MUSLIM
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Trump travel ban creates world chaos Zia Ahmad President Donald Trump’s executive order signed on Friday 27 January to curb immigration and entry of refugees and nationals from seven Muslim countries has created a chaotic situation at airports throughout the world. The erratic move has been widely condemned both internationally as well as within the US by politicians, diplomats, judiciary, academics, artists and overwhelmingly, by the general public. Ongoing widespread protests have taken place in world capitals and at US airports, where a large number of travellers entering US have been detained in spite of holding valid visas. The immediate criticism of Trump’s move came from the Democrats on Friday. “Today’s executive order from President Trump is more about extreme xenophobia than extreme vetting,” said Democratic Senator Edward Markey. Most Western leaders have condemned Trump’s order discriminatory against Muslims and unnecessary leading towards hardship for travellers and their families in and out of US. Ironically, Australian Liberal government leaders have supported this “Muslim ban”
with the Prime Minister refusing to comment on the issue. Apart from Iran and Turkey, most other leaders of Muslim countries have kept mum as silent spectators. The former US Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich has issued an extraordinary statement attacking President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration and a passionate defence of refugees, warn-
ing that the “hottest places in hell” are reserved for those who “maintain neutrality” in times of “great moral crisis.” Dozens of US diplomats around the world have formally criticised President Trump’s controversial immigration restrictions in a cable. “That his “knee-jerk” restrictions will “sour relations” with the Muslim world and alienate countries that assist in the fight
against terrorism.” “The end result of this ban will not be a drop in terror attacks in the United States; rather, it will be a drop in international good will towards Americans and a threat towards our economy.” It seems that this ban is creating division in the society inflaming passions, hate and Islamophobia leading to violence. Last weekend a mosque was burned to the ground in Texas suspected as an Islamophobic attack. However the community has rallied behind Muslims to rebuild it collecting almost $600,000 overnight. On Monday there was a terrorist attack on a mosque in Quebec, Canada where six people were killed and many more injured. The suspect gunman, a radicalised white supremacist French Canadian university student Alexander Bissonnette has been arrested by the Police. Prime Minister Trudeau and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard both characterised the attack as a terrorist act, which came amid heightened tensions worldwide over Trump’s “Muslim ban”. “We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge,” PM Trudeau said in a statement. Earlier Over the weekend, Mr Trudeau said Canada would welcome refugees refused entry to US by President Trump.
Nazeem heads into the Jungle starring in Reality Show Mobinah Ahmad Australian Muslim comedian, actor and radio presenter, Nazeem Hussain is currently starring as one of the celebrities in the third season of Network Ten’s reality TV Show, “I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!” Well known for starring in Salam Cafe and his critically acclaimed show, Legally Brown, Nazeem, 31, along with nine other competitors is spending over a month in the South African jungle living off a very basic diet of beans and rice. They will be competing in challenging
tasks in order to make it through and ultimately win $100,000 for their chosen charity. Nazeem’s chosen charity is InTouch: the Multicultural Centre for Family Violence. Nazeem is heading into the show with the intention to get to know the different types of people and to learn from the experience. “I want to understand other people from other backgrounds and beliefs,” Nazeem said. “I think so many of the problems in Australia could be overcome if we actually shut up for a second and listened, ” he further added. “I know I’ll learn a lot from this experi-
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ence and I know that, especially young people, we tend to hang out with people who are like us, “ he concluded. With Steve Price and Nazeem in the game, we’re in for a set of fist pumps and laughs. Aside from reports of a bromance with footballer Dane Swan, in Episode 2, Steve Price and Nazeem have already gone head to head as Steve confronts Nazeem on his distorted views on Islam. “I don’t understand why Muslim women are required by their men to cover up,” asked Price. “They’re not. What are you talking about? I’m not going to talk to people on behalf of all women!” Nazeem responded cleverly. After the confrontation, Nazeem mentioned a teaching of the Prophet Muhammad (s) about calming down after being angry. “If you’re angry, sit down. If you’re still angry, you should lie down” said Nazeem as he lay down on his bed. Earlier, he jokingly said during the show in Episode 1, “If Donald Trump can be President after being on reality TV, well you are looking at the first Muslim Prime Minister.” On Islam and Muslims, Nazeem said, “To be honest, most people
have issues with Islam when they have never really met a Muslim. Hopefully if people like me in camp, the whole Islam thing is not even a thing. For me the whole non-Muslim thing isn’t a thing. I am happy to be friends with whoever. Hopefully they will like me. One of the reasons I like this show is you actually get to see real Australians from all different backgrounds, sexual orientations, religious beliefs and experiences and age groups come together and genuinely talk about their different lives.” Nazeem Hussain had plenty to comment on One Nation leader Pauline Hanson for her dog-whistle politics. “I want to understand other people from other backgrounds and beliefs. I think so many of the problems in Australia could be overcome if we actually shut up for a second and listened,” he said. He further added, “instead the loudest people get the most votes. Pauline Hanson got half a million votes and she just says the most incendiary, nonsensical, sensationalist shit.” In his comedy roles Nazeem has touched on race relations and racism in Australia, political and Islamic humour, Islamophobia and social commentary.
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