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SHAFAQNA –With growing conces over national security, and the increased threat of those wishing to divide us, there has been recent public discussion about the future of our immigration program, and whether the values and customs of some migrant groups have a place in the Australian way of life. Negative attitudes towards Muslims in Australia seem to be based on a fear of the unknown, and this perceived difference in values and culture. Attributes we typically identify as integral to the Australian way of life – like our freedom and democracy – are commonly perceived as being at odds with Islam. It raises an interesting question – can Australian Muslims maintain their customs and traditions...

SHAFAQNA –Once a month on a Sunday afteoon, a dozen Muslim women meet at the Moroccan Deli-Cacy on Lygon St and take up positions on tables and benches. The women sip tea, nibble on biscuits and wait for their dates, who line up out the door to meet their matches. But it’s not romance they want to share — it’s enlightenment. The event aims to ‘start a conversation between Muslims and non-Muslims’. Restaurateur Hana Assafiri said her Speed Date a Muslim event was an instant hit when she launched it earlier this year, thanks to its simple premise: come and ask a Muslim woman anything you like. She was motivated by the sense that something in the national mood had shifted and Muslims were bein...

SHAFAQNA –When it comes to immigration, the govement and opposition are in agreement. Our migration program is proudly non-discriminatory and that is how it should remain. Yet the Australian govement is pursuing a migration strategy that makes it extremely difficult for large numbers of Muslims from the Middle East to settle here, even if that is not the policy’s aim. While govements of all stripes insist Australia’s migration program is non-discriminatory, an analysis of available data by The Australian suggests that the migration of Muslims from Lebanon, in particular, has slowed to a trickle, with no sign of a rush coming anytime soon. Immigration officials tell The Australian that the l...

SHAFAQNA-Grand Ayatollah Sistani aounces Wednesday as Eid al-Fitr in Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq and its Arabic neighboring countries, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Australia and Africaand Thursday as Eid al-Fitr in Europe and countries located in north of Asia. SHARE Facebook Twitter Previous articlePeterborough Charities in England Given Food Parcels for Ramadan Let's block ads! بخوانید...

SHAFAQNA –Ayatollah al-Sistani said: “When ISIL and its supporters invaded Iraq, we issued a statement mandating defense against enemies and not confrontation with our Sui brothers.” Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, the highest-ranking Iraqi jurisprudent, during a meetingwith a group of academics demanded to “protect the unity of the war-to country.” He stressed importance of helping refugees from Mosul, Ramadi, Salahuddin and other cities with shelter, money or food without asking on their denomination. The revered cleric noted that Shi’a, Sui, Christians and followers of other religions are all Iraqi nationals who have been living with each other for hundreds and thousands of years....

SHAFAQNA –Nearly 60 high profile Australian Muslim individuals and organisations have signed onto a statement regarding this week’s mass shooting in Orlando,labelling it a “targeted attack” on the LGBTQI community. The statement also addresses the particular sense of “shock and grief” being felt by LGBTQI Muslims. “The LGBTQI community has a long history of experiencing prejudice, vilification and violence. Whilst investigations are still on foot, the mass shooting in Orlando was a targeted attack on that community. There is no justification for such homophobia,” the statement reads. “We would like to send a message to LGBTQI Muslims who may be experiencing a deep sense of shock and grief. ...

SHAFAQNA –Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Tubull has congratulated Australian Muslims on the occasion of the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. “For Australian Muslims, Ramadan is a holy month as well as a time of both personal reflection and renewal. I respect your commitment to faith and encourage you as you fast, and engage in self-reflection and acts of service. At this time I also hope that you will choose to enjoy Iftar, not only with family and friends, but with neighbors unfamiliar with Islamic traditions. The practice of sharing meals establishes links across cultural communities and builds bonds of understanding. In Australia, we respect each other’s right to freedom of spe...

SHAFAQNA –A mosque in Geelong, 75km south of Melboue, Victoria, was destroyed in a suspicious fire on Wednesday moing. Police say the fire was reported at 2.15am after a nearby resident heard a loud bang. The resident went to investigate and saw the mosque alight. “At this stage it appears the fire is suspicious and a crime scene has been established,” Sen Const Julie-Ae Newman said. “No one was injured.” Newman said the arson chemist retued to the site with detectives later on Tuesday. Two weeks ago a Greek Orthodox church in East Melboue, the oldest in Australia, was damaged in what was also believed to be a suspicious fire. There have also been four church fires in the Geelong area in th...

