted as a result of counter-terrorism operations in Australia, of those, 20 people have been convicted of terrorism related offences according to the White Paper relating to Counter-Terrorism released in 2010. No reports or media releases have commented on the motivation of the 20 convicted in Australia and the White paper fails to mention that none of those 20 people were charged for actually engaging in a terrorist act. But a recent trend report released by the European Police Office about the terrorism situation in European nations is something to take note of.

I am sure many of us have heard politicians, media and local citizens claiming “Not all Muslims are terrorists,” (glad they figured that one out) “but all terrorists are Muslim.” But interestingly enough, this report conducted

by Europol during 2006, 2007 and 2008 concerning the number of terrorist attacks failed, foiled or successful in European nations, showed that only 0.3% were by Islamist groups. Furthermore, from 20062008, fewer than 20% of suspects arrested in relation to terrorism in Europe were from Islamist groups (no information given on whether charges were laid).

Appealing statistics as they are, I’d like to draw your attention back to the old Australian White Paper released in 2004 - Alexander Downer proclaimed that Australia was engaged in a “struggle to the death over values” against “Islamo-fascists” who were “convinced that their destiny was to overshadow the democratic West” and who had launched a callous operation “to destroy our society by waging a version of total war.” The new White Paper doesn’t use much of this Islamophobic

tone, but in comparison to the Europol report which covers all types of terrorism, our 2010 White Paper only focuses on Islamist terrorism. Makes you wonder if the authors even know what terrorism actually is.

Another point that stood out in the new White Paper was the statement “The scale of the problem will continue to depend on factors such as the size and make-up of local Muslim populations, including their ethnic and/or migrant origins, their geographical distribution and the success or otherwise of their integration into their host society.” Not sure if the Australian Government has seen the Europol report. It seems as though they still have the “all Muslims are terrorists and all terrorists are Muslim” ideology running through the parliament.

Professor Mack, director of the Human Security Research Report Project, said that with the exceptions of Afghanistan and Pakistan, total deaths from terrorism had fallen sharply around the world in recent years.

“We should not be too anxious about Islamic terrorism,” Professor Mack said. “It is nothing like a war.” And Professor Mack is somewhat right, what we should be more worried about is the fact that Israel is using illegal nuclear, chemical and biological weapons on civilians and any country in the Islamic World could be next. That is something of deep and utter concern for the entire world. Thinking they’d find “weapons of mass destruction” in Iraq?

Think again. They are in Israel, and flown in from the United States.

As for ‘home grown terror’, someone needs to give a copy of the Europol report to the Prime Minister.

The Europol report can be found at www.europol. europa.eu *Amanda is a registered Mental Health Nurse in the Sydney Area Health Service. Passions include World Politics and Islam, Medicine, Psychiatry and Nursing. She is the Sydney manager of Crescent Times.

www.crescenttimes.com.au

Rashid Alshakshir*

European Study: Very few terrorists are Muslim

issue 17, March 2010

The intimate relationship between Australia and Israel

Page 7

Ummah news

International Page 8

Gazans pay a heavy prices for Israeli state terrorism:

Birth defects in newborn children

www.crescenttimes.com.au

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

CT EXCLUSIVE Amanda Charmand-Mazumder* The 22-day conflict in Gaza during January 2009 was utterly devastating as most can remember, killing over 1300 Palestinians, injuring over 5000 and reducing over 4000 residential buildings to rubble, rendering many families homeless. Amanda Charmand Mazumder reports: Reports from many sources confirm that the Israeli army made use of white phosphorus artillery shells which have had severe physiological affects on the civilians of Gaza and continue to impact the innocent lives of Palestinians in Gaza.

First-hand exposure to different forms of white phosphorus and other weapons containing toxic metals causes severe injuries and fatalities. European doctors working in Gaza hospitals at the time of the attacks said there was strong evidence suggesting that wounds and amputations were directly caused by these nuclear weapons (note that some experts classify these artillery as nuclear due to their fission process). Mads Gilbert, Norwegian doctor and member of a non- governmental organisation, who worked at Gaza’s largest hospital stated “many people arrived with amputations, with both legs crushed and with wounds which I suspect are produced by DIME [dense inert metal explosive] weapons.”

Human Rights Watch (HRW) researchers in Gaza immediately after hostilities ended found spent shells (proven to be manufactured in the United States), canister liners, and dozens

of burnt felt wedges containing white phosphorus on city streets, apartment roofs, residential courtyards, and at a United Nations school. The Goldstone Report also confirmed the use of white phosphorus, flechettes and heavy metal weapons (such as tungsten) against civilians in Gaza.

But the consequence of such artillery being used in the combat is still devastating the lives the Gaza people today.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has issued several press releases concerning the consequences of the 22-day conflict in Gaza, highlighting Israel’s use of weapons containing toxic metals and carcinogens, both harmful to the developing fetus. In the year following the warfare, a report released by Al Dameer for Human Rights stated birth defects in Gaza had risen dramatically to almost double the number of the previous year and doctors speculate that this is a direct result of civilians being exposed to chemical weapons during the conflict in 2009.

Miscarriages, babies born with deformities, incomplete hearts and malformations of the brain are on the rise in Gaza as are malignant cancers in children and the elderly; all of which are attributable to the use of toxic weapons by Israel, whose lethal effects are thought to be delayed.

The use of chemical weapons in the denselypopulated areas of Gaza is likely to be “a longlasting tragedy and [will] plague the future of coming generations,” the health of one and

The Power of Women Aisha Stacey*

issue 17, March 2010

The Kiki principle:

I attended a Book Club meeting last week where we discussed the Dan Brown bestseller, The Da Vinci Code. As to be expected, we sat sipping tea and discussing symbolism.

However, the Da Vinci Code is not just about symbols it is also about the sacred feminine.

Of course, no Muslim would dare hypothesise about the myth of a female deity, a so-called earth mother, or fertility goddess. The Oneness of God is absolute. Nonetheless, the fact is many powerful political and religious leaders, over the centuries have denigrated women, even decrying them as accomplices of Satan.

Consequently, we got talking and I got thinking. The power of women is undeniable.

Women give birth and raise children. The future of humankind is, quite literally, in the collective hands of women. The religion of Islam teaches us that men and women have equal but different roles. Each side delicately holding the balance of life, moving endlessly into the great-unknown future. Every human being facing challenges and changes that can easily be over come by adhering to the laws sent down by God. Islam also tells us that women are precious jewels and that hijab (modest clothing and demeanour) is a protection. Islam says that hijab indicates to the world that this is a believing woman and that she should not be bothered or harassed. It also shows that this woman is part of a worldwide community that

affords respect to the status and role of women.

Many would interpret women needing protection as a sign of weakness, but lets try to look at it a different way. What if Islam is saying that women need protection not because of their weaknesses and flaws, but because of their strengths and power? What if Islam is calling for the protection of women’s inherent capabilities?

Women are the caregivers and nurturers of the world. A woman’s natural reaction is to stay away from conflict, they are the peacemakers.

Traditionally women have held knowledge essential to humankind’s survival. They are the healers and herbalists, the midwives and mothers. Women show extraordinary strength when faced with adversity. Women have the ability to keep moving forward when all around them is collapsing.

Women appear to have forgotten how inherently powerful they are. Their strength does not lie in being like men; it lies in the differences between men and women. The superiority of men is a myth, sadly sometimes perpetuated by women. Men and women are equal but different. Yet somehow, as a woman, I believe the trust put in our gender by God is amazing. Let us take back our power by recognising our strengths. * Aisha Stacey is a Gold Coast based writer and researcher. She is the new Queensland editor of CT.

Debora McNichol*

Call a Spade a Spade?

a half million Palestinians in the Strip is still threatened because of the contamination of water, soil and air the Al Dameer study declared.

This is not the first time we see these types of weapons used against Islamic countries; notably in Fallujah, Iraq, white phosphorus was used by the US and the results are just as disturbing. Falluja general hospital’s director and senior specialist, Dr Ayman Qais states “Before 2003 [the start of the war in Iraq] I was seeing sporadic numbers of deformities in babies. Now the frequency of deformities has increased dramatically.” Birth defects – which include a baby born with two heads, babies with multiple tumours and others with nervous system problems are on the increase, 15 times more incidents than before the war in Iraq.

Full investigations have been launched and are currently underway in the hope that the perpetrators will be dealt with and punished severely under International Law.

Afghanistan Operation “Moshtarak” by numbers: 7 FOREIGN ARMIES are involved in Operation Moshtarak. They are the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Australia, France and Canada.

15,000 SOLDIERS make up the Western and Afghan forces.

5 OF THE BRIGADES belong to Afghan forces, including members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, Afghan Border Police and Afghan Gendarmerie (formerly Afghan National Civil Order Police).

6000 AMERICAN AND CANADIAN TROOPS from Task Force Kandahar are also involved in Moshtarak 1240 AFGHAN FAMILIES have fled the military onslaught in Lashkar Gah – with the average in a family being 7 in Afghanistan, that totals more than 8,600 men, women and children.

27 CIVILIANS including women and children travelling in a convoy of minibuses were killed in a NATO airstrike in Uruzgan province just days after 19 civilians died when US missiles were accidentally fired into a home as part of Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

In case you missed it, in February an American named Joseph Stack torched his home and ran an airplane into the Internal Revenue Service building in Austin, Texas, killing one person and injuring many more. Shortly after the attack, it became apparent that Stack’s suicide mission was based on anger and frustration from having to deal with the IRS many times over many years.

(Sounds like a “Fair Tax” proponent.) His fullblown anger and frustration led to his conclusion that there simply was no other way to cause change within the American tax system except to resort to violence.

Sound like terrorism? By federal definition, terrorism is “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents.” President Obama concluded fairly quickly, however, that the suicide/murder/crash was not. The police, in order to prevent public panic, also considered it not. On the other hand, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Congressman Michael McCaul of the 10th Congressional District of Texas both labeled the incident terrorism.

Legitimate arguments can be made for both sides of the issue, and the reality is that Obama will shy away from the term not only for political reasons but because he does not want to panic the public. No more effort to investigate this incident will be exerted than any other open and shut murder case.

Muslims ask, “Will they call it terrorism only if Muslims do it?” Excellent question. I would argue that Mossad’s recent assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh also falls into that definition, as do Hamas’ sending blank shells across the border into Israel, Israel’s subsequent and retaliatory pounding of Gaza last year, and violence against civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Iraq, and China.

Returning to Stack, a superficial comparison to Fort Hood’s Nidal Hasan reveals some similarities in condition: frustration, anger, hopelessness.

Both were ready to die for their causes, and neither saw any moral problem with taking innocent lives.

It is likely Stack thought himself a revolutionary and Hasan believed himself to be a Muslim hero.

Obviously they maintained skewed senses of reality. That Stack owned the plane with which he ran into the IRS building can only mean that he was not as destitute as he appeared in his now-infamous blog post. (It makes one wonder if mandatory ten-week psych evaluations should be a prerequisite to obtaining a flying license. We could have avoided the entire 9-11 thing before it ever happened.)

Bottom line, murder is murder, whether we call it terrorism, freedom fighting, or paybacks.

SPEAKING OF FLYING… On March 2, 2010, American Department of Homeland Security announced that the United States and Israel are entering an agreement to “enhance information sharing about civil aviation security incidents and ensure efficient and effective coordination in response to potential acts of terrorism and other aviation-related public safety emergencies.”

No doubt the underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a catalyst for this. On behalf of Muslims everywhere, thanks Umar!

*Debora McNichol is a Muslim wife, mother, daughter, business owner, editor, and attorney in the USA. She has a general law practice in Virginia and North Carolina, and especially takes pleasure in discussing intellectual property and business law with willing clients, friends, and neighbours.

The WA Police State Security Investigation Group, in partnership with Football West is proud to present the ‘Footy with the Fuzz’ Multicultural Friendship Games, set to happen on Sunday 28th March 2010.

The games will feature men’s and women’s teams from diverse ethnic communities within Perth, as well as teams represented by members of the WA Police.

Sponsored by Smarter than Smoking, the Multicultural Friendship Games aims to reach out to teenagers and young adults from differing cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and offer a fun day of cultural and sporting exchanges.

Previous events have proved a fantastic

success, with players and spectators from diverse backgrounds covering South Africa, Sudan, Ghana, Somalia, Eritrea, Zambia, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. International students from the University of WA, Curtin and Murdoch are also expected to field teams.

The purpose of the tournament is to: Strengthen the positive partnership between WA Police and their multicultural communities; Reduce marginalisation within identified community groups; Ensure female members of the multicultural community, in particular the Muslim community, are a part of

Page 9

WA: Footy with the Fuzz - 28 March

WAPOL initiatives; Continue community engagement between the police and the multicultural community; Market a positive environment between WA police and the multicultural community in order to assist in identifying future police recruits from the community A number of communities will provide food stalls, market place and entertainment to showcase their respective cultures.

The tournament will be held on Sunday 28th March 2010 at Herb Graham Recreation Centre in Mirrabooka. For more information, please contact SSIG on 93707394.

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

Adib Abdennabi: An officer serving his community

issue 17, March 2010

Adib Abdennabi is the sort of person who is devoted to their work, doing his best to help his fellow citizens and providing sound advice whenever possible and relevant.

Adib has worked with the Western Australia Police for the last two years, after relocating from London where he worked as a police officer from 2002. He is familiar with working in inhospitable territory from his English experience, including his last position as a Detective with New Scotland Yard from 2006 to 2008. In his current job with the State Security Investigation Group, he works in the Community Contact Team, mainly to strengthen the relationships between the Police and different racial groups and communities.

“Our main job is to prevent marginalisation and victimisation of all culturally and linguistically diverse communities” Adib told Crescent Times. “Our job here is much easier than in London” he explained. This is due to two main factors: the small migrant population compared to that of the UK, and the relative absence of victimisation and marginalisation of non white and Muslim communities in particular.

Adib believes that working hard to establish bridges between the local Muslim community and the WA Police is the best way to gain community respect. He is now known by almost all community leaders, Imams, and many ordinary Western Australian Muslims and all pay him full respect and appreciation.

Whenever a problem appears on the surface to be a safety or security matter, he is immediately available to assist people and does his best to resolve their problem. He has assisted Muslim associations to get shire approval for mosques, Muslim businesses to solve security or legal issues and has contacted many youngsters who have requested assistance or advice on joining the WA Police. “I’m personally happy to support all young Muslims as a mentor if they chose to go through police recruitment” Adib explained.

Unlike some of the Muslim communities in the Eastern States, Adib believes “that, at present the Muslim community in WA is not marginalised”.

Also, he believes that as far as he can see, Muslims are open to integration.

That does not stop “our continuous hard work to take preventative measures to stop marginalisation” Adib added.

On the side of awareness, Adib presents a weekly ‘Islamic awareness’ presentation to many Frontline officers. He explains ways of relating to the Muslim community, their diverse cultural and religious backgrounds as well as outlining the basic principles of the Islamic faith. Amazingly he has discovered that many officers are ready to adopt this new information and ready to interact with the Muslim community with awareness of their cultural and religious diversity.

Adib asks community members to bear in mind necessary restrictions placed on the way in which local police work, “I urge Muslims to appreciate the difficulties the Frontline officers experience on a day to day basis. If police officers respond to an emergency call to your house for example, do not expect them to remove their shoes before they enter the house, as they are part of their safety gear that they are obliged to wear all the time during their work, but you could politely ask them not to step on a prayer mat for example”.

A successful police service has to reflect the community they serve.

Obviously the Muslim community is not adequately represented in the WA Police, and we should work hard to encourage young Muslims to seek their future career with the police, Adib explained. He hopes that one day in the not too distant future he will be able to assist in establishing the first WA Muslim Police Association.

www.crescenttimes.com.au

Tarek Chamkhi Perth

‫أخبار األمة‬

‫القهوة تحمي القلب‬

‫قالت صحيفة إندبندنت البريطانية إن العلماء تمكنوا‬ ‫من فك شفرة الحمض النووي للبكتريا التي تستوطن‬ ‫أمعاء البشر‪.‬‬ ‫ربما ال تعادل هذه الخطوة في المرتبة إنجازات علمية‬ ‫أخرى مثل ارتياد الفضاء أو علم األحياء البحرية‪ ,‬لكن‬ ‫إجراء دراسة تفصيلية لما يستوطن داخل كل فرد منا‬ ‫من كائنات حية ستكون له على األرجح مضامين بعيدة‬

‫وأبدى رئيس الوزراء التركي استعداد تركيا ألن تكون‬ ‫مركزً ا لتبادل اليورانيوم بين إيران والدول الغربية إذا‬ ‫وافقت إيران على ذلك‪.‬‬ ‫وأشار أردوجان إلى أن أن الوزير التركي المسئول عن‬ ‫هذا الموضوع سيتوجه األسبوع المقبل إلى طهران لمتابعة‬ ‫هذا الملف‪.‬‬ ‫ولفت أردوجان إلى أن تركيا وسوريا وإيران تسعى‬ ‫إلى مساعدة العراق كبلد ذي طابع حضاري في المنطقة‬ ‫للخروج من الدمار الذي حل به‪.‬‬ ‫واختتم رئيس وزراء تركيا تصريحاته بقوله‪ :‬البد من‬ ‫التأكيد على أن الرهان على تقسيم المنطقة على أسس‬ ‫طائفية ومذهبية لن ينجح في التفريق بين شعوبها ونحن‬ ‫ندعوا الجهات التي تعمل على ذلك إلى التفكير بشكل‬ ‫صحيح‪.‬‬

‫أردوجان يح ّمل "إسرائيل" مسئولية‬ ‫التوتر بالمنطقة‬

‫وكان رئيس الوزراء التركي رجب طيب أردوجان قد‬ ‫أعرب عن قناعته بأن "إسرائيل" هي التي عرقلت مساعي‬ ‫الوساطة التركية في المفاوضات غير المباشرة مع سورية‬ ‫في الفترة الماضية من خالل عدوانها على قطاع غزة‪ ،‬وح ّمل‬ ‫"إسرائيل" مسئولية ما وصلت إليه األوضاع في المنطقة‪.‬‬

‫وقال أردوجان في حوار مع صحيفة "الشرق" القطرية‬ ‫نشر عشية زيارته إلى دولة قطر‪" :‬قيام اسرائيل بالحرب‬ ‫علي قطاع غزة قطع كل االتصاالت التي كانت جارية في‬ ‫إطار المفاوضات غير المباشرة‪ ،‬وبالدي ال تمانع في‬ ‫إحياء مساعيها في مباحثات السالم إذا قامت األطراف‬ ‫المعنية بإبالغ بالده رغبتها بذلك"‪.‬‬ ‫وأض���اف أردوج����ان‪" :‬السياسات واالنتهاكات‬ ‫االسرائيلية وترت العالقات مع تركيا التي لم تستطع‬ ‫السكوت والتصفيق للقنابل الفوسفورية التي ألقيت على‬ ‫غزة وراح ضحيتها أكثر من ‪ 0051‬شخص من أطفال‬ ‫ورجال ونساء"‪.‬‬ ‫وجدد التزام بالده بموقفها الثابت والداعم لتحقيق‬ ‫السالم ووق��ف االنتهاكات "اإلسرائيلية" للحقوق‬ ‫الفلسطينية وحصار غزة فيما تستمر "إسرائيل" في‬ ‫ضرب قرارات األمم المتحدة ومجلس األمن الدولي‬ ‫عرض الحائط ولم تلتزم بأي قرار من هذه القرارات‪.‬‬ ‫وانتقد رئيس الوزراء التركي الصمت الدولي تجاه‬ ‫السياسات "اإلسرائيلية" وما تعاني منه غزة من غياب‬ ‫للبنية التحتية وتشريد لمئات األسر التي تنتظر البدء‬ ‫بإعادة اعمار غزة الذي أقر في شرم الشيخ العام الماضي‬ ‫المصدر‪ :‬مفكرة االسالم‪.‬‬

‫ابتسامة جميلة و صحية‬ ‫نجاح السعيد‪ -‬ملبورن‪:‬‬ ‫عندما نتعرف على انسان‪.‬تكون أول فكرة نرسمها‬ ‫عنه هو عن طريق إبتسامته‪ .‬فاإلبتسامة هي اول معالم‬ ‫الشخصيه فإما أن تكون ابتسامه واثقه جميله و جذابه‬ ‫واما ان تكون متردده مستتره تحت االنامل و احيانا‬ ‫اخرى يضطر صاحبها ليغطيها بمنديل حتى ال يؤذي‬ ‫الشخص المقابل له‪.‬‬ ‫من المؤكد أن كل واحد منا ينظر الى نفسة مرارا‬ ‫وتكرارا في المرآة ليفحص ابتسامتة ويتأكد من جمالها‬ ‫فهل فكرنا يوما ان نتأكد من صحة أسنانا فصحتها أهم‬ ‫أسرار هذة األبتسامة وهي كذلك أهم أسرار جمال‬ ‫الوجة والجسم كلة‪.‬فكم شاهدنا من وجوة متورمة من‬ ‫أحد جوانبها بسبب إلتهاب أحد األسنان ‪,‬وأناس أخرين‬ ‫أصيبوا بروماتيزم المفاصل وحتى في عضلة القلب‬ ‫بسبب بؤرة انتانية في فمهم وكثير من أناس تفاجؤا‬ ‫بفراغات كبيرة بين أسنانهم لم تكن موجودة من قبل‬ ‫بسبب مرض مزمن في اللثة لم يشعروا بوجودة‪,‬وكثير‬ ‫من االمراض واالعراض التي يعود سببها الهمال صحة‬ ‫الفم واالسنان‪.‬وكم مرة أصبنا بالغثيان بسبب التسليم‬ ‫على اشخاص تفوح رائحة افواههم‪.‬‬ ‫يا ترى هل فكرنا يوما بأن هذا الفم هو أول مكان‬ ‫يلمسة الطعام قبل أن يدخل إلى أجوافنا‪ .‬فإذا كان هذا‬ ‫المدخل ملوث ومؤى للجراثيم فسوف يتلوث الطعام‬ ‫من أول لحظة يدخل الى الفم وينعجن مع اللعاب‬ ‫الممزوج بالجراثيم‪.‬‬ ‫أن تنظيف الفم أمر خطير ومهم ليس فقط من اجل‬

