MUSLIM
AUSTRALASIAN
Multimedia News & Views
ISSN: 1039-2300
AMUST
Print Post Publication No. 100021354
Print edition published Monthly on first Friday with Website updates
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Issue # 136
How to Save AFIC from Destruction BOOMERANG PAGE 5
March 2017; Jamaadiyul Ukhraa 1438
Australia, Where’s the Love?
LIFESTYLE PAGE 14
Yassmin speaks her mind Manarul Islam Fresh from her highly publicised debate with Jacqui Lambie on ABC’s Q&A, inspirational community activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied, made her way south to share her thoughts with Canberra’s community. Yassmin, 26 is an Australian Muslim engineer of Sudanese-Egyptian background and an author, TV and radio presenter and a community activist on multiculturalism promoting diversity and inclusion in society. As part of the YWCA She Leads In-Conversation series, Ms Abdel-Magied was the focus of the question/answer/discussion event held at the University of Canberra’s Ann Harding Centre on 22 February. Facilitated by Dr Alice Williamson, cohost of the ABC podcast, Dear Science, the discussion covered a range of subjects, which included questions from the audience. Asked about her view about how to address bias, Yassmin drew parallels in her own industry with how work, health and safety has over time been culturally ingrained in the workforce and the same cultural change needs to occur from the top down with regards to discrimination and bias. Yassmin also made the point about intersectional bias, that is when more than one aspect of your life affected by discrimination, for, as an example, a black woman, and how it isn’t enough to address one type of bias at a time but all bias in parallel. On paying respect to the Ngunawal people, she said, “We always pay respect to the custodians of the land but . . . think of every great civilisation you have ever heard of the Aztecs, the Greeks . . . the First Nation of this land are all older than them . . . and that’s something we should really be proud of and appreciate.” On why she chose to be an engineer, she answered, “Making things and designing solutions to problems and having a tangible thing at the end of the day is so satisfying.” She constantly referred to her own parents
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Aspiring Leaders Umrah Tour TRAVEL PAGE 22
Judge blasts AFIC groups AMUST Media
Yassmin Abdel-Magied with her book “Yassmin’s Story”. for inspiring her and also supporting her moved to Brisbane when she was two. At through some of the recent tough times. the age of 16 she found the Youth Without On working on an offshore rig as a wom- Borders, an organisation focused on helping an, she said, “I thought it was something I young people to work for positive change in would do for just a little while . . . initially their communities. I saw it as an adventure . . . different rules Schooled at Islamic College of Brisbane operate on rig life. Half the time its figuring and John Paul College in Brisbane, Yassit out as literally there is no other woman min graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of around.” Mechanical Engineering, first class honours On her ability to communicate across from the University of Queensland and then different groups, she explained, “The one worked as an engineer on an offshore oil rig. things that is universal . . . is the power of In 2012 she was named Young Leader of the story. By making it individual . . . to the Year in the Australian Financial Review broaden your ingroup is through empathy. and Westpac’s inaugural 100 Women of InEmpathy is through human connections, fluence Awards as well as an InStyle culturfriendship, getting to know each other be- al leader and a Marie Claire woman of the yond the surface as human beings.” future. During the event in Canberra Yassmin Yassmin was awarded Young Australian gave away signed copies of her book Yas- of the Year for Queensland in 2015 and dursmin’s Story, Who Do You Think I Am, ing the same year, she was named in the top her account of different perspectives about 100 most influential engineers in Australia growing up in Australia. by Engineers Australia. Born in Sudan, Yassmin and her parents
On Wednesday 22 February, Supreme Court Justice Robert McDougall expressed his sympathy towards the Muslim community which was facing attacks from racists and begots and blasted AFIC leadership for their infighting under these circumstances. “It seems to me that there are far more important things that AFIC can be focusing on, one of which is the rise, fuelled by populist politics and government policies, of anti-Muslim sentiment in this country,” he said. “It is something that I personally deplore,” He further added. A contesting former group of AFIC executive members have been accused of mafia-like tactics by occupying AFIC Zetland offices overnight, and locking out the current group of the executive members. The matter is now being contested by the two rival groups in court. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils AFIC also known as Muslims Australia is considered the umbrella body of Muslims formed in 1963 as AFIS and restructured in 1976 as AFIC, comprising of 9 State Councils and over 100 Islamic Societies. Analysis Page 5: “How to save AFIC from self-destruction”.
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Talal Yassine and Zia Ahmad recognised on Sir Syed Day Mehar Ahmad The managing Director of Crescent Wealth, Mr Talal Yassine OAM was recognised with an award for his outstanding contribution to the community on Sir Syed Day held on Saturday 11 February at Granville Town Hall, Sydney. A second award was given to Mr Zia Ahmad, Managing Editor of the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST for his services in the field of mass media. Sir Syed Day is globally celebrated on the birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, founder of the Aligarh Movement that great-
ly contributed towards the modern education of Indians, Muslims in particular. The 24th Sir Syed Day was organised by the Aligarh Muslim University Alumni of Australia and was attended by academic, politicians, diplomats, business and community leaders. AMU Alumni of Australia was founded during the nineties and in addition to organising social events for its members, it runs a scholarship program in India funded from Australia for students with poor background giving them access to higher education. Continued with more photos on P8.
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Talal Yassine receiving his award from Mr S K Verma, Consul General of India. Dispose of this paper thoughtfully - PLEASE RECYCLE