A city council in Melboue, Victoria, Australia, rejected a development application for a mosque in the city’s south-east. Casey City Council, in Melboue’s easte suburbs, voted down plans for a mosque at their meeting on Tuesday night. Mayor Sam Aziz said the decision to reject the application, which was slated to include a 25m minaret, was based entirely on plaing rules. The council decreed that the excessive paving was “unsympathetic” to the landscape and scenic qualities of the area, while VicRoads objected on the basis that the development was “premature” and did not “represent sufficient orderly plaing” in the area. “It’s got nothing to do with race or creed but has everything to do with...

SHAFAQNA –Beie Sanders has backed legislation that would let Americans sue Saudi Arabia over the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The bill is opposed by the Obama administration, but it isimportant to victims’ families, some of whom believe Saudi officials played some part in the attacks. The Democratic presidential candidatespoke in favour of the legislation on NBC’s “Today Show” ahead of the New York presidential primary. He said it was important to have a full understanding of the “the possible role of the Saudi govement in 9/11.” USinquiries have not reported a link between the Saudi govement or its senior officials and the attacks, but Sanders notes that some conclusions remain classified. He s...

SHAFAQNA –The new Australian ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Christopher Langenman visited Imam Ali Holy Shrine, where he was greeted by a member of the Board of Directors of Imam Ali Holy Shrine Mr. Ahmed al-Jawahiri and the of Interior Relation belonging to Public Relations in Imam Ali Holy Shrine. Mr. Ahmed al-Jawahiri and the officials in Public Relations Department informed the ambassador about the plans of the vital projects that the General Secretariat of Imam Ali Holy Shrine works to accomplish to the noble visitors. the ambassador toured in Imam Ali Holy Shrine and noticed the on historical, archaeological and architectural places at the Holy Shrine. The ambassador aounced his fascination...

SHAFAQNA –The moment was surreal for Australian Muslims. The prime minister, Malcolm Tubull, was addressing the Islamic Council of Victoria and said: “I believe in acknowledging the enormous contributions that Muslims have made to Australian society”. It was only a year ago when the former Prime Minister Tony Abbott gutted the Muslim community by his choice of words “I wish more Muslim leaders would say that (Islam is a religion of peace) … and mean it” implying the community was dishonest and disloyal to this nation. Those words flattened all Australian Muslims and inspired myriad anti-Muslim groups to prominence. Words are powerful, but here was power of another kind. I looked across the r...

SHAFAQNA –If you’ve seen the final episodes of either ‘The Celebrity Apprentice,’ ‘Survivor,’ or even ‘Big Brother,’ you’ve pretty much seen the most recent installment of the Republican Party’s presidential debate. Barbs were exchanged with insults, and civility was traded for mud slinging. From healthcare to immigration; from job creation to spending cuts the five remaining candidates found reason to attack their opponent’s positions. Where candidates shared a myopic view, however, were the three pillars of mode day US conservatism: God, guns, and Israel. Three pillars of mode day US conservatism: God, guns, and Israel. While God and guns have always been inextricably tied to the very def...

Generated by IJG JPEG Library SHAFAQNA-Australian politician Kirralie Smith proposed today a 10-year hiatus on Muslim immigration, saying that Islamic values are“not compatible to our democratic values of freedom.” The comments were made in an interview with Sky News,where Smith promoted her new political party, The Australian Liberty Alliance, which counts ‘the Islamization issue’ as one of its two key pillars. “We need to have an honest debate,” she said, before claiming that she does not mind offending those of Islamic faith. “I’m not worried, because I think that there are enough indicators that we have some serious issues already.” Smith readily outlined her beliefs on Islamic values, s...

SHAFAQNA –The devotees of the Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) in Australia and Pakistan will hold ceremonies to marking the Fatimiyah Mouing Days. The mouing ceremonies will start on Sunday night to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (SA), the beloved daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In Adelaide, Australia, the Jafariya Islamic Center will host the programs on the sad occasion. Hojat-ol-Islam Gholam Ali Heydari will deliver speeches at the event. In Melboue, too, the city’s Shia Muslims will take part in programs marking the sad occasion. Slated to be held after the Maghrib and Isha prayers, they will be addressed by Allameh Khaliq Dad. In the Pakistani city of Quetta, Shias have prepare...

SHAFAQNA-A man has been charged after a car was vandalized with Islamophobic messages in Sydney’s south-west. Police had launched an investigation after a black Audi 4WD was found with smashed windows and covered in graffiti on Johnson Road, Bass Hill. A 55-year-old who lives on the street was arrested at his home on Tuesday night and charged with destroy/damage property. He has been granted conditional bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court on March 2. The car’s front and rear window was smashed and it was covered with the Islamophobic words “Arab Muslims, “go back”. “We are currently investigating the matter further and hoping that the owner of the vehicle or any witnesses to the in...