‫المدارس اإلسالمية ببريطانيا‬ ‫“األنجح” بالثانوية العامة‬ ‫أظهرت دراسة بريطانية أن المدارس اإلسالمية في بريطانيا‬ ‫تواصل تفوقها على غيرها من المدارس في الحصول على‬ ‫أكبر درجات في شهادة الثانوية العامة؛ حيث حصل واحد‬ ‫وستون بالمائة من طالبها في عام ‪ 2009‬على تقييم ما بين‬ ‫ممتاز وجيد‪ ،‬متخطين حاجز المتوسط الوطني البالغ ‪ 50%‬من‬ ‫‪.‬الطالب الذين يحرزون هذه النتيجة‬ ‫وبحسب الدراسة التي أجرتها صحيفة “مسلم نيوز”‬ ‫البريطانية ذائعة الصيت‪ ،‬فإن عالمات تفوق الطالب ظهرت‬ ‫بشكل أكبر في مادتي الرياضيات واللغة اإلنجليزية‪ ،‬في نتائج‬ ‫‪GCSE.‬شهادة الثانوية العامة المعروفة اختصارا بـ‬ ‫وجاءت مدرسة (تور هامليتس) في شرق لندن في الرتبة‬ ‫األولى على مستوى المملكة؛ حيث أحرز ‪ 46%‬من طالبها‬

‫صحتنا وعالقتنا االجتماعية مع الناس بل من أجل أهم‬ ‫األسباب هي أرضاء رب العالمين الذي وضع لنا هذة‬ ‫السنن والقوانيين للمحافظة على صحتنا‪ .‬فكيف ننسى‬ ‫قول رسولنا الكريم (السواك مطهرة للفم مرضاة للرب)‬ ‫إذن هو من أسباب رضى رب العزة علينا‪,‬فأوصانا‬ ‫رسولنا الكريم بالسواك قبل كل صالة(لوال أن أشق على‬ ‫أمتي ألمرتهم بالسواك قبل كل صالة)فهو كان حريص‬ ‫على السواك طوال اليوم‪ :‬عند االستيقاظ وقبل النوم‬ ‫وبعد الطعام وقبل الخروج من المنزل‪.....‬وحتى عند‬ ‫وفاتة عندما دخل علية احد الصحابة والسواك في يدة‬ ‫نظر اليه بشوق فسارعت السيدة خديجة لتلبية رغبتة‬ ‫وتسويك أسنانة‪.‬كان علية الصالة والسالم حريص على‬ ‫تعليمنا كل شيء فعلمنا ان السواك ليس فقط لالسنان‬ ‫بل كان ينظف بة الخدود واللثة واللسان‪,‬وهاهو العلم‬ ‫الحديث يكشف لنا كم يحتوي هذا السواك على مواد‬ ‫مطهرة وقاتلة للجراثيم باالضافة الى رائحتة المنعشة‬ ‫‪,‬فإذا كنا قد أستبدلنا السواك بالفرشاة فال بأس ولكن‬ ‫لنكن حريصين على تفريش اللسان والخدود ةاستخدام‬ ‫الخيط والمضامض الفموية حتى نكون كما أراد لنا حبيبنا‬ ‫محمد علية الصالة والسالم افواهنا طاهرة ونظيفة تفوح‬ ‫منها رائحة منعشة فال نؤذي المالئكة وال الناس من‬ ‫حولنا وتكون ابتسامتنا جميلة وسليمة وحققنا الهدف‬ ‫األسمى من ذلك كلة وهو رضى ربنا علينا‬ ‫* د‪ .‬نجاح السعيد طبيبة أسنان مقيمة بملبورن‪،‬‬ ‫أستراليا‪.‬‬

‫‪.‬درجات ما بين ممتاز وجيد‬ ‫ ‪‬‬ ‫وتلفت الدراسة النظر إلى أن هذه النتائج نجحت‬ ‫المدارس اإلسالمية في بلوغها بالرغم من أن ‪ 5‬مدارس فقط‬ ‫‪.‬من الـ‪ 63‬تتلقى تمويال حكوميا‬ ‫وواحدة من هذه المدارس الخمسة‪ ،‬وهي مدرسة “توحيد‬ ‫اإلسالم” للفتيات في بالكبيرن شمال غرب إنجلترا أعلنت‬ ‫الحكومة البريطانية أنها واحدة من أكثر مائة مدرسة على‬ ‫مستوى البالد إنجازا لألعوام الثالثة الماضية‪ ،‬ونالت في عام‬ ‫‪ 2009.‬جائزة على نشاطها االجتماعي واإلنساني‬ ‫ودفعت معاناة بعض المدارس اإلسالمية من نقص التمويل‬ ‫حزب المحافظين المعارض إلى استخدام هذه النقطة الجتذاب‬ ‫أصوات الناخبين في االنتخابات البلدية والبرلمانية القادمة؛‬ ‫حيث أعلن في فترة سابقة أنه سيعمل على بناء مزيد من هذه‬ ‫المدارس في حال وصوله إلى سدة الحكم محل حزب العمال‬ ‫‪.‬الحاكم‬

‫‪issue 17, March 2010‬‬

‫ساللة بكتيريا‬ ‫تستوطن اإلنسان‬

‫األثر على صحة اإلنسان ورفاهيته‪.‬‬ ‫وقد تستخدم نتائج هذه الدراسة للتنبؤ باألمراض‬ ‫المعوية المزمنة‪ ,‬من القرحة حتى السرطان‪.‬‬ ‫واستطاعت الدراسة التي أجراها فريق من العلماء‬ ‫فك شفرة تسلسل الحمض النووي لعدة آالف من‬ ‫المو ِّرثات أو الجينات التي تستفيد منها أعداد هائلة من‬ ‫البكتريا التي تعيش داخل أحشاء اإلنسان‪.‬‬ ‫ووجدت الدراسة أن هناك حوالي ألف نوع مختلف‬ ‫من الجراثيم تستطيع العيش في أمعاء اإلنسان السليم‬ ‫وأن كل شخص في المتوسط يسكن في داخله حوالي‬ ‫مائة وستون نوعا منها في وقت واحد‪ ,‬وأن معظمها من‬ ‫األنواع الشائعة عند مختلف الناس‪.‬‬ ‫ولطالما كانت بكتريا األمعاء عصية على الدراسة‪,‬‬ ‫ذلك ألن معظمها ال يستطيع النمو خارج بيئته الطبيعية‬ ‫ولعل هذا ما حدا بالعلماء لالعتقاد بأن ما توصلوا إليه‬ ‫من نتائج سيلقي الضوء على أحد جوانب علم األحياء‬ ‫البشري لم يكن مفهوما فهما كبيرا أو لم يبحث كثيرا‬ ‫من قبل‪.‬‬ ‫قدر أن أمعاء اإلنسان السليم تحتوي على نحو‬ ‫ويُ ّ‬ ‫‪ 100‬تريليون من الخاليا الجرثومية‪ ,‬أي أكثر بعشرة‬ ‫أضعاف عن تلك الموجودة في باقي جسم اإلنسان‪.‬‬ ‫ويقول د‪ .‬جيروين رييس من جامعة فريجي في‬ ‫بروكسل ببلجيكا وأحد أفراد فريق العلماء الذين‬ ‫أجروا الدراسة‪ ,‬إن العلماء ال يعرفون إال القليل عما‬ ‫تفعله تلك البكتريا لكي تحافظ على صحتها وعافيتها‪.‬‬ ‫وأضاف "ال نملك خيطا يدلنا على كيفية عمل األمعاء‬ ‫ألن ذلك نظام بيئي بالغ التعقيد‪ .‬إننا في الحقيقة ال‬ ‫نعرف كيف يعمل ذلك النظام البيئي رغم أنه عنصر‬ ‫أساسي لصحتنا‪ .‬كما ال نعرف كيف يتم هضم الغذاء وما‬ ‫الوظائف التي تقوم بها كل ساللة من سالالت البكتريا"‪.‬‬

‫الصورة‪ :‬رئيس الوزراء التركي رجب طيب أردوغان‪ .‬أرشيف‪.‬‬

‫‪www.crescenttimes.com.au‬‬

‫توصلت آخر دراسة إلى أن المتناولين للقهوة بانتظام‬ ‫أقل عرضة لإلصابة باضطرابات في نبضات القلب‪ ،‬وأنه‬ ‫كلما زاد عدد مرات تناول القهوة يوميا قل خطر المرض‪.‬‬ ‫ووجد المتخصص في أمراض القلب الدكتور أرثر‬ ‫كالتسكي وفريقه بعد تتبع ‪ 130‬ألف رجل وامرأة‬ ‫تتراوح أعمارهم بين ‪ 18‬و‪ 90‬عاما‪ ،‬أن خطورة التعرض‬ ‫الضطرابات القلب تراجعت بنسبة ‪ %18‬لدى من تناول‬ ‫أربعة أكواب من القهوة فأكثر يوميا‪.‬‬ ‫وأشارت الدراسة األميركية التي أجراها قسم األبحاث‬ ‫التابع لمنظمة كيسر بيرمنينت في كاليفورنيا إلى أن‬ ‫الذين تناولوا كوبا واحدا إلى ثالثة يوميا تراجعت نسبة‬ ‫الخطورة لديهم بنسبة ‪ %7‬مقارنة مع من لم يتناولوها‬ ‫على اإلطالق‪.‬‬ ‫وقال كالتسكي في مؤتمر لجمعية القلب األميركية‬ ‫إنه رغم أن االرتباط ال يوحي بأن القهوة وحدها هي‬ ‫المسؤولة عن ذلك فإنه ال يبدو أن القهوة أحدثت‬ ‫ضررا‪.‬‬ ‫وتشير صحيفة ديلي تلغراف البريطانية التي أوردت‬ ‫الخبر إلى أن التفسيرات األخرى لهذا االرتباط قد‬ ‫تنطوي على قيام متناولي القهوة بسلوكيات مفيدة مثل‬ ‫التمارين والحمية الغذائية‪.‬‬ ‫وأضاف طبيب القلب أن تلك النتائج ربما تكون‬ ‫مطمئنة ألولئك الذين يتناولون القهوة بكميات معتدلة‬ ‫بأن سلوكهم قد ال يسبب أي اضطراب لنبضات القلب‪.‬‬ ‫وتأتي نتائج الدراسة األميركية بعد جملة من األبحاث‬ ‫التي تظهر أن للقهوة تأثيرا وقائيا على القلب‪.‬‬ ‫وأظهرت دراسات أخرى أن تناول القهوة بمعدل‬ ‫خمسة أكواب يوميا فأكثر يخفض نسبة الوفاة بسبب‬ ‫أمراض القلب بمعدل اربع واربعين بالمائة؟‬ ‫المصدر‪ :‬ديلي تلغراف‬

‫أبدى أبناء الجاليات العربية في النرويج سخطهم‬ ‫البالغ بسبب قيام إحدي صفحات موقع "فيس بوك"‬ ‫التابعة لشرطة األمن القومي النرويجية على وضع روابط‬ ‫مباشرة للرسوم الكاريكاتيرية المسيئة للقرأن الكريم و‬ ‫للنبي صلي اهلل علية وسلم‪.‬‬ ‫وذكرت صحيفة "المصريون" أن شرطة األمن القومي‬ ‫النرويجية قامت بإنشاء هذه الصفحات عام ‪2009‬‬ ‫وانضم إليها ‪ 5400‬عضو بهدف مناقشة موضوعات‬ ‫جادة ولكن العديدين يستخدمون هذه الصفحات‬ ‫للهجوم المباشر علي اإلسالم والمسلمين‪.‬‬ ‫ولفت انتباه المتصفحين من أبناء الجاليات العربية أن‬ ‫القائمين علي هذه الصفحات من ذوي الطابع الشرطي‬ ‫حيث يتركون المجال إلزدراء األديان واإلساءة لإلسالم‬ ‫وللنبي صلي اهلل علية وسلم وللمسلمين و لتوجيه‬ ‫التعليقات العنصرية ضد العرب والمسلمين والدعوة‬ ‫إلى طرد المسلمين من أوروبا مع حجب أي تعليقات‬ ‫ترد على ذلك أو توضح الصورة أو تنتقد نشر الرسوم‬ ‫المسيئة‪.‬‬ ‫صحف دنماركية تمنع إعادة نشر الرسوم المسيئة‬ ‫جدير بالذكر أن عدة جمعيات إسالمية كانت قد‬ ‫رحبت بالقرار المفاجئ الذي اتخذته أكبر ثالث صحف‬ ‫دانماركية بعدم إعادة نشر الرسوم المسيئة للرسول‬ ‫الكريم صلى اهلل عليه وسلم‪ ،‬واعتبرته خطوة باالتجاه‬ ‫الصحيح‪.‬‬ ‫وقال رئيس المجلس اإلسالمي الدانماركي‪" :‬نحن‬ ‫نثمن هذه الخطوة ونعتبرها بمثابة صفحة جديدة من‬ ‫قبل أجهزة اإلعالم‪ ،‬ألن تجدد األزمة لن ينفع الدانمارك‬ ‫أو المسلمين‪ ،‬المهم اآلن هو التطلع إلى األمام والبحث‬ ‫عن الطرق األنسب لمعالجة التداعيات السلبية التي‬ ‫تركتها هذه الرسومات على العالقة بين الدانمارك‬ ‫ومسلميها"‪.‬‬ ‫وشدد عبد الحميد الحمدي على ضرورة أن تخرج‬ ‫الجالية اإلسالمية بالدانمارك من عزلتها وتتواصل مع‬ ‫جميع فئات المجتمع "وفي نفس الوقت أن تنبذ أي‬ ‫عمل إجرامي تحت حجة الدفاع عن مقام النبوة"‬ ‫حارس شخصي للرسام المسيء‬ ‫وفي سياق آخر أعلنت المخابرات الدانماركية نيتها‬ ‫توفير حارس شخصي لحماية الرسام كورت فيسترغارد‬ ‫على مدار الساعة‪ ،‬وأنها تعمل على البحث في طرق‬ ‫جديدة لتأمين محل إقامته وتراجع جميع الترتيبات‬ ‫السابقة‪.‬‬ ‫كما أشارت المخابرات إلى أن الصومالي منفذ الهجوم‬ ‫على منزل فيسترغارد له عالقات مع بعض المنظمات‬ ‫التي وصفتها بـ"اإلرهابية" ولكن الدالئل المتوفرة تشير‬ ‫إلى أنه خطط لتنفيذ الهجوم بشكل فردي وبدون أي‬ ‫تكليف من أحد‪.‬‬ ‫هذا وكشفت وسائل إعالم دانماركية عن تكاليف‬ ‫مالية ولوجستيكية باهظة صرفتها الشرطة الدانماركية‬ ‫على حفظ األمن بالمنطقة التي يقع فيها مقر صحيفة‬ ‫اليوالند بوستن وبيت الرسام‪ ،‬وتجاوزت ماليين‬ ‫الكرونات وأكثر من ثالثين ألف ساعة عمل‪.‬‬

‫أكد رئيس الوزراء التركي‬ ‫رج��ب طيب أردوج���ان أن‬ ‫تركيا لن تخضع ألي ضغوط‬ ‫تمارس عليها إلعادة العالقات‬ ‫مع "إسرائيل" إل��ى سابق‬ ‫عهدها ألنها تؤمن بضرورة‬ ‫إق��ام��ة ال��س�لام القائم على‬ ‫العدل‪.‬‬ ‫وأخ��ب��ر أردوج����ان قناة‬ ‫الجزيرة ال��ي��وم‪" :‬الموقف‬ ‫ال���ت���رك���ي م���ن ال��ح��رب‬ ‫"اإلسرائيلية" على قطاع غزة‬ ‫كان إحقا ًقا للحق وتثبيتًا لمن‬ ‫هو المحق والضحية ومن هو‬ ‫المخطىء والمعتدي"‪.‬‬

‫‪Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au‬‬

‫مما ال شك فيه فان الهدف من اطالق هذه “الشائعات”‬ ‫الملفقة هو نشر الخوف والذعر وعدم االستقرار باالضافة‬ ‫للتفرقة االجتماعية في المجتمع لحث الناخب المحافظ علی‬ ‫التمسك بهذه الحكومة‪ ،‬دون محاسبتها علی فضائح انفاق‬ ‫االم��وال العامة علی مشاريع وهمية لم تخلق أي وظيفة‬ ‫جديدة‪.‬‬ ‫قبل االنتخابات الماضية كنا نمني النفس بالتخلص من‬ ‫كابوس رجعي عنصري جثم علی صدر البالد طويال واستبداله‬ ‫بحكومة اكثر تقدمية تعمل علی هدم الحواجز والعوائق التي‬ ‫بناها سلفها من اجل تقسيم المجتمع‪ .‬ولكنا فوجئنا بان‬ ‫الحكومة الجديدة وحلفائها الحضر قاموا ببناء المزيد من‬ ‫هذه الحواجز والعوائق‪.‬‬ ‫وفي المثل العربي الشعبي فان الجماهير المنتظرة للفرج‬ ‫دون ان تعمل علی تغيير االحوال بطريقة جادة منظمة عادة‬ ‫ما تكتشف في النهاية بان “عالء الدين” المراهن عليه ليحل‬ ‫لهم مشاكلهم يكون “اسوء من اخيه”‪.‬‬ ‫و”ان اهلل ال يغير ما بقوم حتی يغيروا ما بانفسهم”‪ .‬صدق‬ ‫اهلل العظيم‪.‬‬

‫مع "إسرائيل"‬

‫‪Page 10‬‬

‫"يتبع" كتاب الحكومة االسترالية‬ ‫“االسود” في مجال مكافحة‬ ‫“االرهاب”‪:‬‬

‫الشرطة النرويجية‬ ‫تسيء لإلسالم والنبي‬ ‫الكريم‬

‫أردوجان يرفض أي ضغوط إلعادة العالقة‬

Sleepless in Gaza

Aisha Stacey

Message from the west Muslims are their own worst enemies!

documentary filmmaker Nagham Mohanna.

The series also introduces us to Donna Maria Mattas, a 17 year-old in Gaza, who attends the Holy Family School and dreams of being a journalist, and Ala’ Khayo Mkari , an aid worker with Caritas in Jerusalem.

Each 26-minute episode is to be shot in either Gaza or Jerusalem, then edited and uploaded to YouTube.

“Filming will take place six days per week, but on Friday we rest,” said a PINA TV Productions Paul Craig Roberts was an editor of the Wall spokesperson.

Street Journal and an Assistant Secretary of the The series can be found at www.youtube. U.S. Treasury. In his recent article about “Muslim com/SleeplessinGaza. disunity” he outlined many basic truths ignored by

Israel has complained to the Spanish authorities after its embassy in Madrid received postcards from nine-year-old schoolchildren accusing it of killing Palestinian babies and waging war for money.

A spokesman accused the Spanish government of allowing state schools to be used to promote hatred of both Jews and Israel in a country it claims already ranks as one of the most anti-semitic in Europe.

The complaint came after eight and nine-yearolds from a state primary school in Almoines, near Valencia, sent the Israeli ambassador a series of cards which also suggested Israelis should abandon their country and hand it over to the Palestinians.

“Some had very disturbing messages,” an embassy spokesman said. “They asked things such as: ‘Why do you kill children?’ or said that ‘money is not everything’ and that if someone should leave, it should be the Israelis ‘because it is not your land’.

“These are messages about a political situation that they do not understand. Most of these children

probably do not even know where Israel or Palestine are.”

The postcards had gone beyond legitimate debate about Israeli policy and contained racist insults, he added.

“The connection between Jews and money is an old stereotype, and killing babies is also a stereotype that was used in Spain in the dark ages,” he added. “We thought it was part of the past, but obviously it is not.”

Joan Malonda, the head teacher of El Castell primary school in Almoines, today confirmed that the hand-drawn cards had come from his pupils. He denied the children were being indoctrinated, adding: “A lot of this work was done at home and reflects the atmosphere in their own social environment.

They were simply asked to write a postcard on the subject.....We try to teach the children to have a critical attitude, but we also want them to contrast their criticism against other points of view.”

www.crescenttimes.com.au

Spain: Israeli embassy complains about ‘anti-semitic’ postcards from Spanish children

the west.

He outlines that although Muslims are numerous, we are essentially powerless. “Divisions among Muslims, especially between Sunni and Shi’ites, have consigned the Muslim Middle East to almost a century of Western control.” Muslims cannot even play together. The Islamic Solidarity Games, a regional version of the Olympics, which were to be held in April in Iran, have been cancelled, because the Iranians and the Arabs cannot agree on whether to call the body of water that separates Iran from the Arabian Peninsula the Persian Gulf or the Arabian Gulf.

“Muslim disunity has made it possible for Israel to dispossess the Palestinians, for the U.S. to invade Iraq, and for the U.S. to rule much of the region through puppets” the independent thinker wrote.

For example, in exchange for faithful service, Egypt receives $1.5 billion a year from Washington, which enables President Mubarak to buy off any opposition.

The opposition would rather have the money than support the Palestinians. Therefore, Egypt cooperates with Israel and the U.S. in the blockade of Gaza.

Paul added: “Another factor is the willingness of some Muslims to betray their own kind for U.S. dollars. Don’t take my word for it. Listen to neoconservative Kenneth Timmerman, head of the Foundation for Democracy, which describes itself as “a private, non-profit organisation established in 1995 with grants from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) to promote democracy and internationally-recognised standards of human rights in Iran.”

By now we all know what that means. It means that the U.S. finances some “revolution” in order to install a U.S. puppet. Just prior to the sudden appearance of a “green revolution” in Tehran primed to protest an election, Timmerman wrote that “the National Endowment for Democracy has spent millions of dollars during the past decade promoting ‘color’ revolutions in places such as Ukraine and Serbia, training political workers in modern communications and organisational techniques. Some of that money appears to have made it into the hands of proMousavi groups, who have ties to non-governmental organisations outside Iran that the National Endowment for Democracy funds.” So, according to the neocon Timmerman, funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, it was U.S. money that funded Mousavi’s claims that Armadinejad stole the last Iranian election.

During President George W. Bush’s regime it became public knowledge that American money is used to purchase Iranians to work against their own country. The Washington Post, a newspaper sympathetic to the neocon’s goal of American hegemony and war with Iran, reported in 2007 that Bush authorised spending more than $400 million for activities that included “supporting rebel groups opposed to the country’s ruling clerics.”

This makes the U.S. government a “state sponsor of terrorism.” For confirmation, one of the U.S. paid operatives, who conducted terror operations in Iran, has ratted on his terrorist supporters in Washington.

Abdulmalek Rigi, leader of the Baloch separatist group responsible for several attacks, was recently arrested by the Iranians. Rigi admitted that the Americans in Washington assured him of unlimited military aid and funding for waging an insurgency against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Possibly he was tortured into confession. It is the American way. If the “light of the world,” the “indispensable people,” and the “shining city on the hill” tortures people, perhaps the Iranians do as well.

The U.S. and its NATO puppets have been killing Afghan women, children, and village elders since 7th of October 2001, when the U.S. military

invasion “Operation Enduring Freedom,” a proper Orwellian title for a self-serving war of aggression, was launched. The U.S. installed puppet president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, is bought and paid for with U.S. dollars.

