MUSLIM
AUSTRALASIAN
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AMUST
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Issue # 130
September 2016; Dhul Hajj 1437
Interfaith Marriage
Allah, The God of All
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Islamophobia takes it’s toll on French beaches Abu Anees While the French highest administrative court has ruled against the ban on burkinis, several French mayors have vowed to maintain the bans on public beaches. Burkini is the full length body suit that covers the whole body except the face, hands and feet, largely worn by Muslim women as a modest form of sportswear including swimming. It was first invented by an Australian designer Aheda Zanetti in 2004 and has since become very popular in all parts of the world. There was an uproar last week throughout the world when images, of armed French policemen forcing a Muslim women to take her swim suit off on a French beach, were widely circulated. Following the ban, there have been several reported instances of intimidation and discrimination against Muslim women identified with headscarves in France. More than 30 French towns last month banned the wearing of burkinis on beaches on various pretext such as safeguarding secularism, women’s rights, public order and terror concerns. A number of French top politicians have issued statements of support for the bans. However internationally as well as within France the ban was ridiculed and considered
an absurd Islamophobic reaction sweeping France due to a spate of terrorist attacks. The French ban was blatantly directed at wearing of Muslim women’s’ swim suits and not against similar attires on the beach such as generic wet suits or nuns in their full dress. The Collective Against Islamophobia in France plans to sue each municipality maintaining the ban on the burkini. There has been great community concern that acts of highly publicised terrorist attacks is leading towards Islamophobia and random acts of violence against people perceived to be Muslims living in Western countries. The vilification of Islam and demonisation of Muslims by Donald Trump in the US, Pauline Hanson in Australia and the likes of Geert Wilders and others in Europe is creating an atmosphere of hate and xenophobia in the society. On Sat 13 August Imam of a New York mosque Alauddin Akonji, 55 and his colleague Thara Miah, 64 were shot in broad daylight while walking. Authorities later arrested and have charged 35-year-old Oscar Morel of New York with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. A day earlier on Friday 12 August Khalid Jabara, a 37-year-old of Lebanese Christian descent, was shot to death on his front porch
French police force a Muslim woman to remove her top on Nice beach. in Tulsa, Oklahoma by his neighbour Stanley Vernon Majors, 61 who has been terrorising his family using racist slurs as “dirty Arabs”, filthy Lebanese and “Mooslems”. In Australia Far-right nationalist groups have been emboldened by One Nation winning a number of seats in the Senate and Pauline Hanson’s ongoing rhetoric against Islam and Muslims.
EID UL ADHA MUBARAK FOR 10-11 SEPTEMBER
Olympic athletes show Sydney Uni aims to produce positive power of Islam leaders for diverse Australia Sakinah Bokhari Mentions of Islam linked to terrorism and security have been eclipsed by the athletic exploits of Muslim athletes, and prevailing stereotypes have been outpaced by the images of Muslim excellence in the 2016 Rio Olympics held in the month of August. Muslim athletes have flourished on the Olympics’ Stage amid suspicion, racism and Islamophobia in Rio. This includes Mohamed Farah from Great Britain winning gold both in the 5000 and 10,000 marathon
race, Ahmad Abu Ghosh from Jordan winning gold in taekwondo, Ibtihaj Muhammad from the United States winning bronze in fencing and Sara Ahmed from Egypt who won bronze in weight lifting. Prayer is Powerful On 13 August, Somali British long distance runner, Mohamed Farah, locked his legs with another runner in the 10,000 metre run and fell on the track. He bounced right back up and weaved his way strategically past the pack and claimed gold. After he crossed the finish line, Farah fell on the track again-this time to pray. He bowed his head before a stadium of thousands of spectators. For Farah, and scores of Muslim athletes, faith is not... continued on page 3
Mohamed Farah won 2 gold medals for Great Britain. Proudly Printed in Australia by Spotpress Pty Ltd
Zia Ahmad The University of Sydney, the oldest Australian university is proactively aiming to produce leaders for a diverse Australia, its Vice Chancellor, Dr Michael Spence articulated at a recent luncheon held in Sydney. Dr Spence was the keynote speaker at Sydney city offices of the Affinity Intercultural Foundation during the Affinity Lecture Series with the topic “The role of tertiary education in fostering harmony” held on Thursday 25 August 2016. The August session of the monthly Affinity Lecture Series attracted more than hundred strong diverse audience including academics from various disciplines, clerics, interfaith activists, community leaders, journalists and students. The welcome address and introduction to the keynote speaker was given by Professor Rosemary Johnson from UTS while the question and answer session was facilitated by the Deputy Chancellor of the University of New England Jan McClelland AM. Professor Johnson introduced Dr Spence, 54 as the 25th Vice Chancellor of the University of Sydney who completed his education in English and law from the same University and then moved to Oxford University where he completed his doctorate as well as a postgraduate Diploma in Theolo-
Dr Michael Spence. Photo by Samet Erkut. gy. He worked at the University of Oxford for 20 years as an academic and administrator before moving back in 2008 to take the VC position at the University of Sydney. Dr Spence said the founding vision of the University of Sydney was based on pursuit of excellence and community service. He claimed that while Australia had an entrenched White Australia policy, the University of Sydney held the distinction of being the first University to admit students based on merit and welcomed people of all faiths while other universities throughout the world admitted students based on various elitist criteria and family connections. Elaborating on the topic for his address, he said that universities by their very nature provide platform for fostering harmony... continued on page 3
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