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AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES
www.amust.com.au ISSUE # 178
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Multicultural News & Views
SEPTEMBER 2020; MUHARRAM 1442
Beirut blast blamed on poor governance NEWS PAGE 4
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Trump’s America fails to lead
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Muslim Film Festival’s second year
Global silence on “The Kashmir Question”
COMMUNITY PAGE 11
UMMAH PAGE 16
Muharram: The Islamic month of unity
Christchurch killer gets life sentence
Zia Ahmad
Dr Aslam Abdullah Thursday 20/Friday 21 August 2020 corresponding to 1 Muharram, marked the beginning of the new year 1442 Hijra in the Islamic calendar. Historically there is an inherent link between the Hijra (migration of the Prophet) and the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (r), the grandson of the Prophet. Hijra was to protect religious freedom, and dignity of humans for a society that respects justice, equality, and fairness. The martyrdom was to eliminate despotism, the law of pri-
mogeniture, and fascism to create a culture that values liberty, balance, and freedom. Yet in the Muslim world, many religious leaders, in cohort with despotic rulers, in general, have made every effort to promote divisions within the Ummah and the community at large. People will congratulate each other and celebrate the Islamic new year with little concern about the plight of Muslims in different parts of the world. Those who take pride in calling themselves Sunnis will focus on the migration of Prophet Muhammad (s) from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE. On the other hand, during the
same month of Muharram, those who describe themselves as Shias, supporters of Ali (r) will mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (r), the grandson of the Prophet at Karbala in 680 CE. Imam Hussein (r) lived the legacy of his grandfather when he challenged the tyrant and established the Quranic rule that life is sacred. Still, when the objectives of life are under threat, martyrdom becomes essential to remind the generations of the significance of justice, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. continued on page 2
Blacktown Council apologises for Hindutva celebrations Zia Ahmad Explanation, apologies and reassurance were given by Blacktown City Council officials during a meeting with Muslim community leaders on Wednesday 19 August for the Council’s involvement in celebration of the founding of a temple, on the land of razed Babri mosque in India, held on Wednesday 5 August 2020 corresponding with 5 August 2019, the day Kashmir was stripped of its special status and placed under military lockdown since. The Blacktown officials attending the meeting included the mayor, Councillor Tony Bleasdale, Ward 1 Councillor Moninder Singh and Mr Peter Filmer, Manger, Community Events and Sister Cities.
Meeting between Blacktown City Council officials and Muslim community leaders on Wednesday 19 August 2020. A petition was submitted by the Muslim community leaders during the meeting signed by a number representatives of Muslim organisations in the Western Sydney area and beyond including Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM), Australian
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National Imams Council (ANIC), Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC), Australian Forum for Kashmir (AFK), Stand with Kashmir and Islamic Association of Western Suburbs (IAWSS). continued on page 3
The white supremacist killer, responsible for the death of Muslim worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday 15 March 2019, has finally been sentenced to life imprisonment this week. Earlier on 26 March 2020 Australian national Brenton Tarrant, 29 appeared at Christchurch High Court via audio-visual link from Auckland Prison and pleaded guilty to all 92 charges: one of engaging in a terrorist act, 51 of murder, and 40 of attempted murder. The judge convicted Tarrant on all charges and remanded him in custody to await sentencing that commenced on Monday 24 August 2020 with victims statements in the presence of the convict at the court, lasting almost the whole of this week. The NZ government had offered overseas-based relatives of those killed and injured to receive financial help and border exemptions to address the court during this week. In front of Justice Cameron Mander, the Mosque attack victims lined up to confront the mass killer in court with mounting anger, calling him a cowardly rat who deserved the death penalty. English-born Nathan Smith who was praying at Al Noor Mosque the day Tarrant killed men, women and children spoke at the court addressing the killer. “You took them away in a cowardly way. After you left I was surrounded by the dying, the injured and the dead.” “You killed in my name. “I am white. Muslim and proud. All you have done is cause great shame for Europeans all around the world.” Survivors, family members, they all spoke of graphic flashbacks, blood, gunfire, refugee stories, Islamophobia, sleepless nights, mental scars, financial woes, remembering the missing loved ones, those recovering from their injuries and also forgiveness. “I decided to forgive you Mr Tarrant, because I don’t have hate. I don’t have revenge … The damage was done and Hussein will never be here so I have only one choice, is to forgive you,” said Janna Ezat, mother of Hussein Al-Umari, 35, gunned down at Al Noor Mosque.
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