The money that Washington gives Karzai finances the corruption that supports him. Karzai’s corruption and his treason against the Afghan people encourage the Taliban to keep fighting in order to achieve a government that serves Afghans instead of Washington, D.C. Without the puppet Karzai selling out Afghans to Washington, the U.S. would have already been driven out of the country. With Karzai paying Afghans with American money to fight Afghans for the Americans, the war drones on into its ninth year.

As is the case in Australia, Paul observed that: “Feminists, liberals, and naive American flag-wavers will say that what is written here is utter rot, that Americans [and Aussie diggers!] are in Afghanistan to bring women’s rights and birth control to Afghan women and to bring freedom, democracy and progress to Afghanistan, even if it means leveling every village, town, and house in the country. We, “the indispensable people,” are only there to do good, because we care so much for the Afghan people who live in a country that most Americans can’t find on a map.

While this collection of the naive rants on about America “saving” Afghans from whatever, the White House and the Congress are conspiring against the American people to cut $500 billion dollars out of Medicare in order to give the money to private insurance companies. Jobless benefits are about to run out for millions of Americans, whose jobs have been moved offshore in order to make the rich richer.

What fool believes that the U.S. government, which is totally indifferent to the fate of its own citizens, cares so much about Afghanistan that it will spend blood and treasure to bring “progress” and “women’s rights” to a country half a world away, while it drives its own citizens into the ground?

At Washington’s behest, the government of Pakistan is conducting war against its own people, killing many and forcing others to flee their homes and lands. The Pakistani government’s war against its own citizens has caused military expenses to soar, putting Pakistan’s budget deep in the red. Deputy US Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin ordered the Pakistani government to raise taxes to pay for the war against its own people.

The puppet ruler, Asif Ali Zardari, complied with his American master’s orders. Zardari declared a broad-based value added tax on virtually all goods and most services in Pakistan. Thus, Pakistanis are forced to finance a war against themselves.

The “cakewalk war” in Iraq has lasted 7 years instead of the promised 6 weeks, and the violence is still ongoing with Iraqis killed and maimed nearly every day. The reason Americans are still in Iraq is because the Iraqis hate each other more than they hate the American invader. The vast majority of the violence in “the Iraq war” was committed between Iraqi Sunnis and Iraqi Shi’ites as they cleanse one another from neighbourhoods.

Finally realising the power of lucre in the Arab world, the Americans put 80,000 Sunnis on the U.S. military payroll and paid them to stop killing Americans.

This is the reason that Iraq today is in ruins, with one million dead, four million displaced or homeless, and the professional class having fled the country. Iraq, under the American puppet Maliki, is an American protectorate.

From the point of view of the West, the bad news is that there are lots of Muslims; the good news is that they are very disorganised.

It is true that “As long as Muslims hate and fear one another more than they hate their conquerers, they will remain a vanquished people.”

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

Tarek Chamkhi

issue 17, March 2010

On Monday the 1st of March 2010 a video diary filmed by PINA TV Productions, about four young Christian and Muslim Palestinian women launched on YouTube.

Entitled Sleepless in Gaza...Jerusalem, the 90 part series is an opportunity to explore how young Palestinian women live their daily lives.

The series is not conflict driven, nor is it based on rant and rhetoric.

Rather it is a chance to view personal and community achievements made in the most difficult circumstances of siege and occupation.

Camera crews follow the lives of Ashira Ramadan, a broadcast journalist based in Jerusalem and her friend from Gaza,

East - West

Page 11

International

Are you ready for the new National Employment Standards? “Part II“

Hyder Gulam* Melbourne 10 new National Employment Standards (“NES”) came into force on 1 January 2010 as part of the Fair Work Act (“Act”). The NES sets the minimum employment standards/ safety net for all employees covered by the Act (including senior and managerial staff).

entitled to receive any overtime compensation.

8. Fair Work Information Statement Employers are required to provide a copy of the Fair Work Information Statement to all new employees as from 1 January 2010 and to casual employees at least once every 12 months. The Statement may be provided in a variety of ways, including by email, personally, or electronic link to the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website.

9. Notice of Termination and Redundancy Pay Employers are required to provide an employee with written notice of termination of an employee’s employment of up to 5 weeks’ based on the employee’s length of service. Superannuation must also be paid on notice of termination payments (where a payment is made in lieu of notice, that is, an employer does not require an employee to work out the notice period).

In the event of redundancy, employers with

ACCC: Telco admits telemarketing and doorto-door sales likely to mislead The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced that People Telecom Pty Limited has admitted its sales agents transferred customers from rival carriers without consent and made other potentially misleading claims in order to sign up customers.

As part of a court enforceable undertaking People Telecom will offer affected consumers refunds and waive debts arising from telemarketing and door-to-door sales on its behalf.

Complaints to the ACCC suggest agents transferred a number of prospective customers’ services to People Telecom

issue 17, March 2010

without their consent, or after representing that: • the agents were working on behalf of the customer’s current telecommunications carrier; • People Telecom was an agent or subsidiary of the customer’s current carrier or resold that carrier’s services; • the customer was required to change their carrier to People Telecom; or • changing to People Telecom would not compromise any current contractual or billing arrangements with their current carrier; when this was not the case.

Some customers affected by this conduct

disputed the obligation to pay invoices from People Telecom, and those invoices were referred to debt collectors as part of People Telecom’s credit management process.

In response to concerns that People Telecom may have breached the Trade Practices Act, it has offered the ACCC a court enforceable undertaking that it will: • not make misrepresentations of the kinds listed above; • write to affected customers, and place a notice on its website, offering to allow them to terminate their contract without penalty, and refund or waive certain debts arising from the misrepresentations; • monitor the conduct of its agents and ensure they comply with the scripts provided

by People Telecom; and • implement a trade practices compliance program, including a complaints handling system that will be integrated with the credit management process.

www.crescenttimes.com.au

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

Page 12

Business

Source: Australian Competition Consumer Commission

The NES overrides any term of an employment contract that is detrimental to an employee when compared to the NES. A corporation breaching the NES can cop a penalty of up to $33,000.

The first five standards were outlined in last month’s Crescent Times, in this article, we’ll look at the second five NES. 6. Community Service Leave An employee who wishes to take leave to undertake an eligible community service activity, including jury service (which is paid leave up to 10 days, other than for a casual employee) or a voluntary emergency management activity (which is unpaid leave) are entitled to do so if it is reasonable in all the circumstances.

7. Public Holidays Employees are entitled to be absent from work and receive payment for a day that is a public holiday (if the public holiday is an ordinary work day).

Employees also have the right to refuse to work on a public holiday if it would be “unreasonable” to do so. In assessing the “reasonableness” of a request to work or refusal to work on a public holiday, relevant factors will include, the nature of the employee’s workplace, the personal circumstances of the employee, and whether the employee is

more than 15 employees are required to provide employees with redundancy pay of up to 16 weeks’ salary based on an employee’s length of service.

However this will depend on the circumstances.

For example, if an employee has not previously had a right to redundancy pay, whether under an award, agreement or contract, service prior to 1 January 2010 will not count for the purpose of determining an employee’s entitlement to redundancy pay.

10. Long Service Leave In the absence of any pre-modernised awards/ old agreement entitlement, State and Territory laws apply pending development of a uniform long service leave standard.

The Fine Print: This article provides a general summary only of topical issues and is not intended to be comprehensive. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.

Legal advice specific to your circumstances should be obtained by you before relying on any aspect of this publication.

*Hyder is a lawyer with Logie-Smith Lanyon Lawyers, Melbourne. Hyder practices mainly in the areas of Commercial & Corporate, Defence Procurement and Islamic Finance. He is a registered nurse, a qualified lawyer, an accredited mediator as well as a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing in Australia. He has post graduate qualifications in business/management, law and nursing.

This article is for educational and general information purposes only and should not be relied on as (or in substitution for) legal, accounting, financial or other professional advice.

and

Tony LAM DATE OF BIRTH: 10-Oct-72 HEIGHT: 170 cm (5’7”) BUILD: Thin EYES: Brown HAIR: Black COMPLEXION: Olive Where is Tony LAM? It is alleged LAM was involved in trafficking cannabis in Melton in April, 2008. A warrant for his arrest has been issued. Call us on 1800 333 000 or visit www. crimestoppers.com.au

Call us on 1800 333 000 or visit: www.crimestoppers.com.au

As I write this, two NATO rockets have just slaughtered around a dozen innocent Afghan civilians during the latest military assault in the war torn country.

Ordinary Afghan men, women and children are paying the blood price for a war launched by politicians from the West.

Soldiers, including American and British, who signed up to escape the poverty in their respective recession-hit countries are also giving the ultimate sacrifice.

And all this is being done in the name of freedom and liberty by career politicians who are dripping in the blood of innocents – weasels who will never have to sacrifice anything.

And judging from Tony Blair’s callous demeanour as he gave evidence during the ongoing Iraq Inquiry, being a political leader whether Prime Minister or President, means never even having to say sorry.

Until we introduce a new system, which brings political leaders to account, they will continue to operate above the law.

So expect an Afghanistan Inquiry in a few years time when the new generation of Bush and Blairs line up to defend the indefensible.

The Afghan Army and British and US troops have so far driven tens of thousands of innocent people out of their villages in Helmand.

Already the town of Marjah has been evacuated, as part of the massive military assault on the Pashtun population of Helmand.

The operation is called Moshtarak, a Dari name for “together.” And together these forces are taking part in what is nothing more than ethnic cleansing.

Quite how the legal advisers to Barack Obama and Gordon Brown have sold this is beyond me – but I am not a lawyer, merely an onlooker who is bound to raise the question: “Why is ethnic cleansing being carried out in Afghanistan?”

Furthermore, I believe Moshtarak will sow the seeds for endless civil war in the future once the foreign troops have pulled out as they inevitably will.

So why do I say Moshtarak is nothing more than an ethnic cleansing exercise. Well consider this…

• 3-5 per cent of the Afghan National Army come from the southern areas of the country.

Most are native Dari speakers rather than of Pashto, which makes the ANA outsiders.

• 42 per cent of the population of Afghanistan is Pashtun yet less than 30 per cent of the ANA are Pashtun.

• 25 percent of the population are Tajic but they now account for 41 percent of all trained ANA troops.

As I said before, I am not a legal

expert but I am surprised that human rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others have not picked up on this fact.

Perhaps it is something they are investigating, so apologies in advance to Sam Zarifi, Amnesty’s Asia Pacific director, and others if they are preparing reports on this very subject.

Surely questions about the ethnic make up of the Afghan Army should be raised not least of all because it is quite clear that American and NATO policies on Afghanistan are not working.

The issue of womens’ rights was cited as the cause for going in to Afghanistan but we know that there are not huge numbers of career women emerging from the rubble.

The liberation of Afghan women is not a priority, never has been and never will be until women’s rights are taken seriously in the West. We need to put our own house in order before we start dictating to others about the treatment of women elsewhere.

Meanwhile, back in Afghanistan, the US, UK et al have failed miserably on the ground because they have only sought to promote the interests of regional powers.

I understand that there are talks, albeit backdoor ones, between the West and the Taliban by those who realise there can be no peaceful resolution to the problem of Afghanistan without engaging with the Taliban and giving them a stake in the future of their country.

It’s not rocket science, if they are excluded from the peace process, there can be no peace.

This is the real solution in Afghanistan. Jaw, jaw not war, war.

Which makes me wonder why Barack Obama and Gordon Brown continue to send brave young men into a battle which can’t be won in a country where another set of brave young men want to repel what they see as occupiers of their lands.

And this latest military operation might see those same NATO forces being charged with crimes against humanity by taking part in an ethnic cleansing operation…history has taught us, if nothing else, that it’s the grunts on the ground who end up in the dock.

I have visited Afghanistan many times now, and the message I receive is always the same: “Get NATO troops out of our country.”

It’s a message from Afghan women who are suffering more hardships than ever and are no where near being liberated… in fact many of them ask me what it means. What they want is security, education, a decent healthcare system and jobs for their men.

And to reinforce that, I met the amazing Malalai Joya, Afghanistan’s youngest ever

woman MP, who was suspended from Karzai’s “democratic government” for speaking her mind. She told me: “We are trapped between two enemies: the Taliban on one side and American and NATO forces and their warlords on the other.”

But who is going to listen to a mere Afghan woman? Well certainly not Barack Obama or Gordon Brown and certainly not Hamid Karzai. Whenever I return to the UK from Afghanistan I’m rarely asked my opinion by the mainstream media, because I carry a similar message and if we don’t tell the men what they want to hear then they won’t listen.

But it’s a message I receive as I travel around Afghanistan talking to real people not politicians – I don’t go embedded with anyone’s army and nor do I stay holed up in a compound in Kabul…that is no reflection or criticism of journalists who genuinely do want to get out like me and talk to real people.

Most of them from the West are restricted from moving around the war torn country by insurance companies – I have no such problem since few insurance companies will give me any cover since my arrest and detention at the hands of the Taliban in 2001!

The bottom line is that the war in Afghanistan is not being waged to liberate women: instead it is turning them into widows. Nor does the war have anything to do with domestic security…the Taliban pose no threat outside their borders and never have. Can anyone tell me the last time an Afghan was engaged in terrorism outside his country?

The Taliban have not launched a global jihad, but they are simply doing what the previous generation of mainly Afghan Pashtuns did during the time of the Russian occupation… they are putting up a resistance to foreign occupying forces and a hostile Afghan army and police. The ANA and the police do not represent interests of the Pashtun people who are the majority ethnic group in the country.

If driving out Pashtun populations from their homes under Operation Moshtarak is not ethnic cleansing, I’d like to know what legal advisers in The White House, Downing Street and NATO call it.

And if NATO forces hold the same reservations as me then it is their duty not to obey illegal orders. *Yvonne Ridley is a British Journalist and author of In The Hands of the Taliban which is due to be updated and republished later this year. She is also a presenter for The Agenda and copresenter of the Rattansi & Ridley show, both of which are broadcast on Press TV. In addition she is a founding member of the Stop the War Coalition as well as the RESPECT political party.

Out of My Three Hour Knee Operation I Came!

Head Feeling Dizzy and Knee In Pain, Who to Blame?

My, Myself and I! ‘A Disable’ my Nickname!

Clock was Ticking, Time For Asr Prayer Now! Struggled to Get Up in the Ward, Wanted To Pray, But How? A Glass Of Water. Water Droplet. Dropped and Dropping!

My Weeping Brown Eyes. Cried and Crying!

Striving to Pray Asr Lying Down on my ‘Death Bed’.

Tried and Trying!

Family Came to Visit, Sincere Joy in the Eyes of My Mother!

Operation was a Success, Alhumdulilah. A Smile, Gave My Brother!

Family Goes. An Image of Love Forelocked Forever in My Heart!

For Every Pain I Feel, Alhumdulilah, He is Here.

Nothing Can Take Me Apart!

I Read the Tafsir Of The Quran, Knowledge full Of Light!

Heart Craving to Pray Tahhajud, in The Depths Of The Night!

As I get Home Many Sleepless Nights I Faced!

Ami Jaan Get My Water Bucket I Need To Pray, Sins Erased!

One Night, This Was It, I was about to Face Death!

Having no Control Over my Body or Tongue At My Last Breath!

Random Words I Spat Out. No Control, My Heart Took Over My Mind!

‘Subhanallahi Wa Bhi Hamdihi’ ‘Subhanallahi Wa Bhi Hamdihi’ Then I Fell Asleep. I Fell Blind.

I Had Prayed My Maghrib Prayer As My Last!

Crying And Weeping, Connecting with Allah. Forgot the Past!

Subhanallah I Woke Up From The Trance!

Test of Life! This is My Second Chance!

Few Days Later, Mentally and Emotionally The Pain Got Too Much!

Mother Mother where are you? I Need to Touch!

About to Announce To Parents, ‘I Need to go Hospital I Just Can’t Cope’!

I Remembered with Allah There is Always Hope!

I Increased My Dhikr To Fight The Immense Pain!

Then Really Struggled As I Went To Do Wudu, What A Gain!

I Opened Up The Holy Quran!

I Ponder over it with Ihsan!

Mentally and Emotionally I Was Recovered.

The Quran Saved My Life...

Few months on and I am walking 100%!

“Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, but since we do not see Him we should know that He sees us at all times.” (Bukhari and Muslim) iPOET

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

Yvonne Ridley*

www.crescenttimes.com.au

Poem: The Holy Quran Saved My Life!

issue 17, March 2010

Ethnic Cleansing in Afghanistan

Page 13

Business

Page 14

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Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

Linda D. Delgado*

Muslim Identity Crisis Many years ago I felt compelled to go to a regional Christian gathering that was signing up new missionaries for ‘work’ in third world countries converting Muslims. All the Christians were dressed up in various styles of clothing that Muslims wear such as hijab, abeyas, kufus and such. I appeared to “fit” right in as I was wearing my standard black hijab and abeya.

After collecting information and pamphlets at the many tables and listening to the Christians extol the merits of signing up to become a missionary, one man asked me if I was interested. I replied I wasn’t and that I was a Muslim “for the reallys”. He then asked me what type of Muslim I was or what sect did I identify with. Being a new Muslim I hesitated only momentarily…then from out of nowhere I responded, “I am Muslim and my religion is Islam.”

He wanted to know if I was a Sunni, Shi’a, Suffi, etc. I answered the same, “I am Muslim and my religion is Islam.”

He got my message loud and clear.

Allah named us Muslim and now 10 years later I am still wondering why us Muslims insist on dividing ourselves into sects and destroying the unity and our identity that the prophet (pbuh) designed with the guidance of Allah?

Sect divisions aren’t sufficient for us Muslim, either. We insist on further identifying or labeling ourselves by our culture, race, or even politics. We form organizations and associations based on race or nationality. The really sad thing is our insistence on labeling has set up the Ummah to have each group be

certain that it is right while believing all other Muslim groups are wrong.

This has led to horrific Muslim bloodshed, maiming, and deaths. We are witness to the destruction of mosques, hospitals and homes and the slaughter of our young children and babies who are our future. Muslims are killing Muslims because one sect is trying to use compulsion within our Ummah. This is not our religion, Islam, but what men have decided is Islam…taking bits and pieces... content out of context… and proclaiming that hodgepodge as Islam.

I am wondering why that Christian man a decade ago was able to comprehend (many Muslims cannot) that when I said I was Muslim and my religion is Islam he knew that nothing he could say would have any effect on me. You see...I did not have an identity crisis.

Yet, in the world today the Ummah is having a huge identity crisis. Do we know who we are? Do we accept we are Muslim? Do we follow what Allah has said…we are Muslim and our strength comes from our unity?

Without our own understanding of who we are and without our unity we will continue to kill each other, continue to force on each other misguided and wrong beliefs cloaked as Islam and continue to make it difficult for non-Muslims to understand who Muslims are and what Islam teaches us to believe.

Linda Delgado, known by many as Widad, is a Muslim revert, the mother of three, grandmother of eight, and great grandmother of three. She is a graduate of the University of Phoenix. Widad is an award winning author and poet and the owner-publisher of Muslim Writers Publishing: www.MuslimWritersPublishing.

issue 17, March 2010

Tunisian City of Kairouan Melbourne: Officially Ends Its Reign Milli Gorus Sareera Youth Turkish entertainment night: As Islamic Culture Capital

Milli Gorus Sareera Youth is a Melbourne based non-profit female Islamic youth group providing educational, social and cultural services to nurture the spiritual and positive upbringing of youth. Services include weekly Islamic classes, community charity events, monthly movie nights, sleepovers, short courses, recreational activities, dinners, programs and much more. Sareera is excited to announce its upcoming charity event back for its second show due to popular demand: Şiir Gecesi-Sevginin Şiir Dili (poetry performance). Şiir Gecesi is a theatrical performance as a tribute to Turkish poetry, arts and entertainment. With love as its theme, prepare yourself for a spectacular show with performances exploring love from a religious, national identity and even comedy context. Each beautifully contextualised poem will take you from tears of joy to those of laughter.

With all proceeds going to the establishment of a new female education and recreation centre, be sure to support this show as it’s one of the first of its kind.

Note: females only, performances will be in Turkish Date: Saturday 1st May Location: Darabin Arts and Entertainment Centre (corner Bell St and St Georges Rd, Preston VIC) Time: 6:00pm - 9:30pm Cost: Adults $20, Students: $15, Children: $15 For tickets contact: 0402639295 or 0433685000 or DAEC Box Office: (03) 8470 8280 or sareera@gmail. com

The Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, said that the aim of selecting Kairouan as Islamic Culture Capital of the Arab region last year was to renew the cultural, civilizational and historical role of this city deeply steeped in history, which was one of the cradles of Islam and a beacon of Islamic civilization, cultural enlightenment and profuse scientific and literary creation throughout ages. The selection of Kairouan was also intended to strengthen relationships with other Islamic culture capitals in Africa and Asia he said.

Dr Altwaijri added that “Celebrating the closing of the Kairouan festivities as a capital of Islamic culture concurrently with the birth anniversary of the Prophet bears witness to our deep commitment to the values of the Islamic culture and the pride we take in our belonging to the Islamic culture. This is also proof of our determination to draw on these eternal values in our action towards achieving a secure, bright and prosperous future, with Allah’s willing.” This, he said, “is the essence of the civilizational message assumed by ISESCO as part of the joint Islamic action, to support comprehensive development in the Islamic world and open up to other cultures with the aim of strengthening dialogue and cooperation for the benefit of humanity at large.”

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‫اسالميات‬

‫‪Page 15‬‬

‫فشلنا في طلوع الثنايا‬ ‫وركوب المطايا‬

‫‪Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au‬‬

‫«الحرب تحتاج إلى ثالثة‪ :‬المال ثم المال ثم المال‪،‬‬ ‫والمجد يحتاج إلى ثالثة‪ :‬العمل ثم العمل ثم العمل»‪.‬‬ ‫لقد أرضينا غرورنا بمدح أنفسنا حتى ِ‬ ‫سك َر‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ير‬ ‫القلب بخمر المديح على مذهب جرير‪ :‬ألَستُم َخ َ‬ ‫ب ال َمطايا؟ في الوقت الذي ركب فيه اآلخر‬ ‫َمن َر ِك َ‬ ‫بساط الريح وإف ‪ 61‬والكونكورد‪ .‬ولو اجتمعنا ما‬ ‫انتجنا سيارة «فولكس فاغن» فضالً عن «كراسيدا»‪.‬‬ ‫امر ًؤا عرف تقصيره فأصلح من نفسه والبد‬ ‫ورحم اهلل ُ‬ ‫أن تقنع المريض بمرضه حتى يستطيع أن يعالج نفسه‬ ‫على أني اعترف بأن عندنا عباقرة ونوابغ يحتاجون‬ ‫لمراكز بحوث ومؤسسات لرعايتهم ومعامل ومصانع‬ ‫الستقبال نتاجهم‪.‬‬ ‫لقد تركت اليابان الحرب وتابت إلى اهلل من‬ ‫القتال وتوجهت للعمل واإلنتاج ‪ ،‬فصارت آي ًة للسائلين‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫بحروب مع‬ ‫وكدس العراق قبل الغزو السالح واشتغل‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وج ِّوع الشعب‬ ‫الجيران‪ ،‬فانتهى قادته إلى المشنقة ‪ُ ،‬‬ ‫وس ِحق‪ .‬سوف نفتخر إذا نظر الواحد منّا‬ ‫ثم ُقتِل ُ‬ ‫إلى سيارته وثالجته وتلفازه وجواله فوجدها صناع ًة‬ ‫محلية‪ .‬وأرجو أن نقتصد في األمسيات الشعرية فإن‬ ‫عشرة دواوين من الشعر ال تنتج صاعاً من شعير‬ ‫يقول نزار قباني‪ :‬وطالعوا كتب التاريخ واقتنعوا‬ ‫متى البنادق كانت تسكن الكتبا؟‬ ‫علينا أن نعيد ترميم أنفسنا باإليمان والعمل‬ ‫وتهذيب عقولنا بالعلم والتفكر‪ ،‬وهذا جوهر رسالتنا‬ ‫الربانية الخالدة وطريق ذلك المسجد والمكتبة‬ ‫والمصنع ‪ ،‬والخطوة األولى مكتبة منـزلية على مذهب‬ ‫الخليفة الناصر األندلسي يوم ألزم الناس بإنشاء‬ ‫مكتبة في كل منـزل وقراءة يومية مركزة ‪ ،‬وهذا‬ ‫خير من مجالس الغيبة والقيل والقال وقتل الزمان‬ ‫بالهذيان !‬ ‫«وق��ل اعملوا فسيرى اهلل عملكم ورسوله‬ ‫والمؤمنون»‬

‫عائض القرني*‬

‫كثرة عدد السكان مع الجودة فضيلة عند األمم لكن‬ ‫الخطأ أن يكثر العدد بال نفع وال إنتاج ‪ ،‬واإلسالم يحث على‬ ‫طلب الذرية الطيبة الصالحة ‪ ،‬ولكن إذا تحولت كثرة النسل‬ ‫إلى عبء اجتماعي صار هذا خطأ في التقدير‪ ،‬ونحن في‬ ‫الشرق أكثر األمم نموا ً سكانياً مع ضعف في التربية والتعليم‬ ‫‪ ،‬فقد تجد عند الواحد عشرين ابناً لكنه أهمل تأديبهم‬ ‫وتعليمهم فصار سهرهم في دبكة شعبية مع لعب البلوت‬ ‫وأكل الفصفص بال إنتاج وال عمل‪ ،‬بل صاروا حمالً ثقيالً على‬ ‫الصرف الصحي والطرق والمطارات والمستشفيات‪ ،‬بينما‬ ‫الخواجة ينجب طفلين فيعتني بهما فيخرج أحدهما طبيباً‬ ‫واآلخر يهبط بمركبته على المريخ! ‪ ،‬وأنا ضد جلد الذات لكن‬ ‫ما دام أن الخطأ يتكرر والعالج يستعصي فالبيان واجب‪.‬‬ ‫ال زال بعض العرب يرفع عقيرته عبر الشاشات ويقول‪:‬‬ ‫أنا ابن جال وطالع الثنايا ‪ ،‬ثم تجده في عالم الشرع ال يحفظ‬ ‫آية الكرسي‪ ،‬وفي عالم الدنيا لم يسمع بابن خلدون وابن‬ ‫رشد‪ ،‬وتجد الغربي ساكتاً قابعاً في مصنعه أو معمله يبحث‬ ‫وينتج ويخترع ويبدع ‪ ،‬أرجو من شبابنا أن يقرأوا قصة أستاذ‬ ‫ثوره اليابان الصناعية «تاكيو اوساهيرا» وهي موجودة في‬ ‫كتاب «كيف أصبحوا عظماء؟» كيف كان طالباً صغيرا ً ذهب‬ ‫للدراسة في ألمانيا‪ ،‬فكان ينسل إلى ورشة قريبة فيخدم فيها‬ ‫خمس عشرة ساعة على وجبة واحدة‪ ،‬فلما اكتشف كيف يدار‬ ‫المحرك وأخبر األمة اليابانية بذلك استقبله عند عودته إلى‬ ‫المطار إمبراطور اليابان‪ ،‬فلما أدار المحرك وسمع اإلمبراطور‬ ‫هدير المحرك قال‪ :‬هذه أحسن موسيقى سمعتها في حياتي!‬ ‫وطالب عربي في المتوسطة سأله األستاذ‪ :‬الكتاب لسيبويه‬ ‫ف َم ْن أل َّفه؟ قال الطالب‪ :‬اهلل ورسوله أعلم!‬ ‫إن التمدد في األجسام على حساب العقول مأساة ‪،‬‬

‫معا نبني الجالية‪:‬‬ ‫روح الجمعة‬

‫واالفتخار باآلباء مع العجز منقصة ‪ ،‬لن يعترف‬ ‫بنا أحد حتى نعمل وننتج‪ ،‬فالمجد مغالبة والسوق‬ ‫مناهبة ‪ ،‬وإن النجاح قطرات من اآلهات والزفرات‬ ‫والعرق والجهد ‪ ،‬والفشل ّ‬ ‫زخات من اإلحباط والنوم‬ ‫جرح‬ ‫والتسويف ‪ ،‬كن ناجحاً ثم ال تبالي بمن نقد أو ّ‬ ‫أو تهكم‪ ،‬إذا رأيت الناس يرمونك بأقواس النقد‬ ‫فاعلم أنك وصلت إلى بالط المجد‪ ،‬وأن مدفعية‬ ‫الشرف تطلق لك واحدا وعشرين طلقة احتفاء‬ ‫بقدومك‪.‬‬ ‫لقد هجر الكثير منّا الكتاب وأصبح يعيش‬ ‫األمية فال يحفظ آي ًة وال حديثاً وال بيتاً ولم يقرأ كتاباً‬ ‫ولم يطالع قصة وال رواية‪ ،‬ولكنه علّق في مجلس بيته‬ ‫شجرة األنساب؛ ليثبت لنا أنه من أسرة آل مفلس‬ ‫من قبيلة الجهلة ‪ ،‬والوحي ينادي ‪« :‬إن أكرمكم‬ ‫عند اهلل أتقاكم» ‪ ،‬والتاريخ يخبرك أن بالل كان‬ ‫مولى حبشي‪ ،‬وهو مؤذن اإلسالم األول‪ ،‬وأن جوهر‬ ‫الصقلي فاتح مصر وباني األزهر أمازيغي كانت‬ ‫أم ُه تبيع الجرجير في مدينة سبته! ولكن النفس‬ ‫الوثّابة العظيمة ال تعتمد على عظام الموتى ‪ ،‬ألن‬ ‫يشرف قبيلته وأمته وشعبه وال ينتظر أن‬ ‫العصامي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫جد‬ ‫يشرفه الناس ‪ ،‬لقد كان نابليون شاباً فقيرا ً لكنه ّ‬ ‫* الشيخ عائض القرني عالم دين وداعية سعودي‬ ‫واجتهد حتى أخذ التاج من لويس الرابع عشر‪ ،‬وفتح‬ ‫المشرق وصار في التاريخ أسطورة‪ ،‬وهو القائل‪ :‬معروف‪.‬‬

‫مقاصديات‬

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‫من مسلمات المنهج‬ ‫االسالمي‪ :‬فقه الماهيات‬ ‫واألشياء والمفاهيم‬

‫طارق الشامخي*‬

‫حسن الشخشير*‬

‫‪issue 17, March 2010‬‬

‫الجمعة عيدنا و خير األيام وسيدها و أعظمها عند اهلل‬ ‫و هو اليوم الذي ُفرض على الذين أوتوا الكتاب من‬ ‫قبلنا ‪ ،‬فاختلفوا فيه ‪ ،‬فاعتقد بعضهم أنه يوم السبت‬ ‫و اعتقد اآلخرون أنه يوم األحد و هدانا اهلل إليه‪ .‬فيه‬ ‫ساعة إجابة آخر وقت العصر ال يرد فيها سائل‪.‬‬ ‫و أهم ما في يوم الجمعة خطبتها التي تجعل‬ ‫معنى خاصا‪ .‬و لذلك و جب على‬ ‫لسائر اليوم‬ ‫ً‬ ‫خطيبها أن يستشعرعظيم دوره تجاه الخطبة‪.‬‬ ‫وه����ذه ج��م��ل��ة م���ن اإلرش�������ادات ل��ع��ل في‬ ‫م��راع��ت��ه��ا س��د للخلل و م��ض��اع��ف��ة ل�لأج��ر‪:‬‬ ‫‪ -1‬استشعر أن��ك ت��ق��وم بتبليغ الرسالة‬ ‫نيابة عن صاحبها عليه أفضل الصالة والسالم‪.‬‬ ‫و أن��ه��ا م��نّ��ة م��ن اهلل عليك ت��وج��ب االت��ق��ان‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -2‬ل ّين قلبك خصوصا قبل الجمعة بقراءة‬ ‫مستفيضة لحديث رسول اهلل (صلى اهلل عليه وسلم)‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -3‬تعلم أن وقت الخطبة ليس لك و إنما أنت‬ ‫مؤتمن عليه فكالم غيرك و كسبه وقت خطبتك‬ ‫حرام بينما خطبتك صالة فانظر ما تقول في صالتك‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -4‬إم�لأ نفسك بمعاني الخطبة لتستطيع‬ ‫إفراغها في المؤتمين فأنت قلب الجالية و لسانها‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -5‬ت��ذك��ر أن خ��ط��ب��ة ال��ج��م��ع��ة الوسيلة‬ ‫الوحيدة لتذكير و تعليم غالبية المسلمين‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -6‬التحضير الجيد للموضوع و التثبت من‬ ‫الشواهد و دالالتها ‪ ،‬ف��اهلل يسمع ما يبلغ عنه‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -7‬ت��ن��اول موضوعا م��ح��ددا ‪ ،‬فمن تحدث‬ ‫ع��ن ك��ل ش���يء ك���ان ك��م��ن ل��م ي��ق��ل شيئا‪.‬‬ ‫ت��ك��رر‬ ‫‪ -8‬اح��ت��ي��اج��ات ال��ن��اس ك��ث��ي��رة ف�لا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫خ��ط��ب��ت��ك ب��ح��ج��ة أن م���وض���وع���ك مهم‬ ‫‪ -9‬ت��ج��ن��ب ال���ن���ك���ت ال��م��ض��ح��ك��ة و‬ ‫غ��ي��ر ال��م��ض��ح��ك��ة ف��ل��ي��س م��ك��ان��ه��ا المنبر‬ ‫‪ -01‬اطلب النصيحة ممن تعلم صدقه و تثق برأيه‬ ‫وفقك اهلل و فتح على يديك أب���واب الخير‬ ‫أخ��������������������وك ال��������م��������أم��������وم‬ ‫* مهندس وباحث مسلم مقيم في ملبورن‪،‬‬ ‫فكتوريا‪.‬‬

‫بخفي تفصيل علماء الفقه‬ ‫االمة وسعادتها‪ .‬وليس‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫واألصول في أحكام الضرورة التي لنا إليها عودة‬ ‫بإذن اهلل تعالى‪.‬‬ ‫ومن المسلّمات التي ينبغي معرفتها على كل‬ ‫مسلم حقيقة الخير والشر‪ ،‬وحقيقة الصالح والفساد‪،‬‬ ‫و ماهية أعدائه من اإلنس والشياطين‪ ،‬وأمارات‬ ‫وشذرات الوسواس الخنّاس من الجنة والناس‪..‬‬ ‫(خداعاً ّ‬ ‫الخب‬ ‫غشاشاً‪ )..‬وال‬ ‫والمسلم ليس‬ ‫بالخب ّ‬ ‫ُّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يخدعه كما يؤثر عن اإلمام عمر بن الخطاب قوالً‬ ‫وفعالً‪.‬‬ ‫تتوجب معرفة القوة الحقيقية للعدو مهما‬ ‫كذلك‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫كانت مرتبة أو ِصغر حجم ذلك العدو وعلى كافة‬ ‫المستويات‪ ،‬وتالياً كيفية اإلعداد لمالقاته وسبل‬ ‫إعداد العدة لكل ذلك‪ .‬ويدخل في هذا الباب أيضاً‬ ‫معرفة امور السياسة واالقتصاد المعاصرين في‬ ‫شقهما الوضعي العلماني خاصة أي تلكم المؤامرات‬ ‫واألحابيل التي تزخر بها ه��ذه الدنيا مخالفة‬ ‫للشريعة وهادمة ألسس العدل والخير في العالم؛‬ ‫ومثال ذلك‪ :‬البنوك واالقتصاد الربوي وأخطبوط‬ ‫متعددة الجنسية‬ ‫االحتكار في العالم والشركات‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫التي تتحكم في شكل "مافيوزي" في مقدرات‬ ‫الحكومات والدول‪ .‬ليس المطلوب في هذا الصدد‬ ‫المتخصصة بالنسبة للجميع‪،‬‬ ‫امتالك الخبرة العلمية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وإن كان ذلك مفروضاً على نفر منهم‪ ،‬قال تعالى‬ ‫نفر يتفّقهون في‬ ‫(فلوال نفر من كل فرقة منهم ٌ‬ ‫الدين) اآلية‪ ،‬بل المهم هو اإلجابة الدقيقة المجملة‬ ‫غير المضلّلة عن ماهيات تلك األشياء والمفاهيم‬ ‫واالحداث‪.‬‬ ‫أما بالنسبة للعلوم الشرعية فمن المسلّمِ‬ ‫عند الجميع أن منها الضروري المسلّم بمعرفته‬ ‫لدى كل مسلم وهو ما يعرف بالعلم الضروري‬ ‫أو المعلوم من الدين بالضرورة‪ ،‬وهذا واضح ب ّين‬ ‫المحالة؛ مثل العلم بفرضية الصلوات والصوم‬ ‫وقواعد االسالم عامة وتوحيد الربوبية واألنبياء‬ ‫والرسل والقضاء والقدر خيره وشره؛‪ ..‬وكذلك‬ ‫تفاصيل العبادات الشخصية والمعامالت على‬ ‫الوجه الشرعي الصحيح التي يجريها كل مسلم‬ ‫في خاصة حياته‪ .‬ومن المفترض أن يضاف لهذه‬ ‫المعارف الضرورية ما أعتبر ُه من المعارف الدينية‬ ‫"الملحقة بالضروري"‪ ،‬فهي من المعارف "الحاجية"‬ ‫ويعم‬ ‫إن شئت‪ ،‬ومنها الحالل والحرام الذي يكثر‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بلواه مثل الحكم العلماني الوضعي ووجوب تغييره‬ ‫والسبل الواقعية العاقلة التي تدفع إلى ذلك وتحقّق‬ ‫أريد إال االصالح ما‬ ‫ذلك المقصد اإلصالحي (إن‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫استطعت وما توفيقي إال باهلل) اآلية‪ .‬وكذلك يدخل‬ ‫في هذا الباب فساد االعتقاد عند نفر غير يسير من‬ ‫المسلمين في الخرافات والبدع والشرك السياسي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫والحكام بغير‬ ‫واالقتصادي في ظل حكم الطواغيت‬ ‫شرع اهلل عز وجل والتعامل بالفوائد البنكية والربا‬ ‫الممنوع شرعاً‪ ..‬ونحو هذا كثير‪ .‬وللحديث صلة‬ ‫‪ .‬واهلل اعز واعلم‪.‬‬

‫للمنهج اإلسالمي مسلّمات تًعرف بالبداهة‬ ‫وتقصي وتدليل وتقعيد‪.‬‬ ‫وال تحتاج إلى بعد نظر‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بيد أن هذه المسلّمات قد تصبح مع األيام في‬ ‫حاجة إلى تسليط نظر عليها وتدليل لتخرج من‬ ‫دائرة المسلّمات ولتدخل في شكل آخر من‬ ‫أشكال المنهج تقتضيه ض��رورات المتلقي أو‬ ‫التخلّف الثقافي العام ونحو ذلك من مقتضيات‪.‬‬ ‫وفي الجملة فإن من ضرورات المنهج االسالمي‬ ‫ومسلّماته التي أصبحت اآلن مغ ّيبة أو شبه‬ ‫مغ ّيبة ضرورة فقه األشياء والماهيات والمفاهيم‬ ‫على حقيقتها الواقعية وبحسب ما تقتضيه‬ ‫آليات اشتغالها الداخلي ال ما تقتضيه شهواتنا‬ ‫وأهواؤنا ومالبساتنا الزمانية والمكانية‪ .‬وفي‬ ‫القرآن والحديث وعا ّمة مبادئ األسالم الفقهية‬ ‫واإلصولية تقرير واف شاف لهذه المسألة منها‬ ‫"قول الرسول عليه الصالة والسالم" خياركم في‬ ‫الجاهلية خياركم في اإلسالم إذا َف ُق ُهوا"‪.‬‬ ‫على المسلم المعاصر أن يعي االشياء التي‬ ‫حوله ويدرك االحداث التي تمر أمامه ادراكاً‬ ‫واعياً متزنا ويدخل في ذلك تصاريف الحياة‬ ‫االجتماعية وال��ع��ادات والتقاليد وما تعرف‬ ‫عليه القوم في بيوعاتهم ومعامالتهم وجميل‬ ‫العادات واالقوال من قبيحها؛ وذلك فضالً ع ّما‬ ‫يدور حوله في الشؤون السياسية واالقتصادية‬ ‫ُرى(بضم النون) في‬ ‫محلياً وإقليمياً ودولياً‪ .‬ون‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫هذا الصدد وجوب تحصيل هذه المعرفة على‬ ‫المسلمين (على اعتبار مقاييس السادة األحناف‬ ‫في أن الواجب أقل درجة من الفرض وأعلى‬ ‫المستحب أو السنّة المؤ ّكدة‪ )..‬وإن‬ ‫درجة من‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫كان الفقهاء القدامى يعتبرون ذلك فرضاً على‬ ‫علماء المسلمين دون عامتهم؛ كما هو حال االمام‬ ‫مالك الذي يؤثر عنه قوله من لم يفقه واقعه‬ ‫فليس بفقيه‪ ،‬وفي مناظرة االمامين مالك وأبي‬ ‫يوسف صاحب أبي حنيفة في مجلس هارون‬ ‫الرشيد حول حجم الصاع الذي هو من السنة‬ ‫واستدالل مالك‪-‬موفقا مسددا ً بالصواب‪ -‬بصاع‬ ‫أهل المدينة‪ ..‬فقهاً عميقاً يشبه ما نحن بصدده‬ ‫من إشارات وتنبيهات‪.‬‬ ‫أظن واهلل اعلم أن مقتضيات هذا العصر‬ ‫وتبدل ظروفه تُرتّب علينا كدعاة وإسالميين‬ ‫وطليعة هذه االمة أن نتعامل مع مسألة المعرفة‪-‬‬ ‫الس ّيما بالمسلمات والمفاهيم وماهيات االشياء –‬ ‫للمقصرين‬ ‫نبرر في ذلك‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تعامالً حازماً صارماً فال ّ‬ ‫* طارق الشامخي كاتب متخصص في الدراسات‬ ‫والغافلين الجاهلين! وإن التاريخ في ذلك ال‬ ‫يرحم كما ان مقتضيات التكليف في حاالت الشرعية والعلوم السياسية‪ ،‬درس العلوم الشرعية على‬ ‫الضرورة القصوى والطوارئ هي غير مقتضيات يد مشايخ اجالء وله مؤلفات في الدراسات األسالمية‪.‬‬ ‫التكليف قي الحاالت الطبيعة زمن هناءة بال طارق مقيم حاليا في برث غرب أستراليا وهو يشغل‬ ‫حاليا رئيس تحرير الكريزنت تايمز ‪.‬‬

‫نجاة األمة في االعتصام‬ ‫بالكتاب والسنة‬ ‫أحمد األحوازي‪ -‬سيدني‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫الشمل‬ ‫لقد أمر اهلل األمة باالجتماع واتحاد الكلمة وجمع الصف ‪,‬ولّمِ‬ ‫على أن يكـون أساس هذا االجتماع االعتصام بالكتاب والسنة ‪ ،‬ونهى عن‬ ‫التفرق في الدين وبـين خطورته على األمة في الدارين ‪ .‬ولتحقيق ذلك‬ ‫أمرنا بالتحاكـم إلى كتـاب اهلل تعالى في التنازع والخصام ونهينا عن كل‬ ‫سبب يجر إلى التفرق والشتات‪.‬‬ ‫فالطريق الصحيح إلى النجاة هو التمسك بكتاب اهلل تعالى وسنة رسـوله‬ ‫َصلَّى هَّ‬ ‫اللُ َعلَيْ ِه َو َسلِّم فإنهما حصن حصين وحرز متين لمن وفقه اهلل تعـالى‬ ‫ت هَّ‬ ‫‪ .‬قـال تعـالى ‪َ :‬وا ْعتَ ِص ُموا ب ِ َحب ِل هَّ‬ ‫اللِ‬ ‫اللِ َج ِمي ًعا َولاَ تَف ََّر ُقوا َوا ْذ ُك ُروا ن ِ ْع َم َ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫َعلَيْ ُك ْم ِإ ْذ ُكنْت ُْم َأ ْع َدا ًء َف َأل َّ َ‬ ‫ف بَيْ َن ُقلُوب ِ ُك ْم َف َأ ْصبَ ْحت ُْم بِنِ ْع َمتِ ِه إِخْ َوان ًا َو ُكنْت ُْم‬ ‫ك يُبَيِّ ُن هَّ‬ ‫َعلَى َشفَا ُحف َْر ٍة ِم َن النَّا ِر َف َأنْق َ​َذ ُك ْم ِمنْ َها َك َذل ِ َ‬ ‫اللُ ل َ ُك ْم آيَاتِ ِه ل َ َعلَّ ُك ْم‬ ‫تَ ْهتَ ُدونَ (آل عمران ‪ . )301 :‬فقد أمر اهلل تعالى باالعتصام بحبل اهلل ‪،‬‬ ‫وحبل اهلل هو عـهد اهلل أو هو القرآن كما قال المفسرون(أنظر ابن كثير‬ ‫) ‪ ،‬إذ العهد الذي أخذه اهلل على المسـلمين هو االعتصام بالقرآن والسنة‬ ‫‪ .‬فقد أمر اهلل تعالى بالجماعة ونهى عن التفـرق واالختالف ‪ .‬قال تعالى ‪:‬‬ ‫الر ُس ُ‬ ‫ول َف ُخ ُذو ُه َو َما ن َ َها ُك ْم َعنْ ُه َفانْتَ ُهوا (الحشر ‪ . )7 :‬وهذا شامل‬ ‫َو َما آتَا ُك ُم َّ‬ ‫ألصول الدين وفروعه الظاهرة والباطنـة ‪.‬‬ ‫إن ما جاء به الرسول يتعين على العباد األخذ به واتباعه وال تحل‬ ‫َص الرسول صلى اهلل عليه وسلم على حكـم الشيء كنص‬ ‫مخالفتـه ‪ ،‬وإنّ ن َ‬ ‫اهلل تعالى وال عذر له في تركه ‪ ،‬وال يجوز تقديم قول أحد على قوله ‪ .‬قال‬ ‫ين آ َمنُوا َأ ِطي ُعوا هَّ‬ ‫اللَ َو َر ُسول َ ُه َولاَ تَ َول َّ ْوا َعنْ ُه َو َأنْت ُْم ت َْس َم ُعونَ‬ ‫تعالى ‪ :‬يَا َأيُّ َها ال َّ ِذ َ‬ ‫(األنفال ‪ . )02 :‬فقد أمر اهلل تعالى عباده المؤمنين بطاعتـه وطاعة رسـوله ‪،‬‬ ‫وزجرهم عن مخالفتهومخالفة رسوله صلى اهلل عليه وسلم ‪ .‬ولهذا قـال ‪َ :‬ولاَ‬ ‫تَ َول َّ ْوا َعنْ ُه أي تتركوا طاعته وامتثال أوامره وترك زواجره ‪.‬‬ ‫ين آ َمنُوا َأ ِطي ُعوا هَّ‬ ‫الر ُس َ‬ ‫ول َو ُأولِي الأْ َ ْم ِر‬ ‫وقال تعالى ‪ :‬يَا َأيُّ َها ال َّ ِذ َ‬ ‫اللَ َو َأ ِطي ُعوا َّ‬ ‫ول ِإنْ ُكنْت ُْم تُ ْؤ ِمنُونَ ب ِ هَّ‬ ‫هَّ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫اللِ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫الر ُس ِ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫و‬ ‫الل‬ ‫ى‬ ‫ل‬ ‫إ‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ُّو‬ ‫د‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ ‫ء‬ ‫ِمنْ ُك ْم َف ِإنْ تَنَا َز ْعت ُْم ِفي َش ْي ٍ ُ ُ‬ ‫َ َّ‬ ‫َوالْيَ ْو ِم الآْ ِخ ِر َذل ِ َ‬ ‫ك َخيْ ٌر َو َأ ْح َس ُن ت َْأ ِويلاً (النساء ‪. )95 :‬‬ ‫قـال الحافظ ابن كثير ‪( :‬أطيعوا اهلل ‪ ،‬أي اتبعوا كتابه ‪ ،‬وأطيعوا الرسول‬ ‫أي خـذوا سنته ‪ ،‬وأولي األمر منكـم أي فيما أمروكم به من طاعة اهلل ال‬ ‫في معصيـة اهلل ‪ ،‬فإنه ال طاعة لمخلوق في معصية اهلل) ‪ .‬وقوله َفإِن تَنَا َز ْعت ُْم‬ ‫ِفي َشي ٍء َف ُردُّو ُه ِإلَى هَّ‬ ‫الر ُس ِ‬ ‫ول قال مجاهد ‪ :‬أي إلى كتاب اهلل وسنة‬ ‫اللِ َو َّ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫رسـوله ‪.‬‬ ‫وهذا أمر من اهلل عز وجل بأن كل شيء تنازع الناس فيه من أمور الدين‬ ‫أن يُ َر َد التنازع في ذلك إلى الكتاب والسنة كما قال تعـالى ‪َ :‬و َما اخْ تَلَ ْفت ُْم‬ ‫ِفي ِه ِم ْن َشي ٍء َف ُح ْك ُم ُه ِإلَى هَّ‬ ‫اللِ (الشورى ‪ . )01 :‬فما حكـم به الكتـاب‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫والسنة فهو الحق ولهذا قال تعـالى ‪ِ (:‬إنْ ُكنْت ُْم تُ ْؤ ِمنُونَ ب ِ هَّ‬ ‫اللِ َوالْيَ ْو ِم الآْ ِخ ِر)‬ ‫أي ردوا الفصـل في التنازع إلى الكتاب والسنة ومن ال يرجع إليهما في‬ ‫ذلـك فليس مؤمنًا باهلل وال اليوم اآلخرحق اإليمان ‪ .‬وقوله َذل ِ َ‬ ‫ك َخيْ ٌر أي‬ ‫التحـاكم إلى كـتاب اهلل وسنة رسوله ‪ ،‬والرجوع إليهما في فصل النـزاع‬ ‫خير َو َأ ْح َس ُن ت َْأ ِويلاً أي وأحسن عاقبة ومآال كما قال السدي وقال مجاهد‬ ‫‪( :‬وأحسـن جزاء وهو قريب) ‪ .‬وفي كتاب اهلل آيات كثـيرة وردت في‬ ‫وجـوب االعتصام بالكتاب والسنة والرجوع إليهما في كل األمور ‪.‬‬ ‫وأما األدلة من السنة على وجوب التمسك بالكتاب والسنة فمنها مـا‬ ‫رواه اإلمام مسلم عن أبي هريرة رضي اهلل عنه أن رسول اهلل َصلَّى هَّ‬ ‫اللُ‬ ‫َعلَيْ ِه َو َسلِّم قال ‪ :‬إن اهلل يرضى لكـم ثالثًا ويسخط لكـم ثالثًا ‪ ،‬يرضى لكم‬ ‫أن تعبدوه وال تشركوا به شيئًا وأن تعتصموا بحبل اهلل جمي ًعا وال تفرقوا ‪،‬‬ ‫وأن تناصحوا من واله اهلل أمركم ‪ .‬ويسخط لكـم ثالثًا ‪ ،‬قيل وقال ‪ ،‬وكثرة‬ ‫السؤال وإضاعة المال ‪ .‬وعن جابر رضي اهلل عنه قال ‪ :‬قال رسول اهلل َصلَّى‬ ‫هَّ‬ ‫اللُ َعلَيْ ِه َو َسلِّم ‪ :‬إني تارك فيكم ما إن تمسكتم به لن تضلوا بعدي كتاب‬ ‫اهلل وسنتي ‪.‬‬ ‫وقد بشر النبي َصلَّى هَّ‬ ‫اللُ َعلَيْ ِه َو َسلِّم المتمسكين بسنته من أمته بأعظم‬ ‫بشـارة وأشـرف مقصد يطلبه كل مؤمن ويسعى إلى تحقيقه أال وهو الفوز‬ ‫بدخول الجنة ‪ .‬جاءت هذه البشـرى في حديث أبي هريرة رضي اهلل عنه‬ ‫قال ‪ :‬قال رسول اهلل َصلَّى هَّ‬ ‫اللُ َعلَيْ ِه َو َسلِّم ‪ :‬كل أمتي يدخلون الجنة إال‬ ‫مـن أبى ‪ .‬قـالوا ومن يأبى يا رسول اهلل ؟ قال ‪ :‬من أطاعني دخل الجنة‬ ‫ومن عصاني فقـد أبى ‪.‬والموصوف باإلباء وهو اإلمتناع إن كان كافرا ً فهو ال‬ ‫يدخل الجنة أصال وإن كان مسلماً فالمراد منهه من دخولها مع أول داخل‬ ‫إال من شاء اهلل تعالى‪.‬‬ ‫والمعصوم من عصمه اهلل‬ ‫‏ * أحمد بن محمد لحوازي أبو عبد الرحمن مجاز في الدراسات الشرعية‬ ‫على الطريقة التقليدية بالتلقي عن يد مشائخ أعزاء‪ .‬بدأ دراسة العلوم الشرعية‬ ‫من قرآن وحديث وقفه ولغة في الجزائر وفي بعض األقطار اإلسالمية على أيدي‬ ‫بعض المشايخ والعلماء منهم الشيخ عبد القادر االرنؤوط رحمه اهلل والشيخ سعيد‬ ‫البستاني رحمه اهلل والشيخ مقبل بن هادي الوادعي والشيخ سليم الحمصي والسيخ‬ ‫محمد بن صالح الغرسي رحم اهلل الجميع‪ .‬الشيخ أحمد مقيم حاليا في سيدني‪.‬‬

‫رفض مغربي لفيلم إيراني‬ ‫يجسد النبي الكريم‬

‫أعلن المركز السينمائي المغربي رفضه منح الترخيص بالتصوير ألي عمل سينمائي‬ ‫يتضمن أي مساس بالثوابت الدينية‪ ،‬ويدخل ضمن ذلك رفض تجسيد شخصية‬ ‫النبي محمد صلى اهلل عليه وسلم‪.‬‬ ‫وجاء هذا الموقف ر ًدا على تصريح أورده موقع إخباري إسباني للمخرج اإليراني‬ ‫مجيد مجيدي‪ ،‬طالب فيه بتصوير فيلم يجسد النبي محمد صلى اهلل عليه وسلم‬ ‫ألول مرة في تاريخ السينما العالمية‪ ،‬وذلك في مجموعة من البلدان منها المغرب‪.‬‬ ‫وقال محمد باكريم مسئول التواصل بالمركز‪“ :‬المؤسسة لم تتلق حتى اآلن أي‬ ‫طلب في الموضوع من أي مخرج كان‪ ،‬وإن حدث ذلك فمصيره الرفض”‪.‬‬ ‫وأضاف باكريم‪“ :‬عملية تصوير األعمال األجنبية بالمغرب تخضع لمجموعة من‬ ‫الضوابط الدقيقة التي تمنع أي انزالقات إدارية أو مالية أو درامية‪ ،‬حيث يتم التحري‬ ‫بشأن الوضع القانوني للشركة المنتجة وكذا بشأن المحتوى الدرامي للعمل”‪.‬‬

‫‪Arabic Lift out‬‬

‫الهالل تايمز‬

‫‪0401 817 921‬‬

‫‪editor@crescenttimes.com.au‬‬

‫اتصلوا ببالل الرفاعي‪ :‬كل‬ ‫منطقة برث‪ ،‬غرب أستراليا‬

‫‪UI/4 Malcolm Road‬‬ ‫‪Maddington, WA‬‬

‫ملحق جريدة الكريزنت تايمز بالعربي لكل الجالية العربية بأستراليا‬

‫حسومات خاصة لقراء‬ ‫الكريزنت تايمز (انظر الصفحة االخيرة)‬

‫‪Carousel Meats‬‬ ‫‪Shop‬‬ ‫‪1100‬‬‫‪Carousel‬‬ ‫‪Shopping Centre‬‬ ‫‪1380 Albany Hwy- Cannington‬‬ ‫‪WA Ph: 08 9356 5166‬‬

‫الصورة‪ :‬سيارة تاكسي زهرية جاهزة مع سائقتها لنقل الركاب اإلناث بسالمة‪.‬‬

‫كتاب الحكومة االسترالية “االسود” في مجال مكافحة “االرهاب”‪:‬‬

‫جمال داود‪ -‬سيدني‬

‫طيب اهلل أوقاتكم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بقلم‪ :‬طارق الشامخي‬

‫كيف نعلم أبنائنا العربية في هذا البلد ونضمن أنهم‬ ‫سيتقنونها كلغة أم باالضافة لالنجليزية؟ هي معضلة‬ ‫تحدثي طيلة الوقت‬ ‫حيرتني شخصيا على الرغم من ّ‬ ‫علي‬ ‫ون‬ ‫د‬ ‫ير‬ ‫ببساطة‬ ‫بالعربية مع ابنائي الصغار لكنهم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫باالنجليزية! هي لغة الغالب وال شك والبيئة مؤثرة‬ ‫شئنا أم ابينا كما أنه اذا صادف ان احد االبوين يتكلم‬ ‫اللغة االنجليزية فان المشكلة ببساطة تتفاقم اضعافا‬ ‫مضاعفة!‬ ‫والحل؟ ارى بحسب التجارب الشخصية التي‬ ‫مررت بها مع اشخاص يتكلمون العربية واالنجليزية‬ ‫بطالقة على الرغم من والدتهم هنا‪ ،‬هو ارسال االوالد‬ ‫لبلد عربي في العطل الصيفة او حتى لمدة سنة او‬ ‫سنتين دراسيتين لتعلم العربية وتطبيقها بكثافة‪.‬‬ ‫على المدى البعييد سيشكر لك أوالدك ما قمت به‬ ‫من أجلهم على الرغم من تذمرهم ربما خالل االقامة‬ ‫هناك والسخرية من نمط الحياة المتخلف في بلد‬ ‫آبائهم االصلي مقارنة بأستراليا!‬ ‫طبعا‪ ،‬المعاهذ االسالمية مهما فعلت في تدريس‬ ‫العربية والدراسات االسالمية لن تفلح في انجاب‬ ‫تالمذة يتكلمون العربية بطالقة اللغة االم! هذا امر‬ ‫مفروغ منه وال يحتاج لنقاش!‬

‫‪issue 17, March 2010‬‬

‫اعلنت حكومة كيفن راد فضيحة جديدة قبل اسبوع باطالقه‬ ‫الكتاب “االبيض” بشان مكافحة ما يسمی باالرهاب‪ .‬الفضيحة‬ ‫تمثلت باستعمال مصطلحات والفاظ غير ملتبسة في تحريض‬ ‫المجتمع ضد اتباع ديانة محددة هي االسالم‪.‬‬ ‫فالكتاب “االبيض” الناصع السواد استخدم الفاظا تستخدم في‬ ‫توصيف “االرهاب” الول مره في تاريخ هذا البلد الجميل‪.‬‬ ‫فالسيد كيفن راد استخدم كلمات من مثل “االرهابيين‬ ‫الجهاديين” في اشارة الی دين “االرهابيين” المفترضين‪ .‬وعلمنا‬ ‫فيما بعد ان الكثيرين في دائرة المدعي العام اعترضوا علی‬ ‫استخدام كلمة “جهاديين” كي ال يسببوا حساسيات ويثيروا‬ ‫مشاعر االستراليين ضد ابناء جلدتهم من معتنقي الدين‬ ‫االسالمي‪ .‬اال ان رئيس الوزراء اصر علی استخدام هذه اللغة‬ ‫التحريضية في مؤتمره الصحفي‪ .‬وبذلك يكون لقد خرج السيد‬ ‫راد عن اصول اللياقة السياسية‪ ،‬بالرغم من انه آت الی البرلمان‬ ‫من منصب ديبلوماسي يحتم عليه انتقاء الفاظه بشكل اكثر دقة‪.‬‬ ‫فهل يعتبر السيد راد ان االرهابيين من “جند الرب” الذين‬ ‫يمارسوا القتل المجاني وبالجملة في اوغندا‪ ،‬بانهم مسلمون‬ ‫متخفين تحت عباءة المسيحية؟ وهل يعتبر ان جماعة نمور‬ ‫التاميل السريالنكية المدرجة علی الئحة االرهاب االسترالية‬ ‫هي جماعة جهادية مسلمة علی الطريقة الهندوسية؟‬ ‫يبدوان اقتراب االنتخابات وفي وقت تعاني منه حكومة السيد‬ ‫راد من فضائح علی كل المستويات‪ ،‬واهمها اساءة التصرف‬ ‫باالموال العامة واهدارها من اجل خلق وظائف وهمية ادت‬ ‫الی مصرع استراليين وحرق مئات المنازل‪ ،‬واالرقام مرشحة‬ ‫لالرتفاع بشكل مذهل‪ ،‬قد افقد رئيس وزرائنا الغر توازنه‬ ‫وجعله يلجأ الی اسهل الطرق لمحاولة االحتفاظ بالسلطة‪ :‬وهو‬ ‫اللعب علی اوتار العنصرية والتخويف من االسالم والمسلمين‬ ‫بتخويف المجتمع من “ارهاب” غير مرئي‪.‬‬ ‫ان حكومة السيد راد التي اطلقت تصريحات نارية عن‬ ‫“قرب اكتواء استراليا بنار االرهاب” لم تزودونا باي نوع من‬ ‫الدالئل علی قرب ارتكاب هذه االعمال‪ .‬وكل ما ادعاه السيد‬ ‫راد ووزيري المخابرات والخارجية ال يستند اال علی افتراضات‬ ‫ال يؤيدها أي تقرير جدي ذو مصداقية‪ .‬كل ما اشار اليه هو‬ ‫ان هناك بعض المسلمين قد تم ادانتهم بالتخطيط الرتكاب‬ ‫اعمال “ارهابية”‪ ،‬بالرغم من اننا ندرك تماما ان هذه االدانات‬ ‫ما هي اال ادانات صورية ينقصها الدليل المادي الواضح والنزاهة‬ ‫في المحاكمات الصورية التي تذكرنا بمحاكم التفتيش في‬ ‫القرون الوسطی‪ .‬وراينا كيف ان معظم المنظمات المدافعة عن‬ ‫حقوق االنسان كانت قد شككت بنزاهة وشفافية المحاكمات‬ ‫التي تمت وان االحكام تم التوصل لها بعد السيرك االعالمي‬ ‫والتخويف الذي مارسته حكومة راد والحكومة السابقة‪.‬‬ ‫وال ندري كيف ان حكومة السيد راد قد تجرأت ان تضع‬ ‫مصالحها للفوز باالنتخابات القادمة فوق مصلحة استراليا في‬ ‫اقامة عالقات جيدة مع العديد من دول العالم التي ستدرج‬ ‫علی الئحة حكومة السيد راد كدول راعية لالرهاب‪ .‬كل ذلك‬ ‫بالرغم من اننا ما زلنا نعاني من االنتقادات العالمية الستراليا‬

‫بسبب تنامي العنصرية فيها‪ ،‬وخصوصا بعد االعتداءات‬ ‫العنصرية ضد الطالب الهنود وما رافقها من اعالم عالمي مندد‬ ‫باستراليا وبسياسة حكوماتها‪.‬‬ ‫كما ال ندري كيف تجرأت هذه الحكومة علی اطالق كل‬ ‫هذه الترهات المبنية فقط علی تقارير مجهولة الجهزة‬ ‫االستخبارات االسترالية‪ .‬هذه االجهزة التي فقدت مصداقيتها‬ ‫منذ ان قدمت تقارير ملتبسة مضللة من ان العراق يكدس‬ ‫اسلحة دمار شامل‪ ،‬لتبرر لحكومة جون هاورد المشاركة في‬ ‫غزو بلد مستقل عضو في االمم المتحدة والعمل علی تدميره‬ ‫بالكامل‪.‬ثم جاءت فضيحة تعامل هذه االجهزة مع قضية‬ ‫الدكتور الهندي محمد حنيف لتطيح بما تبقی من مصداقية‬ ‫لهذه االجهزة االمنية‪.‬‬ ‫وكان االحری بهذه االجهزة ان تنجز عملها في الدفاع‬ ‫عن امن البلد والتاكد من سالمة اراضيه‪ ،‬بدال من تسييس‬ ‫عملها من اجل اجندات انتخابية للحكومة الحاكمة‪ .‬فهذه‬ ‫االجهزه‪ ،‬والمفترض انها مستنفرة بشكل تام بعد احداث‬ ‫الحادي عشر من سبتمبر ‪ ،١٠٠٢‬نالحظ انها تقف عاجزة عن‬ ‫اتمام تحقيقاتها بشان حسن سلوك المهاجرين الجدد الی‬ ‫البلد الذين يضطرون لالنتظار سنوات قبل اتمام معامالتهم‬ ‫للحصول علی الجنسية او االقامة الدائمة‪ .‬فان كانت هذه‬ ‫االجهزة قادرة علی اكتشاف مؤامرات لم تخرج بعد من احالم‬ ‫وافكار اناس غاضبين من سياسات الحكومة السابقة العدوانيه‬ ‫ضد كثير من الدول االسالمية‪ ،‬فكيف تكون عاجزة عن اكمال‬ ‫تحقيقات بشان حسن سلوك الالجئين والمهاجرين الجدد‬ ‫بشكل سريع فعال؟‬ ‫ما يؤلمنا ويثير اشمئزازنا ان حكومة السيد راد بفعلتها‬ ‫هذه تكون قد خذلت شريحة واسعة من ناخبي حزب‬ ‫العمال التقليديين‪ ،‬وخصوصا ابناء الجاليات المسلمة‪ .‬كما‬ ‫انها بادعاءاتها غير الموثقة من أي مصدر موثوق به تكون قد‬ ‫خذلت التعددية الثقافية ومؤيديها من ناخبي حزب العمال‬ ‫الذين صوتوا للحزب في االنتخابات الماضية من اجل التغيير‪،‬‬ ‫ليكتشفوا ان كل ما استطاعت حكومة راد تغييره هو تغيير‬ ‫جلدها و بسرعة قياسية كلما احتاجت لذلك‪.‬‬ ‫وفي هذا المقام فانه ومن الواضح وبعد صمت االحزاب‬ ‫الصغيرة وخصوصا حزب الخضر الذي عادة ما يصف نفسه‬ ‫بالتقدمي وبالتالي عادة ما يحصل علی الكثير من اصوات‬ ‫الجاليات المهاجرة والمسلمة‪ ،‬فان حزب الخضر هذا يكون‬ ‫شريكا لحكومة العمال في هجومها علی الجاليات المسلمة‬ ‫استرضاءا للناخبين المتطرفين و العنصريين في البلد‬ ‫ان جراة الحكومة في شن هذا الهجوم السافر والعاري من‬ ‫أي مصداقية حقيقية علی الجاليات المسلمة وكذلك صمت‬ ‫حزب الخضر للتصدي لهذه الحملة دليل علی استهزاء هذين‬ ‫الحزبين بمشاعر ابناء الجاليات االسالمية من جهة‪ .‬ومن جهة‬ ‫اخری فهو رهان علی ان ابناء هذه الجاليات ال يملكوا أي بديل‬ ‫للتصويت له في االنتخابات القادمة‪ .‬وقد تكون هذه الجراة‬ ‫في التعدي علی كرامة الجالية شعورا من هذين الحزبين ان‬ ‫مسلمي هذا البلد الجميل غير منظمين وال يعرفوا كيف يكيلوا‬ ‫الصاع صاعين لكل من يعتدي عليهم وعلی كرامتهم‪.‬‬

‫وجه القائد العام لشرطة دبي الفريق ضاحي خلفان‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تميم اتها ًما صري ًحا لـ"إسرائيل" بالمسئولية عن‬ ‫اغتيال محمود المبحوح‪ ،‬القيادي في حركة المقاومة‬ ‫اإلسالمية الفلسطينية حماس‪ ،‬داخل أحد فنادق‬ ‫اإلمارات في ‪ 19‬يناير الماضي‪.‬‬ ‫وقال خلفان‪" :‬لدى شرطة دبي أدلة دامغة‪ ،‬كما أن‬ ‫لديها القدرة لو رغبت على اختراق مكتب رئيس‬ ‫الموساد اإلسرائيلي نفسه"‪.‬‬ ‫وأض��اف‪" :‬هناك شخص ما من حماس قريب من‬ ‫المبحوح هو من سرب معلومات حساسة عن سفره‪،‬‬ ‫وبناء ً على تلك المعلومات تحركت المجموعة التي‬ ‫تول ّت عملية التنفيذ"‪.‬‬ ‫وأخبر قائد شرطة دبي برنامج "إضاءات" على‬ ‫قناة "العربية"‪" :‬نحن نرفض مشاركة حماس في‬ ‫التحقيق ألن ذلك من أعمال السيادة‪ ،‬وإذا كان‬ ‫لدى حماس المقدرة فعليها البحث عن الشخص‬ ‫الذي سرب معلومة سفر المبحوح"‪.‬‬ ‫ونفى الفريق خلفان ما روجت له وسائل إعالم عن‬ ‫تدخل قطري لدى دبي إلغالق ملف قضية اغتيال‬ ‫المبحوح‪.‬‬ ‫وتحدث القائد العام لشرطة دبي عن تفاصيل‬ ‫وأنكر ما تردد عن‬ ‫عديدة حول عملية االغتيال‪،‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أن يكون منفذو العملية قد تركوا أدلة يسهل‬ ‫اكتشافها بهدف توصيل رسالة معينة‪.‬‬ ‫وقال ضاحي خلفان‪" :‬على العكس تما ًما فقد حاول‬ ‫المنفذون التمويه‪ ،‬والدليل أن الغرفة التي تمت‬ ‫بها عملية االغتيال في الفندق وجدت في حالة من‬ ‫الترتيب والنظام التام بما يوهم أن الوفاة طبيعية"‪.‬‬ ‫داغان فاشل‬ ‫وكان خلفان قد سخر من طريقة عمل جهاز المخابرات‬ ‫اإلسرائيلي‪ ،‬ناعتًا رئيسه مائير داغان بالفشل‪ ،‬وأنه‬ ‫مؤكدا أنه ليس‬ ‫يعمل بأسلوب يعود للستينيات‪،‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫لديه أدن��ى شك في ضلوع "الموساد" باغتيال‬ ‫اغتيال القيادي في حركة المقاومة اإلسالمية‬ ‫"حماس" محمود المبحوح في دبي الشهر الماضي‪.‬‬ ‫المصدر‪ :‬مفكرة االسالم‪.‬‬

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‫شرطة دبي‪ :‬قادرون‬ ‫على اختراق مكتب‬ ‫رئيس الموساد‬

‫بيروت‪ :‬س ّيارات‬ ‫زهر ّية تقودها‬ ‫سيدات بلباس‬ ‫زهري وح ّلة‬ ‫زهري‬ ‫سيّارات زهريّة‪ ،‬تقودها سيدات بلباس زهري‪،‬‬ ‫وحل ّة زه��ريّ��ة‪ ،‬وتق ّدم خدماتها للنساء فقط ‪..‬‬ ‫مركبات بدأت تغزو شوارع بيروت‪ ،‬لتصبح أول‬ ‫مشروع من نوعه في لبنان بهدف تأمين وسيلة‬ ‫نقل آمنة‪ ،‬ومريحة‪ ،‬وأنثويّة للنساء‪ ،‬خصوصا بعدما‬ ‫تحرش جنسي ومضايقات‬ ‫كثر الحديث عن حاالت‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تتعرض لها النساء على الطرق‪.‬‬ ‫وحتى اغتصاب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫منذ نحو عام إف ُتتح في بيروت مكتب "بنات‬ ‫مخصص لخدمة النساء في تنقالتهن‬ ‫تاكسي"‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫اليوميّة‪ ،‬وأث��ار المشروع في حينه ج��دال بين‬ ‫مؤيدين ومعارضين للفكرة‪ ،‬واليوم ترى نوال‬ ‫ياغي فخري سيّدة األعمال اللبنانيّة‪ ،‬وصاحبة‬ ‫المؤسسة‪ ،‬أن "بنات تاكسي" مشروع ناجح‪،‬‬ ‫وتسعى باستمرار إلى تطوير العمل بهدف تلبية‬ ‫حاجات السوق بعدما ازداد الطلب على الخدمات‬ ‫التي تق ّدمها مؤسستها ‪.‬‬ ‫وتقول فخري أن هذه الفكرة كانت تراودها‬ ‫منذ زمن بعيد‪ ،‬وكانت تطمح لتأسيس عمل خاص‬ ‫ثم‬ ‫بها بعدما تركت عملها في أحد المصارف‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫تراجعت عنها‪ ،‬لكن سفرها إلى الخارج وتجربتها‬ ‫تتمسك بها‬ ‫لخدمات مق ّدمة من نساء جعالها‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لتصبح مشرو ًعا واق ًعا‪ ،‬وترى فخري أن المرأة تفهم‬ ‫مثيلتها وتعرف متطلباتها‪ ،‬وماذا تريد‪ .‬وإن الرجل‬ ‫ال يمكنه أن يساعد المرأة في إنتقاء حاجاتها أو أن‬ ‫ي ّدلها على المكان الصحيح الذي يمكن أن تعثر‬ ‫فيه على مبتغاها‪ ،‬فكانت "بنات تاكسي" ترجمة‬ ‫لهذه األفكار‪.‬‬ ‫وتنفي فخري أن يكون مشروعها أتى من باب‬ ‫مجرد‬ ‫التعصب والعنصرية للمرأة‪ ،‬بل ترى فيه‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫خدمة أنثويّة ال يمكن للرجل أن يق ّدمها للمرأة ‪.‬‬ ‫وتلفت إلى أن المشروع لقي ردود فعل وتجاوبا‬ ‫من النساء والرجال على ح ّد سواء‪ ،‬فالرجال شجعوا‬ ‫الفكرة والنساء أقبلن عليها‪.‬‬ ‫العمل بدأ بثالث سيّارات أجرة‪ ،‬واليوم‪ ،‬وبعد‬ ‫أق��لّ من عام أصبح عدد السيّارات المتوفرة‬ ‫في الخدمة يتع ّدى العشر‪ ،‬ويغطي كل المناطق‬ ‫اللبنانيّة‪ .‬وتسعى صاحبة المشروع إلى تطويره‬ ‫لتلبية الطلب الكثيف على خدمات "بنات تاكسي"‬ ‫‪ ،‬كما تدرس خططا وأفكارا جديدة لتحسين العمل‬ ‫وإزدهاره ‪.‬‬ ‫تعرضت لها من‬ ‫لكنها ال تنفي الصعوبات التي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫قبل مؤسسات زميلة أخرى تق ّدم خدمة مختلطة‬ ‫يتعرضن‬ ‫للنساء والرجال‪ ،‬حيث كانت السائقات‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لمضايقات من بعض سائقي التاكسي الذكور‬ ‫الذين كانوا ينزعجون من وجودهن على الطرق‪،‬‬ ‫تعرضت للعديد من المواقف الال أخالقيّة مهن ًّيا‬ ‫كما ّ‬ ‫إذ تعرضت لـ"سرقة" العديد من األفكار التي‬ ‫إبتكرتها في العمل ‪" .‬لكن للنجاح ثمنا" بحسب‬ ‫فخري ‪.‬‬ ‫وتضيف أن مؤسستها تسهم في تحسين وتطوير‬ ‫الوجه السياحي في لبنان‪ ،‬خصوصا إن كثيرات‬ ‫من األجنبيّات يفضلن "التكسيات" النسائية‬ ‫على المختلطة‪ ،‬ألن األجنبيّات يمتلكن فكرة عن‬ ‫المجتمعات الشرقيّة "المتّصفة بالكبت"‪ ،‬وبهذه‬ ‫تؤمن لهن الراحة واألمانة في تنقالتهن‪.‬‬ ‫الطريقة ّ‬ ‫في السياق ‪ ،‬تقول المنظمات األهليّة المختصة‬ ‫أن نحو ثلث نساء لبنان يتعرضن للعنف بأشكاله‬ ‫المعنويّة والجسديّة‪ ،‬إن كان خالل تنقالتهن‬ ‫اليوميّة‪ ،‬أو خالل عملهن أو في منازلهن‪ ،‬وذلك‬ ‫بحسب التقديرات في ظل غياب اإلحصاءات‬ ‫الرسميّة‪ .‬ومعظم النساء ال يملكن الجرأة للتبليغ‬ ‫التحرش الجنسي‪ ،‬بسبب نظرة المجتمع‬ ‫عن حاالت‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تحمل المرأة غالبا ً مسؤولية ما يقع عليها من‬ ‫التي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أذىفي هذا اإلطار‪.‬‬ ‫المصدر‪ :‬إيالف‪.‬‬

‫جميع متطلباتكم من لحم‬ ‫الخروف والبقر والدجاج‬

‫‪Page 16‬‬

‫لجميع أشغال المطابخ‬ ‫والسيراميك والتبليط‬ ‫وأعمال الصيانة‬

‫ملحمة كاروسال الحالل‬

and its relationship to human behaviour, wellness and mental health. Islamic psychology or Ilm-al Nafsiat refers to the study of the Nafs (meaning “self ” or “psyche” in Arabic). Some of the advances in medieval Islamic psychological thought included the establishment of the first hospitals for people with mental illnesses, the development of a clinical approach to mental illness and the development of an experimental approach to the study of the mind (Haque, 2004). Whilst Ibn Sina and Al-Ghazzali, among other great scholars of that period may have been the fathers of psychology before the term was even coined, the Qur’an and the Sunnah were their guiding light and inspiration. Al-Qur’an – guidance for all of mankind was and is the ultimate handbook for understanding the soul, the mind and behaviour.

Muslim psychologists and scholars in the 20th and 21st centuries are making attempts to revive and reexamine concepts from medieval Islamic psychological thought. This revival has been made difficult by the pervasive negative attitude in the Muslim community worldwide towards the study of modern psychology. It is my argument that if it has taken the biologists, the embryologists, the geologists to highlight the wisdom of the Qur’an and Hadith in the areas of biology, embryology and geology, then equally we will need the psychologists to bring out the psychology embedded in the Qur’an and the Hadith.

But wait a minute, there is no stigma in choosing to study biology, embryology or geology. So what happens when I ask every single one of my Muslim psychology students who are supervised in my clinic what their parents said when they revealed they wanted to study psychology? The same verbatim response – “What? You want to work with crazy people!@#$%?” For decades, students have been discouraged from studying psychology because of the stigma attached to having a mental health problem. This is ironic when for the most part psychologists work with “normal” people going through the normal gamut of life’s adversities, health issues, learning difficulties, trauma, grief and loss and relationship difficulties. The Muslim community was once the leader in mental health treatment and awareness but where are we now? Stigma of people with mental health issues is not part of the Islamic tradition. Islam holds a sympathetic view towards people with mental health issues, “Do not give your property which God assigned you to manage to the insane: but feed and cloth the insane with this property and tell splendid words to him.” (4:5)

This Quranic verse describes the appropriate and ethical care towards people experiencing a mental illness. Muslims experiencing high prevalence disorders such as depression and anxiety continue to face stigma, which reduces the likelihood that they will seek professional assistance for these very treatable conditions. Muslim women suffer with post-natal depression and are shunned by their husbands and family members, anxiety disorders in Muslim youth manifest into social and behavioural issues that get them in trouble with the law, particularly as they medicate themselves with cannabis and move onto amphetamine use, creating secondary disorders, relationships break down and families fall apart. Such are the repercussions for untreated mental health issues.

By the year 2020 according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), depression is projected to be the 2nd leading contributor to the global burden of disease for all ages and both sexes. It is already is the 2nd leading contributor to premature mortality and years of productive life lost due to disability for 15-44 year olds and 4th overall.

Depression is very common, affecting about 1 in 5 people. Fewer than 25% of those affected have access to effective treatments. To put this in perspective, in Indonesia for a population of over 200 million there are around 1000 psychologists, that’s 1 per 200,000 people. Only in the last few years has psychology been available as a tertiary subject to studied across the Arab peninsula. In Australia there are few Muslim psychologists, in Victoria I can count us on my two hands, despite the availability of numerous tertiary courses.

NSW has an increasing number of Muslim psychologists, but for the population it is probably on average 1 per 10,000 people, perhaps even less because most Muslim psychologists do not work with the Muslim community directly due to the greater job opportunities in the mainstream.

Iran: US offered Rigi ‘extensive aid’ for Iran attacks The captured ringleader of the Jundallah group, Abdolmalek Rigi, has confessed that the US administration had assured him of unlimited military aid and funding for waging an insurgency against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“After Obama was elected, the Americans contacted us and they met me in Pakistan. They met us after clashes with my group around March 17 in (the southeastern city of) Zahedan, and he (the US operative) said that Americans had requested a meeting.”

“I said we didn’t have any time for a meeting and if we do help them they should promise to give us aid. They said they would cooperate with us and will give me military equipment, arms and machine guns. They also promised to give us a base along the border with Afghanistan next to Iran.”

“They asked to meet me and we said where should we meet you and he said in Dubai. We sent someone to Dubai and we told a person to ask a place for myself in Afghanistan from the area

near the operations and they replied that they would sort out the problem for us and they will find Mr. Rigi a base and guarantee his own security in Afghanistan or in any of the countries adjacent to Iran so that he can carry on his operations.

“They told me that in Kyrgyzstan they have a base called Manas near Bishkek, and that a high-ranking person was coming to meet me and that if such high-ranking people come to the United Arab Emirates, they may be observed by intelligence people but in a place like Bishkek this high-ranking American person could come and we could reach an agreement on making personal contacts. But after the last major operation we took part in, they said that they wanted to meet with us.

“The Americans said Iran was going its own way and they said our problem at the present is Iran… not al-Qaeda and not the Taliban, but the main problem is Iran. We don’t have a military plan against Iran. Attacking Iran is very difficult for us (the US).

The CIA is very particular about you

and is prepared to do anything for you because our government has reached the conclusion that there was nothing Americans could do about Iran and only I could take care of the operations for them.

“One of the CIA officers said that it was too difficult for us to attack Iran militarily, but we plan to give aid and support to all anti-Iran groups that have the capability to wage war and create difficulty for the Iranian (Islamic) system. They reached the conclusion that your organisation has the power to create difficulties for the Islamic Republic and they are prepared to give you training and/or any assistance that you would require, in terms of telecommunications, security and procedures as well as other support, the Americans said they would be willing to provide it at an extensive level.”

Iran’s security forces arrested Rigi by bringing down his plane over Iranian airspace, as he was onboard a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Kyrgyzstan.

Courtesy: PRESS TV

CT columnist Zabrina A Bakar meets her readers

Keysar Trad Sydney bureau

During a quick five day visit to Australia, Crescent Times columnist and best selling Malaysian author Sr. Zabrina A. Bakar, who writes the “Life is an Open Secret” series took pause to launch her books at Sydney’s Rissalah college.

On her first visit to Australia to participate in the launch of the inaugural Muslim Creative Artists conference, Sr. Zabrina took time to attend a family lunch with the 2009 Illawarra Doctor of the year and highly respected Muslim community leader Dr. Sajed Azam, before returning to Sydney to launch and promote her books.

Sr. Zabrina’s book launch was attended by a wide range of leaders from both the Muslim and non Muslim communities in Australia. At the launch, Sr. Nada Roude, the CEO of the Islamic Council of New South Wales welcomed the audience which included former antidiscrimination commissioner Dr. Sev Ozdowski, Catholic Sr. Trish Madigan, Sr. Maha Abdo of the Muslim Women’s Association and many other distinguished guests.

Sr. Maha Abdo acknowledged that she has been a long term fan of the writings of Sr. Zabrina, she told Crescent Times: “Sr. Zabrina writes what we all think”, indicating that the ideas that Sr. Zabrina so eloquently writes are ideas that community leaders have been waiting to see in print so that they can promote them amongst their membership.

Br. Ali Roude, the vice-chair of the Islamic Council of NSW and principal of Rissalah College introduced Sr. Zabrina to the invited guests, citing the rich Sister Zabrina A. Bakar during the event in heritage that is brought to us from Sydney. our Muslim brothers and sisters in

South East Asia.

In her speech, Sr. Zabrina explained how she draws on Islamic concepts to promote healthy and successful family relations and general lifestyle choices.

Citing the important role of the mother, Sr. Zabrina quoted the well known Hadith that Paradise is at the feet of the mother. She said: “Therefore when your mother is calling you, she is calling you to paradise, but when you resist her call, then you are heading in the wrong direction.” In elaborating on this hadith, Sr. Zabrina explained how outside influences that weaken relations between a person and his/her mother are not in the best interest of the person or of society.

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Have you ever seen a psychologist? For most of the readership, I am sure the answer will be a resounding and emphatic NO, followed by the popular comment “I’m not crazy, I don’t need to see a psychologist”. The stigma attached to seeing a psychologist is bred out of complete ignorance on the behalf of the community and the Muslim community is no exception.

There has been a complete lack of understanding about the role of the academic discipline of psychology and psychological services within the general community, but for the purpose of this article, I will provide a snapshot of psychology’s journey from a historical Islamic account and within Australian Muslim communities.

When I first started studying psychology in 1994 and reverted to Islam that same year, I was told by a member of my newly adopted community that it was haram to study Psychology. How interesting I thought given that the word “psychology” is the combination of two terms - soul (psyche) and study (ology). Rudolph Goclenius, a German philosopher is credited with inventing the term ‘psychology’ in 1590. The derivation of the word from Latin gives it this clear and obvious meaning: the study of the soul. A brief historical account of the development of Western Psychology can be found at www.crystalinks.com/psychology.html for further information.

After the separation of church and state, similar to other sciences, psychology became widely known as an academic and applied field involving the study of the human mind, brain, and behaviour and devoid of anything spiritual or religious. For the most part, psychology has been everything but the study of the soul and therefore some psychological theories are inconsistent with the Islamic conceptualisation of the human and human behaviour.

From the 19th century, schools of psychological thought have gained momentum and a generous discourse has emerged over every facet of human and animal behaviour imaginable. This includes knowledge of learning & memory, development across the lifespan, problem solving, organisational behaviour & leadership and the treatment of mental illness to name a few. Contributions have been and continue to be valuable in understanding human behaviour in its spectrum from ‘normal’ to ‘abnormal’.

From a much earlier period (8th-15th centuries) in the Islamic world Muslim philosophers/ psychologists were formulating the study of the soul

Sure as a Muslim you could see a non-Muslim psychologist, but excellence in mental health service provision needs to be about having the choice to access the type of service you think will benefit you in your situation.

So what needs to be done about this situation, gee, where do I start? Given that I’m well and truly above my word limit you’ll have to wait until I cover this and answer some frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) about mental health disorders and psychological treatment of them in the next edition of Crescent Times. Yikes, let me squeeze a few more words in: A message to all parents of year 11 or 12 students: The next time you ask your son/daughter what they want to be when they grow up, if they say a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker, don’t give them that shock horror look in disbelief followed by the utterance “What, you want to work with crazy people?” please use a response that starts with Alhumdullilah…

More information on mental health issues can be found at www.beyondblue.org.au or www.youthbeyondblue.com including a list of psychologists nationally.

Monique is a mother of two and a Muslim Child & Family Psychologist with over a decade of experience working with Muslim women, teens and families. Comments are welcome at monique@ nasihahconsulting.com.

issue 17, March 2010

Monique Toohey*

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

Unravelling the Ignorance: Understanding Psychology & Mental Health Services (Part 1)

Page 17

Education

issue 17, March 2010

www.crescenttimes.com.au

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

Page 18

Opinion

True colours

Nazeem Hussain* It was not until I returned from a trip to Europe that it dawned on me how white Australian television actually is. It’s an arduous task for me to recall five people on Australian television who are not white. The only people that come to mind are a couple of SBS news readers, and the guy who played the demeaning role of Bingo Commissioner with a ridiculous feigned Indian accent on the failed series of Sunday Night Bingo. Oh … and there are brown people on community TV, if you have reception.

There are probably a few that I’ve missed, but in all honesty, this exercise is a challenging one.

Neighbours should be renamed We Don’t Have Any Brown Neighbours. The most popular show on Australian TV is Border Security - a show produced in close co-operation with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship that is designed to make ordinary people paranoid about foreigners. I started feeling suspicious of other brown people at the airport after watching just one episode.

All Saints was one of the most popular shows on Australian TV. How can a show that is entirely based around a hospital have no brown or Asian doctors?

Even rural hospitals have at least a few brown medical students on rotation at any given time.

Note: if you ever wake up in hospital, and there are no brown or Asian doctors - get out of there: you’re not in a hospital. You’re on the set of a mediocre but well loved Australian TV series.

That says a lot about Australia - that a dominant reflection of us is a white one, and that is projected into every home in the country, as well as the Neighbours-loving UK. Popular culture truly is monocultural in Australia. Unless, of course, you include The Footy Show’s attempt at inclusive ethnic humour a few months ago when Sam Newman likened an Indonesian man to a monkey, before seeming to refer to Serena Williams as one too.

Australian television is also the contemporary home of blackface. We boast a broad spectrum of blackface sketches that have spanned across all networks - from the ABC to commercial networks such as Channel 9 and 10. News spread far and wide about the Hey Hey It’s Saturday reunion’s blackface sketch.

Back home, we began a debate about it. We actually argued over an issue the rest of the world determined was racist decades ago. Julia Gillard joined the chorus of support - “my recollection of watching Hey Hey growing up was that it did have a real sense of humour and I suspect we’ve seen that in recent days”.

I suspect not.

It’s true what was argued in the wake of that saga: that if Harry Connick Jnr hadn’t objected, no one would have blinked. Only a month or two

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previously, The Chasers War on Everything performed an almost identical blackface dance routine on the ABC. Shortly afterwards, John Safran presented an episode of Race Relations on the ABC where he donned modern-day blackface in America so that he could rap at a hip-hop club, serve hotdogs, preach in a black church, and say the N-word repeatedly.

Because, apparently, that’s what life as an AfroAmerican equates to. In case you were wondering, the humour in this episode comes from black people being unaware that Safran is actually a white person from Australia. Genius. The episode was applauded by many who exclaimed it made a salient point about colour in society. One point it did make was that any confrontation Australia has had with race has not been etched indelibly in its social conscience. If it had, offensive and racist ideas wouldn’t be flaunted on TV as “Aussie humour”.

There is something unique about the way we as a nation forget our own struggles for racial equality and justice. Though there have been countless historic moments in the Indigenous peoples’ long struggle for justice, the majority of these events have escaped the general public memory. This contrasts greatly with the way the national memories of the civil rights movements in both the UK and the US have only compounded and intensified with time.

As a result, Australian culture remains unchanged.

Arguably, racist attitudes have only hardened in recent times.

Even though race makes news frequently in this country, the only people that seem to be doing the talking are those whom it least concerns - white people. When the Hey Hey sketch made international news the only people given space in the Australian media to discuss whether blackface was offensive or not were white people. Surely it makes more sense to listen to those who may have been offended. Yet time and again, when it comes to race, white people dominate the conversation.

As a Muslim, I understand that we face similar struggles.

When it comes to conversations about issues concerning women, men in our community grab the microphone. Sometimes it’s important to hear from men concerning women, but more often than not we could do without their two cents worth. Palpably, men are part of the problem. So, sometimes we should shut up.

My experience in Australia may be similar to many non-white people. On paper, it may not be very different to that of white Australians. I was born here.

I survived state schooling. I’ve worked crappy part time jobs. And I grew up with Hey Hey It’s Saturday.

Though being brown in Australia guaranteed me a

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completely different experience of this place. Talking honestly about race is not the easiest thing to do.

Australia hasn’t exactly engineered a culture that allows people to feel comfortable discussing these issues candidly. There are as many ways to approach such discussions as there are people of colour.

During the days of monarchs, whenever the state suspected an imminent revolution, the first people to be assassinated were poets, artists and musicians.

It was these people, the artists, who were able to capture the imagination of the people in ways no one else could. Significantly, the jester was the only person given the right to criticise the state by the court. Consequently, jesters could deliver bad news to the king that no one else would dare deliver.

Stand-up comedy is one medium which is, fundamentally, an art of protest. Historically, it has been used as a tool by communities and people with ideas that challenge and provoke the status quo with a spirit of counterculture. Prominent Muslim American stand-up comedian from Allah Made Me Funny, Azhar Usman notes that “time and time again, you find that groups that are written off by mainstream America use comedy as a weapon.

This is a way for them to speak truth to power, that quintessentially American thing to do”.

In our stand up comedy show Fear of a Brown Planet, Aamer (the other half of the show) and I are able to talk about things we wouldn’t be able to talk about in other media. It’s more difficult to talk about things like suicide bombers, the War on Terror and asylum seekers in speeches or opinion pieces.

Comedy is a significantly more accessible vehicle.

When someone laughs at a joke, a connection has been made. That person laughs because they appreciate the point whether or not they accept what was said as valid isn’t important. What matters is, they’ve understood.

Sometimes people need to vent. We like to think we provide people a safe space to do that. Group venting always feels so much better because it means that we’re all in this together.

As a nation, we’ve denied a lot of truths recently.

Try and tell any Indian that Australia doesn’t have an issue with racism and you’ll quickly realise how baseless that assertion is. In order for this country to progress we need to begin an honest conversation with ourselves. Let’s start by throwing out our TV’s.

Or by casting a brown family in Neighbours. *Article first published in The Advertiser on February 6, 2010. Nazeem Hussain, with Aamer Rahman, 27, a Monash University law graduate and graphic designer, will perform their comedy hit, Fear of a Brown Planet Returns, at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from March 24 until April 18.

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Niqab Ban Breaches Privacy: EU Rights Chief A ban on face-veil would violate individual privacy rights and alienate Muslim women, the European rights chief has warned, urging politicians to promote understanding of different cultures.

“A general ban on such attire would constitute an ill-advised invasion of individual privacy,” Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement.

Last January, a French parliamentary panel recommended slapping a partial ban on faceveils in public institutions.

Similar debates are also heating up in Italy, Denmark, Netherlands and Germany.

Hammarberg said a ban might breach the European Convention on Human Rights, which allows limitations on human rights only on the grounds of public health, safety or morals.

“Those who have argued for a general ban of the burqa and the niqab have not managed to show that these garments in any way undermine democracy, public safety, order or morals,” he insisted.

“The fact that a very small number of women wear such clothing has made proposals in such a direction even less convincing.”

The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 to protect human rights and democracy in the continent. It has 47 members who have signed the European Convention on Human Rights.

The European rights chief said a ban would be counterproductive rather than helpful for Muslim women.

“Prohibition of the burqa and the niqab would not liberate oppressed women, but might instead lead to their further alienation in European societies,” he warned.

“The suggestion to ban the presence of women dressed in the burqa/niqab in public institutions like hospitals or government offices may only result in these women avoiding such places entirely.”

Hammarberg said media interviews have shown that the majority of the niqab-clad women have taken the decision by their own volition and would not welcome a ban.

“There may of course be cases where they are under undue pressure - but it is not shown that a ban would be welcomed by these women.”

While hijab is an obligatory code of dress for Muslim women, the majority of Muslim scholars agree that a woman is not obliged to wear the face-veil.

Scholars believe it is up to women to decide whether to take on the veil or burqa.

Hammarberg cautioned that subjecting Islam and Muslim-related issues to public debates in many European countries risks playing into the hands of extremists.

“Some of the arguments have been clearly Islamophobic and that has certainly not built bridges or encouraged dialogue.”

He insisted that instead of imposing new dress codes on their citizens, European states would be better advised to launch debates on understanding of different cultures.

“Attempts should be made to broaden the discourse to cover essential matters, including how to promote understanding of different religions, cultures and customs.”

Source: IslamOnline.net & news agencies

Contributors in tHis issue: Kamariah Ahmad - Hasan Alshakshir - Rashid Alshakshir - Shayma Alshakshir - Nasya Bahfen - Tarek Chamkhi - Almir Colan - Jamal Daoud - Linda Delgado - Ayisha Varga El Shamandy - Eugenia Flynn - Hyder Gulam - Syed M Hassan - Nazeem Hussain - iPoet- Amanda Charmand Mazumder - Debora McNichol - Yvonne Ridley - Aisha Stacey - Monique Toohey - Harun Yahya - Irfan Yusuf

Reflection on the Hijrah: Kamariah Ahmad His life and his strivings are a reflection of miracles from the Lord, who says “And (remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad), to imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out (from our home, i.e Makkah); they were plotting and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best of the planners.” Q 8:30

Hijrah

Poem by Muhammad Ikram

Hijrah the grains of sand cover the land like man and his shadow both but alone in deep sorrow hunted by a bounty they criss cross the desert they run ahead and back to scout for enemy tracks

This could include calling to militarise society and stripping citizens of basic human rights, indiscriminate attacks on Indians and other non-anglo-saxons, encouraging systematic racism on all levels and keeping the vital positions in key decision making bodies in the hands of the elite anglo-saxon politicians.

The issue of lack of equal representation of religious and ethnic minorities has a significant impact on the lives of those minorities. This includes high levels of racism, reduced access to better education and employment, reduced access to other services in the society and increased feelings of social and economic isolation.

In the face of this total vacuum of political leadership in Australia, we clearly need alternative approaches to the issues. The marginalised groups should stop waiting for solutions to come from the same anglo-saxon elite political class that takes all steps to further their marginalisation.

The easiest solution is for the marginalised groups to stand up for their rights and start challenging this status quo, by challenging the lack of representation of Indigenous people, people from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) and other marginalised groups. Strengthening real multiculturalism by increasing representation of non-anglo-saxons is vital to involve marginalised communities in the development of our society.

From previous experience, the increase of marginalised groups’ representation on key decision making bodies would have

the enemy saw a small cave Woven web where the birds nest gave There you were hiding The tips of your toes noticeable You hold your breath As enemy troops came to rest You hold your breath The Prophet assured, “Allah is with us…”

Synopsis: This poem is a brief account of the event ‘hijrah’ or emigration by Prophet Muhammad and his followers to start a new life.

For thirteen years the Prophet tried to preach Islam to the people in Makkah. Through those years he faced rejection and persecution of his followers by the non-believers.

The Prophet then changed strategy by commanding Muslims to migrate to Medina.

This event marks a new calendar for Islam. 1st Hijrah would be the first year of emigration.

Being pursued by the enemy, the Prophet and a companion Abu Bakar took refuge in a cave called Thaur.

Chased by the bounty hunters, they escaped tracking

great positive impacts in society.

In the Australian case, these positive impacts could include: 1. Substantial reduction of racism and discrimination, including reduction of attacks on ethnic and religious minorities.

2. Involving the marginalised groups in finding solutions to social problems could generate new approaches to the current standstill in dealing with issues like gambling, drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution, abortion, anti-social behavior and violence in society.

3. Substantial change to our foreign policies towards foreign policy independent of any super power.

4. Strengthening of protection of fundamental human rights.

5. Advocacy to increase public funding on services, as most of these communities are currently struggling because of the funding cuts in public health, education, housing, welfare system.

Marginalised groups, if united and organised, would become important forces for political and socio-economic change in society. This would be the most effective way of sending a message that enough is enough and that marginalised groups need full rights: especially equal representation.

We, as members of marginalised groups, in our struggle for equal rights should stop thinking that we are begging for anything.

We simply demand equality in our society.

due to help from God as the opening to the small enclave or cave bore a spider web and a bird’s nest. Hence, to the mind of the hunter it was not possible for anyone to enter and hide in the cave without destroying the spider web and breaking the bird’s nest.

Hijrah conveys the message of moving away from

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something that is negative to a more positive outlook that benefits life in general.

From the book “Let’s Celebrate Islam in Poems and Art” published by Umm Haritha Artworks

Prayer Schedule March 2010 Perth, Western Australia Day Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed

Fajr Sunrise 4:43 6:05 4:44 6:06 4:45 6:07 4:46 6:08 4:47 6:08 4:48 6:09 4:49 6:10 4:49 6:11 4:50 6:11 4:51 6:12 4:52 6:13 4:53 6:13 4:54 6:14 4:55 6:15 4:55 6:16 4:56 6:16 4:57 6:17 4:58 6:18 4:59 6:18 4:59 6:19 5:00 6:20 5:01 6:21 5:02 6:21 5:02 6:22 5:03 6:23 5:04 6:23 5:04 6:24 5:05 6:25 5:06 6:25 5:07 6:26 5:07 6:27

Dhuhr 12:30 12:29 12:29 12:29 12:29 12:29 12:28 12:28 12:28 12:28 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:26 12:26 12:26 12:26 12:25 12:25 12:25 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:21

Asr Maghrib 4:05 6:52 4:04 6:51 4:03 6:50 4:03 6:49 4:02 6:48 4:02 6:46 4:01 6:45 4:01 6:44 4:00 6:43 3:59 6:42 3:59 6:40 3:58 6:39 3:57 6:38 3:57 6:37 3:56 6:35 3:55 6:34 3:54 6:33 3:54 6:31 3:53 6:30 3:52 6:29 3:51 6:28 3:51 6:26 3:50 6:25 3:49 6:24 3:48 6:23 3:47 6:21 3:46 6:20 3:46 6:19 3:45 6:17 3:44 6:16 3:43 6:15

Isha 8:11 8:10 8:09 8:07 8:06 8:04 8:03 8:02 8:00 7:59 7:58 7:56 7:55 7:54 7:52 7:51 7:49 7:48 7:47 7:45 7:44 7:43 7:41 7:40 7:39 7:37 7:36 7:35 7:34 7:32 7:31

Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Fajr Sunrise Dhuhr 5:36 7:02 1:29 5:37 7:03 1:28 5:38 7:03 1:28 5:38 7:03 1:28 5:40 7:05 1:28 5:41 7:06 1:27 5:42 7:07 1:27 5:43 7:08 1:27 5:44 7:09 1:27 5:45 7:09 1:26 5:46 7:10 1:26 5:47 7:11 1:26 5:48 7:12 1:26 5:49 7:13 1:25 5:50 7:14 1:25 5:51 7:15 1:25 5:52 7:15 1:25 5:53 7:16 1:24 5:54 7:17 1:24 5:55 7:18 1:24 5:56 7:19 1:23 5:57 7:19 1:23 5:58 7:20 1:23 5:58 7:21 1:23 5:59 7:22 1:22 5:59 7:22 1:22 6:01 7:23 1:22 6:02 7:24 1:21 6:03 7:25 1:21 6:03 7:26 1:21 6:04 7:27 1:20

Asr Maghrib Isha 5:05 7:54 9:16 5:05 7:53 9:14 5:04 7:51 9:13 5:04 7:51 9:13 5:03 7:49 9:10 5:02 7:47 9:08 5:01 7:46 9:07 5:01 7:45 9:05 5:00 7:43 9:04 4:59 7:42 9:02 4:58 7:41 9:01 4:58 7:39 8:59 4:57 7:38 8:58 4:56 7:36 8:56 4:55 7:35 8:55 4:54 7:34 8:53 4:54 7:32 8:52 4:53 7:31 8:50 4:52 7:30 8:49 4:51 7:28 8:47 4:50 7:27 8:46 4:49 7:25 8:45 4:48 7:24 8:43 4:47 7:23 8:42 4:46 7:21 8:40 4:46 7:21 8:40 4:44 7:18 8:37 4:43 7:17 8:36 4:43 7:16 8:34 4:42 7:14 8:33 4:41 7:13 8:32

Prayer Schedule March 2010 Sydney, New South Wales Day Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed

Fajr Sunrise 5:18 6:42 5:19 6:43 5:20 6:44 5:21 6:45 5:22 6:45 5:23 6:46 5:24 6:47 5:25 6:48 5:26 6:49 5:27 6:50 5:28 6:50 5:28 6:51 5:29 6:52 5:30 6:53 5:31 6:53 5:32 6:54 5:33 6:55 5:34 6:56 5:35 6:57 5:36 6:57 5:36 6:58 5:37 6:59 5:38 7:00 5:39 7:00 5:40 7:01 5:41 7:02 5:41 7:03 5:42 7:03 5:43 7:04 5:44 7:05 5:44 7:06

Dhuhr 1:08 1:08 1:08 1:07 1:07 1:07 1:07 1:07 1:06 1:06 1:06 1:06 1:05 1:05 1:05 1:04 1:04 1:04 1:04 1:03 1:03 1:03 1:02 1:02 1:02 1:01 1:01 1:01 1:01 1:00 1:00

Asr Maghrib 4:44 7:33 4:44 7:31 4:43 7:30 4:43 7:29 4:42 7:28 4:41 7:26 4:41 7:25 4:40 7:24 4:39 7:22 4:38 7:21 4:38 7:20 4:37 7:18 4:36 7:17 4:35 7:16 4:35 7:14 4:34 7:13 4:33 7:12 4:32 7:10 4:31 7:09 4:31 7:08 4:30 7:06 4:29 7:05 4:28 7:04 4:27 7:02 4:26 7:01 4:25 6:59 4:24 6:58 4:23 6:57 4:23 6:55 4:22 6:54 4:21 6:53

Prayer Schedule March 2010 Melbourne, Victoria Day Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed

Fajr Sunrise 5:34 7:04 5:35 7:05 5:36 7:06 5:38 7:07 5:39 7:08 5:40 7:09 5:41 7:10 5:43 7:11 5:44 7:12 5:45 7:13 5:46 7:13 :47 7:14 5:48 7:15 5:49 7:16 5:51 7:17 5:52 7:18 5:53 7:19 5:54 7:20 5:55 7:21 5:56 7:22 5:57 7:23 5:58 7:24 5:59 7:25 6:00 7:26 6:01 7:27 6:02 7:28 6:03 7:29 6:04 7:29 6:05 7:30 6:06 7:31 6:07 7:32

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib 1:33 5:11 8:01 1:33 5:11 8:00 1:33 5:10 7:58 1:32 5:09 7:57 1:32 5:08 7:55 1:32 5:08 7:54 1:32 5:07 7:52 1:32 5:06 7:51 1:31 5:05 7:49 1:31 5:04 7:48 1:31 5:03 7:46 1:31 5:02 7:45 1:30 5:02 7:43 1:30 5:01 7:42 1:30 5:00 7:40 1:29 4:59 7:39 1:29 4:58 7:37 1:29 4:57 7:36 1:29 4:56 7:34 1:28 4:55 7:33 1:28 4:54 7:31 1:28 4:53 7:30 1:27 4:52 7:28 1:27 4:51 7:27 1:27 4:50 7:25 1:26 4:49 7:24 1:26 4:48 7:22 1:26 4:47 7:21 1:26 4:45 7:19 1:25 4:44 7:18 1:25 4:43 7:16

Isha 8:53 8:52 8:51 8:49 8:48 8:46 8:45 8:43 8:42 8:40 8:39 8:38 8:36 8:35 8:33 8:32 8:30 8:29 8:27 8:26 8:25 8:23 8:22 8:20 8:19 8:17 8:16 8:15 8:13 8:12 8:11

Isha 9:27 9:25 9:23 9:22 9:20 9:18 9:17 9:15 9:13 9:12 9:10 9:08 9:07 9:05 9:04 9:02 9:00 8:59 8:57 8:55 8:54 8:52 8:51 8:49 8:47 8:46 8:44 8:43 8:41 8:40 8:38

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

The repeated vicious attacks on multiculturalism from the major parties, combined with no meaningful challenge to them by any parliamentary parties, have been constant features in Australian politics. In the absence of equal representation of non-anglo-saxon and non Judeo-Christian communities, the attacks on ethnic and religious minorities will continue unabated.

The irony is that we are still witnessing such attacks, and even their clear escalation, despite the widespread demographic changes in Australian society in the last few decades. While we are well aware that the numbers of new migrants born in nonEnglish speaking countries have increased to more than a quarter of the population, we have not witnessed any increase in their representation in decision making bodies. And this is the core reason behind the constant attacks on multiculturalism.

Early in the last century, the excuse to sustain attacks on Chinese, then Greek, then Italian new arrivals was that they were uncivilized. Then the attacks on Vietnamese new arrivals used excuses of fighting against organised crime and drug smuggling. Now, the excuse to attack Muslims is to fight “terrorism.” In all attacks during the last century, there was no credible evidence to justify them.

These attacks on every new arriving community proves more and more that the real reason is that the anglo-saxon elite political class is resisting sharing power with other communities, by any means.

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Jamal Daoud

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issue 17, March 2010

It is time for marginalised groups to act!

Prayer Schedule March 2010 Adelaide, South Australia

Page 19

opinion

Science & Poetry

Page 20

Opinion

DNA: THE DATA SOURCE OF LIFE

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au www.crescenttimes.com.au issue 17, March 2010

PLANET IRF

Mawlid

Harun Yahya* The progress of science makes it clear that living beings have an extremely complex structure and an order too perfect to have come into being by coincidence. This is evidence of the fact that living beings are created by an All-Powerful Creator with superior knowledge. Recently, for instance, with the unravelling of the perfect structure in human genes which became a prominent issue due to the Genome Project - the unique creation of God has once more been revealed for all to see.

From the USA to China, scientists from all over the world have given their best efforts over a decade to decode the 3 billion chemical letters in DNA and to determine their sequence. As a result, 85% of the data included in the DNA of human beings could be properly sequenced. Although this is a very exciting and important development, as Dr. Francis Collins, who leads the Human Genome Project states, so far, only the first step has been taken in the decoding of the information in DNA. In order to understand why the decoding of this information takes so long, we have to understand the nature of the information stored in DNA. In the manufacture of a technological product or the management of a plant, the greatest tools employed are the experience and accumulation of knowledge that man has acquired over many centuries. The necessary knowledge and experience needed for the construction of the human body, the most advanced and sophisticated “plant” on earth, are stored in DNA. DNA is a rather large molecule that is carefully protected in the cell nucleus, and functions as a kind of data bank for the human body.

The information hidden inside DNA controls the thousands of different events that take place in the cells of the human body and in the functioning of its systems, as well as all physical features, from the colour of a person’s hair and eyes to his height. For example, even whether someone’s blood pressure is high, low or normal depends on the information in DNA. The important point that needs to be stressed here is that ever since the very first human being, the trillions of examples of DNA in the billions of human cells have been appearing in the same state of perfection and complexity as at present. As you read the lines below, you will also come to see how it is clearly unreasonable to claim, as evolutionists do, that such a molecule, with all its mind-blowing structure and properties, originated as a result of coincidences.

The information stored in DNA must by no means be underestimated. So much so that one human DNA molecule contains enough information to fill a million-page encyclopaedia, or to fill about 1,000 books. Note this fact well: one million encyclopaedia pages, or 1,000 books. This is to say that the nucleus of each cell contains as much information as would fill a one-million-page encyclopaedia, which is used to control the functions of the human body. To draw an analogy, we can state that even the 23-volumeEncyclopaedia Britannica, one of the greatest mines of information in the world, has 25,000 pages.

Therefore, before us lies an incredible picture. In a molecule found in a nucleus, which is far smaller than the microscopic cell wherein it is located, there exists a data warehouse 40 times bigger than the biggest encyclopaedia of the world that includes millions of items of information. This means a huge 1000-volume encyclopaedia which is unique and has no equal in the world. Were one piece of information present in human genes to be read every second, non-stop, around the clock, it would take 100 years to complete the process. If we imagine that the information in DNA were put into book form, the volumes placed on top of each other would reach 70 metres high. The latest calculations have revealed that this huge encyclopaedia contains some 3 billion different “subjects.” If the information in DNA were to be written down on paper, that paper would stretch from the North Pole to Ecuador.

These examples are an indication of the imposing amount of information contained in DNA. Yet how can we talk of a molecule containing information?

My Childish Irfan Yusuf*

This is because what we talk about here is not a computer or a library, but just a piece of flesh that is a hundred thousand times smaller than a millimetre, simply made up of protein, fat and water molecules. It is a miracle of astounding proportions that this infinitesimal piece of flesh should contain and store even a single bit of information - let alone millions of bits.

Computers are currently the most advanced form of technology for storing information. A body of information, which, 30 years ago, was routinely stored in a computer the size of a room, can today be stored in small “discs,” yet even the latest technology invented by human intelligence, after centuries of accumulated knowledge and years of hard work, is far from reaching the information storage capacity of a single cell nucleus. The following comparison made by the well-known professor of microbiology Michael Denton, will probably suffice to highlight the contrast between the tiny size of DNA and the great amount of information it contains: The information necessary to specify the design of all the species of organisms which have ever existed on the planet, a number according to G.G. Simpson of approximately one thousand million, could be held in a teaspoon and there would still be room left for all the information in every book ever written.

How can a chain invisible to the eye, made up of atoms arranged sideways, with a diametre the size of a billionth of a millimetre, possess such information capacity and memory? And to this question also add the following: While each one of the 100 trillion cells in your body knows one million pages of information by heart, how many encyclopaedia pages can you, as an intelligent and conscious human being, memorise in your entire life? Even more important, the cell uses this information quite flawlessly, in a planned and coordinated manner, in the appropriate places, and never makes any errors. Even before a human being has come into existence, his cells have already begun the process of building him.

Nothing Can Happen by Chance You must have seen the name of a building spelt out in flowers on the ground in front of it. Looking down at them or from far away, you can immediately make out the name of the building or company concerned. That is a sign that the flowers are not there by chance, that they have been set out by gardeners and landscape designers. You may not see the gardeners actually doing it, but you can see that it has happened from the name the flowers spell out.

If there is a complexity directed to a particular end somewhere, then you know that there must definitely be a designer behind it. You may not have seen the designer, yet you can be certain of his existence and intention from his work or the traces he leaves behind him.

The human body, on the other hand, possesses a structure trillions of times more complex than the name of a building and it is again totally impossible to imagine that this complexity could have come about of its own accord, or by chance. That being the case, there is a Creator who created the cell and the DNA inside it so perfectly. Claiming the opposite means to go beyond the bounds of reason and attack the very foundations of truth, reason and logic. * Harun Yahya, has written almost 300 books which are published in 63 languages all over the world. He is well-known as an author of many books on political, faith-related and scientific issues, including very important works disclosing the imposture of evolutionists.

Harun Yahya’s books appeal to all people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, regardless of their age, race and nationality, as they center around one goal: to open the reader’s mind by presenting the signs of God’s eternal existence to them.

Please visit: www.harunyahya.com To purchase the works of Harun Yahya, please visit: www.bookglobal.net

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Muslims like me of Indian heritage make up one in four of the entire world’s Muslim population.

The North Indian ones have their own unique sectarian divides that cannot be found among any other cultural Muslim group. And it’s around this time of year that these cultural divides become especially prominent.

Some non-South Asian readers will be familiar with controversies about the permissibility or otherwise of celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. In most nominally Muslim countries, there really isn’t any controversy.

Everyone celebrates, with only minor variations between different groups.

But among South Asian Muslims, the “meelad” is always a source of controversy. Those who insist on doing meelad a certain way regard themselves as “sunni” and label anyone else as “wahhabi” or “deobandi” (a “sect” I doubt anyone in Indonesia or Bosnia has heard of). Those who prefer not to perform the meelad in that particular way label their opponents as “barelvis” (a “sect” I doubt anyone in Mauritania or Kazakhstan would have heard of) or “qabar pujaris” (grave worshippers) or “ahl-i-bidat” (innovators). Yes, it’s all gentlemanly good fun.

I grew up in a family where meelad was less about learning and applying sectarian labels and more about forcing your kids to attend boring functions and watching bearded boofy blokes sing devotional songs that none of us wheatbix kids could understand. The imams and uncles would give speeches in Urdu and occasionally in Hindlish (a special form of English unique to the Pakistani imams and the Pakistani medical doctors who dominated these proceedings).

But times have changed. On Saturday I went to a meelad function in Brisbane which was largely in English. I looked forward to seeing how English-speaking Muslim communities kept the Indian meelad tradition alive. I looked forward to listening to songs kids of my nephews’ generation could understand. I looked forward to being spiritually energised by a lecture in English delivered in a manner my nephews would relate to.

And was I to be disappointed? You betcha! Some 2 hours was spent listening to “naat” devotional songs sung in Urdu so chaste that even Kevin Rudd would not be able to understand it despite his mastery of Asian languages. The singer was that the material complies with all relevant laws and regulations and that its publication will not give rise to any claims against or liabilities to Crescent Press Pty Ltd or the Crescent Times, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, that nothing therein is in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974 or the Copyright Act 1968 or the Fair Trading Act 1987 or the defamation, consumer protection and sale of goods legislation of the Australian states or territories or infringes the rights of any person.

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some dude whose claim to fame was that he was the nephew of a famous naat singer from Pakistan. And the name of the naat-nephew? Who cares?

At one stage, our naat dude asked the audience in Urdu: “How many people here can understand Punjabi?”. Two hands rose from the audience. Mine wasn’t one of them. This didn’t stop Mr Naat from singing an incomprehensible Punjabi hymn.

And if you think that was bad, the singer then decided he wanted to provide some entertainment for a group he described using the mixed Urdu-English phrase of “yooth-kehlog” (literally “people of youth”).

His effort consisted of the following naat in words even the most eminent linguists may find difficult to decipher. Here is the chorus: “Svit Madeenah, svit Madeenah svit Madeenah Veree lowlee” Finally the English-speaking imam stood up to speak. This chap claimed to be a barrister and Islamic jurist (“faqih”) whose main claim to fame was that he had some association with an institution in the UK called Hijaz College.

This young barrister-cum-faqih then decided to use the occasion of the Prophet’s birthday to remind the Prophet’s followers gathered that we are divided into 73 sects, 72 of which are headed for hell. What better way to celebrate the birth and life of the man who united Muslims of all sects.

I almost fell off my chair when the Pommy imam made this fantastic claim: “I have been giving lectures since I was four years old!” Amazing.

Imagine what kind of wisdom would emanate from the mouth of a 4 year old. The following examples immediately come to mind: “Mummy, for God’s sake, give me an ice cream!”

“Wallahi, that toy is mine!!”

And finally, this classic: “Waaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!”

If the meelad event I attended proved anything it’s that, despite the level of discourse being rather infantile, not even the infants and kids found the proceedings at all interesting. They were outside listening to their iPods. I joined them. Kate Ceberano proved much more enlightening than the mob of manic mullahs on stage. *Irfan is a Sydney based lawyer, writer and columnist. He is the opinion editor of Crescent Times. will remain owner of the copyright in the advertising material. Such advertising material may be reproduced only with the consent of Crescent Press Pty Ltd and upon payment of such fee as Crescent Press Pty Ltd may require.

Original works are subject to copyright and shall not be reproduced without authority.

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Page 21

Lifestyle guide

CT MONTHLY NATIONAL LIFESTYLE GUIDE

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‫ع يب ر‬ ‫حس ضش‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ضتغث‬ ‫قم ص ى‬

‫ بكل أل‬..

!!‫وان الطيف‬

‫ال‬

‫هالل تايمز‬

s. communitie Melbourne new inland arrived at Port Expedition, creation of story of the first Muslim cameleers Wills d Burke and The the remarkable in the to join the rsary. The ill-fate tion that tells their role 9 June 1860 its 150th anniveto use camels, and A new exhibi m community and r is on on year marks Australia first Musli lia’s arid interio which this ed the Australia’s the first in ent of Austra demonstrat was 2010. sfully ary settlem ition and succes tions. exploration m from 26 Febru of the Inland exped the venture’s failure it Australian condi least ration Museu Pioneers e the harsh in despite that at y surviv leers: at the Immig to ted s societ Came m is estima of camel Muslim in years of Musli the Muslim ability the 1920s it Australia’s eers arrived explores 80 ge of the 1860s to 2,000 camel 1930s herita From than a. to more known into Victori 1860s s and Museum, traces the little aid expeditions 20,000 camel y: Immigration Australia and first arrived in 1860 to lia. Photo courtes nistan and British cameleers who These men from Afgha nds of miles of Austra lia. outback Austra Pakistan) travelled thousa make possible and ’s the country India (today to open up desert tracks

‫ملحق لجريدة الك‬

‫ريزنت تايمز بالعربي ل‬

‫لجالية العربية بأستراليا‬

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Page 22 Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au www.crescenttimes.com.au issue 17, March 2010

When we publish opinion articles in Crescent Times, we members, editors or publishers. to our readers, but we do our best to provide space for publication to defend and hold what they see as truth! do not necessarily endorse their content. Opinion articles However, we are not afraid of opinions! Our role is all schools of thought, personal beliefs and directions The editor in chief do not necessarily represent the opinion any of our team not to teach a particular package of opinions and beliefs of Islamic thought! All are free to submit articles for

Who to blame? Polygamy debate goes on and on!

Polygamy in the witness box!!

Hasan Alshakshir There is no need to reiterate the fact that being a Muslim is all about total submission to Allah (SWT) and that our actions are only reward worthy if they are performed by a submissive heart.

We should not doubt that polygamy has its own special bounties to individuals and to the society like every other jurisdiction in Islam; however, my goal is not to convince the anti-polygamy readers from both genders to accept the idea, but to remind ourselves to celebrate every verse and legislation in the Sharia. We should believe truly that Allah (SWT) is just and wise and does not take sides. Rejection or even gentle twisting leads outside the boundary of Islam.

All societies had practiced and are practicing polygamy in their own way. The difference between the Islamic form and the other forms is that Islamically, it is a contract built on justice, loyalty to family and duties not to be trespassed. On the other hand, other forms have no guidelines or rules and are mostly built upon an underground relationship.

It is beyond the imagination how some women could turn a blind eye to the fact that their husbands are adulterers and do nothing about it or even worse, by trying to use this reason to justify their decision to become adulterers as well. It is sad how the practice of multi-lovers is far more acceptable than the concept of polygamy. Marriage is a decent productive relationship including the intimate element of it, whether it is with the first wife or with the fourth wife, while all other types of relationships are a destructive creeping power on the social fabric.

To lessen the sensitivity of this issue, it’s worth remembering that no man can have a second wife without the acceptance of the second wife herself, in other words, it’s another female who is actually bringing polygamy into reality.

Affection and mercy keeps couples together and once they are lost, the relation will be terminated. However, when one of those two elements gets weaker, then the relationship will become unstable. Once that occurs, both would start to search for avenues that would help them to reach stability, otherwise, they have to get divorced, even if only one of them is happy with that decision. On one occasion, one of the female companions decided to end her relationship with her husband despite the interference of the prophet Mohammad (PBUH), simply because he could not fulfill her needs.

Physical and emotional needs are both essential to be satisfied. For a man, the physical aspects hold greater weight. The non-Muslim male would have one to fulfill his emotional needs and one or more to fulfill his physical needs.

This explains why the sex industry is a flourishing sector let alone the dramatic increase in non monetary affairs. As for the Muslim, he would not consider a relationship with an adulterer no matter how attractive she may be, because she has no inner beauty, he is also encouraged to value more a committed practicing Muslimah, however if the inner beauty alone is not enough Allah gave permission to those who are not fulfilled to get another wife/wives.

Let’s not forget that a healthy shared relationship is better than a cold or a sick one.

Jealousy is a natural feeling of mankind and everyone is jealous of someone at some point in time, but we as mature people learn how to handle jealousy; others might help us to reduce its impact on us, but we should not expect others to act in the way we like to eliminate our undesirable feelings.

Living in a corrupt society is painful, but it grants us a unique opportunity to understand the miracles of the social structure in Islam which is yet to be explored.

Polygamy and Humanity

Kamariah Ahmad*

Islamic shariah sets laws in the area of Muslims’ behaviour from cradle to grave. The injunction in allowing polygamy is an option not to break up marriages rather for marriages to stay valid serving as a guarantee for womens (and children’s) ‘rights’ over the husband’s property and her dignity in society. Polygamy is a protection as a solution in a situation when a wife does not agree to divorce where the husband has fallen in love with someone else. In Islam women and men are supposed to be equal partners, as in Qur’an 9:71 “The believers, men and women, are protecting friends of one another”.

Still the concern is the breakdown of family structure due to divorce.

Marriage is a union of supporting, inspiring and motivating each other.

In some households this process goes smoothly while in others some setbacks occur such as a husband who wishes to take another woman into marriage. To many modern day women, such a proposal would be unreasonable, and a humiliation. However for those who allow such a marriage, society should not be judgmental as only they – the affected pair - knows best what is suitable for them.

One study discovered that women are most concerned about having a partner who is committed to raising a family, hence it is distressing to know that their partners are having passionate affairs which can be equated as deep betrayal. As in the case of former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who separated from his wife following reports of a love child with his mistress - he described the end to his 30 years of marriage as an ‘extraordinarily sad moment but I love my children more than anything and still care deeply about Elizabeth.’(1) The allowance for a husband to remarry at times helps strengthen marriages by showing compassion if the reason is being ‘childless’ or the wife suffers from serious illness and is sympathetic to her husband’s needs.

As Islam provides options to live a happy life; it also provides divorce as a way out by giving the wife a remedy of annulment of marriage under the term ‘faskh’ if the husband is unwilling to divorce. In human rights no couple should be forced to live under one roof if it is like living in hell. Even though divorce is permitted the Prophet had said ‘Of all things that Islam has permitted, divorce is the most hated by Allah.’ Rather than taking hasty decisions, Islam encourages reconciliation and remarriages.

With the Prophet Muhammad’s marriage to Khadijah he never remarried while she lived; so we have two ‘sunnahs’ – that of monogamy, and that of multiple marriages. It is unlawful for anyone other than the Prophet to marry more than four wives at a given time. The Prophet’s other marriages were an effort to reform and unite the tribes.

Polygamy was also accepted as a solution for widows and orphans left after a battle - unlike the plight of the ‘war child’ where about 37,000 illegitimate children were born to American fathers after the German surrender. War children in an orphanage in Bergen described they were forced to parade on the streets so the locals could whip and spit at them.

(3) The positive aspect that we cannot deny was in the expansion of Islam through intermarriages of early Muslims taking other wives in foreign lands.

In the effort to strengthen the community the most important duty is in nurturing of children where both parents are to be exemplary role models. Prophet Muhammad said: “the best among people in terms of belief is the one whose character and behaviour are perfect and of good quality”. In a study the trauma in young children when parents divorce stays with them; played and replayed throughout the first three decades of their lives. (2) My father Ahmad is blessed with one wife and 10 children. As a mentor he planted into us the ideology to advance the Islamic world by assisting one another. In other instances Puspo Wardoyo in Indonesia maintains harmony between his four wives, 10 children and 34 ‘Wong Solo’ restaurants. At the end of the day we trust Allah is fair in blessing everyone with different tasks and trials to fit each persons abilities. The challenges will be how we deal with one another in the effort to obey Allah and maintain peace in our search for happiness.

References: Abdur Rahman I. Doi, Women in Shariah (Islamic Law) page 50-93 published by A.S.Nordeen Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood, A basic Dictionary of Islam page 120-121 &168-169 published by Goodword Books 1. World News, page 39 published by ‘Today’ newspaper dated 29.1.2010 2. A divorce study, page 22 published by ‘Today’ newspaper dated 18.2.2010 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_children: wikipedia.org/wiki/ Amerasian search date 21.2.2010 *Kamariah Ahmad is an author with a Diploma in Islamic Studies from Int. Islamic University Malaysia. She is also an activist in political, humanitarian and community projects for the past 22 years in Singapore.

Call For Papers: International Conference On Islamic Civilisation In The Mediterranean The OIC Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA, Istanbul) and the Institute for Islamic Research and Intercultural Dialogue, Near East University (Nicosia/Lefkosa) will jointly organise an international conference on “Islamic Civilisation in the Mediterranean” at Near East University, between 1-4 December 2010.

IRCICA, an international research centre with fifty-seven Islamic Member States, is a subsidiary of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. The Centre works in the fields of research, publishing, library and documentation, organises congresses, research awards, competitions of art and architecture. Its areas of interest include Islamic civilisation and Muslim cultures, the history of Muslim nations, history of arts and sciences in Islam.

Its activities help to promote academic studies and cooperation in these areas, make Islamic cultures and civilisation better known around the world and promote mutual understanding between peoples and cultures.

The Institute for Islamic Research and Intercultural Dialogue, Near East University, has the objective of promoting research and studying Islam and its relationship with other religions and cultures in order to promote a closer understanding between them. The Institute is located in Cyprus, which historically has been a crossroad of civilisations.

Proposed conference themes: I. History of expansion of Islamic civilisation in the Mediterranean: political administration, economics, interstate and inter-regional relations II. The role of Islam in civilisational process: cultural, theological and philosophical aspects, relations with other religions in the Mediterranean III. Science and technology in Islamic civilisation in the Mediterranean IV. Architecture and urbanism in Islamic civilisation in the Mediterranean V. The development of Islamic arts in the Mediterranean and relations with the arts of other cultures VI. “Islamic civilisation in the Mediterranean” as an area of research and teaching: promoting the studies and sources.

Scholars and researchers wishing to present a paper at the conference are requested to send a brief CV along with an abstract of 200 words in English, Turkish or Arabic by 2 April 2010. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided during the conference.

Deadlines: i) Submission of paper abstract proposal by 2 April 2010. ii) Notification of acceptance of abstracts by 2 May 2010. iii) Submission of full paper by 2 September 2010.

Accommodation: Near East University will also provide accommodation atthe Guest House (on Campus) and the Dorana Hotel in Kyrenia. Correspondence and abstracts ircica@ircica.org

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Sheikh Haron’s office premises have again been subjected to an attack apparently motivated by religious hatred. In a statement to Crescent Times, Sheik Haron described the most recent vandalism as a second terrorist attack.

On Monday 1 March 2010 the owner of the building alerted Sheikh Haron to the vandalism of the building.

A nearby neighbour believes that the attack occurred at some time on Friday 26 February.

Sheikh Haron reported the damage to Campsie police station and police subsequently attended the premises to investigate the matter and take fingerprints.

The previous attack on Sheikh Haron’s office was on 16 October 2009.

Sheikh Haron’s victory over Channel 7

The opening night of the ‘You Am I’ Art Exhibition proved to be a success with more than 300 guests attending to ponder the artworks and discuss them with their creators.

‘You Am I : An Exhibition of Contemporary Muslim Artists’ is an initiative of the Islamic Council of Victoria and is supported by the Hume Global Learning Centre. The exhibition showcases a unique blend of Islamic art fused with modern Australian culture.

Islamic Council of Victoria Arts Officer, Nur Shkembi, said the exhibition is a useful tool to break down barriers and challenge stereotypes. She said “although we might have a religion in common, you don’t have the right to paint us with the same brush”.

MC for the night was funny man Nazeem Hussain, who stressed of the importance of artists by reminding the audience that “during the days of kings and queens and empires... whenever the state would suspect a revolution from the people...the first people they would assassinate were the artists.”

Guests included Maria Vamvakinou, Federal Member for Calwell, who said “artists capture the imagination of the rest of us in mediums that will frequently last beyond our life time.” She said “the fact that a piece of art will outlive its artist presents a compelling argument for the value artists have in portraying and in preserving our stories, journeys and dreams.” Ms Vamvakinou drew laughter from the crowd when she finished with “congratulations

to the artists...its a tough thing being an artist, you don’t make a lot of money out of it, most do only after they’ve moved on... so stick with it.”

Liz Beattie, MP for Yuroke, and Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Premier in Multicultural Affairs, was also among the guests. After paying her respects to the elders of the land she said that Australians have a special responsibility to welcome people from all nations, “because regardless of what happened when we came here, by and large, we were welcome by the Aboriginal people, and they made us welcome, so we do have a special responsibility to our multicultural community to give them the same welcome as was given to us.”

She said “by and large Australians are not racist and are very tolerant, loving people and I want to express that to you, because you being here in Australia, enriches us, you don’t take anything from us, you give to us, and tonight is a great example of the things you can give to us.”

Interstate artists joined the guests, including Muslim director Shazia Fiaz who was filming a documentary about the exhibition. Also among the guests were George Osbourne, who is the Hume Global Learning Centre Manager, and Hume Council Arts and Culture Officer Anne Kershaw.

The Exhibition runs until the 7th of April at the Hume Global Learning Centre, Broadmeadows, Victoria.

For more info visit: www.icv.org.au

A little bird told me!

I’m baaaack! Apparently if you put little birdie logos on every page, you get to take some “personal time” – who knew?!! But now, once again, this little birdie has been out and about listening, observing and reporting on happenings in our community: First up for this month a conversation overheard in CT office. 3 year old: “My Baba is a superman.” Mama (thinking of all the

work Baba does for CT, his family etc) replies “Why is he a superman?” 3 year old: “Because he eats soup!” Everyone collapses in laughter.

This little birdie makes notes.

A sad and funny true story from Sydney: A young lady goes into her local butcher to buy meat for her visiting Muslim relatives and asks the butcher “Is your beef halal?”

His straightfaced reply “No love, all our

Australian Snappy Immigration Services

Above: Muslim art workfrom the “You am I” exhibition. Photo: Rashid Alshakshir, Crescent Times

The Australian cleric Sheikh Haron, has won an Australian Communications and Media Authority case against Channel 7’s “Today Tonight” program. The ACMA investigated a claim of breach of the broadcasting code and inaccuracy in relation to a Channel 7 story broadcast about Sheikh Haron on 27 May 2009.

The ACMA investigation took place over several months and the ACMA have now notified the Sheik in writing of their findings.

The ACMA usually publishes their findings on their website. However, their letter stated that “the ACMA has decided not to publish the Investigation Report”. The ACMA states that the licensee has breached clause 4.3.1 of the Commercial Television Industry Code of

Practice 2004 (the Code).

The ACMA informed Sheikh Haron that “in response to the breach finding, the licensee has advised that it will be conducting Code training sessions for all members of its staff and will include the outcome of this investigation”.

In a statement to Crescent Times, Sheikh Haron said that as a result of his complaint, Channel Seven is obliged to conduct training sessions for it’s staff on how to broadcast accurately. He said that this is an example to the entire Muslim community to act instead of remaining silent. “false accusations against the Muslim community made by media can be stopped” Haron said.

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

Above: damage to the door of the building where Sydney based cleric Sheikh Haron has an office.

Photo: Courtesy Sheikh Haron

Registered migration agent

Belinda El Kadmiri El Azizi

Factory 1/126 Canterbury Rd Kilsyth 3137 VIC Phone: 03 9761 5259

OR 03 9761 5365 Email:

exclusivestyle@bigpond.com.au

beef is Angus.” Never underestimate the misunderstanding of the general public! This little birdie looks forward to the day when the beef can be both Angus AND halal but suspects that it will be a long time coming to that particular part of Sydney!

A hijabi sister in Perth reported a recent conversation she had with a non Muslim she had never met before about the proposed new airport screening system. Hijabi sister:”My husband thinks that we are going to get scanned every time we go near the airport but I told him that no one Safwan is even looking at us.” Non Muslim: “No. They are.

They are DEFINITELY looking at you......” Who

knows where it will all end?? This little birdie will be interested to see whether “racial” profiling will win out over random selection of travellers to be scanned – judging by the number of times that the man of middle eastern appearance is scanned for explosives we could all be appearing nude every time we get on an international flight. Call me simple but this little birdie is sure that’s not halal!

Now something for the sisters, a quote from Mma Ramotswe, well known proprietor of the Number One Ladies Detective Agency, Botswana: “Men and women are different. But women are different in a better way.” And on that note, this little birdie will make a quick exit!

issue 17, March 2010

Rashid Alshakshir Melbourne

www.crescenttimes.com.au

Sydney: further vandalism of Sheikh Haron’s office

Muslim Art Exhibition Hailed A Success

Page 23

Ummah news

www.crescenttimes.com.au

Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au

Page 24

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