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Muslim women protest against push to ban burka in Australia

2010-09-19

MUSLIM women have rallied in their hundreds to oppose moves to ban the burka in Australia, condemning the push as part of an orchestrated "war on Islam" in the West. Women swathed in veils and wielding placards declaring "my burka - conviction not coercion" and "leave my mum alone - we love nikab" gathered yesterday in a park in Punchbowl, southwestern Sydney. The first public protest against calls to ban the veil, the rally was co-ordinated by a coalition of Muslim groups known for their often hardline views. The organisers included the Islamist political party, Hizbut Tahrir (Party of Liberation), which favours the creation of an Islamic caliphate, and the fundamentalist Ahlus Sunna wal Jamaah Association. A female speaker, Umm Jamaal ud-Din, told the rally a ban proposed by Christian Democrat MP Fred Nile, which was due to be debated in the NSW parliament this month, had fuelled intolerance and bigotry. "What this bill has effectively done is open the door to the racist element in Australian society, whereby some people think they have free rein to vilify, abuse and even physically assault women who wear the veil," she said. "All it has done is create social unrest and discord, stir up intolerance and create a further divide between the Muslim community and our fellow Australians." The head of the Lakemba-based United Muslims' Association, Shady Al Suleiman, thanked the leaders of the major political parties for their recent assurances that they would not support legislation to ban the veil, which has been advocated by Liberal senator Cory Bernardi. Female speakers emphatically rejected claims that face-covering garments such as the burka and nikab symbolised the oppression of women. Ms Jamal ud-Din, a mother of five and a seventh generation Australian, said she had been wearing the veil for 17 years. "Contrary to popular opinion, to me the face veil has everything to do with feminism," she said. "I feel empowered by the knowledge that I am in control of displaying my beauty to whom I choose, and the fact that I can move freely throughout society without being subjected to the eyes of every Tom, Dick and Harry." Read more about Muslim women protest against push to ban burka at The Australian.

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Down Under

Australian Politician warns against Muslims serving in Armed forces after Fort Hood Massacre

2009-11-09

CHRISTIAN Democrat MP Fred Nile has warned of the risks of allowing Muslims to serve in Australia's armed forces. The Rev Nile says last week's killing spree in the United States in which an army officer shot dead 13 people should cause "all associated with the free world's military forces to feel serious concern". The NSW MP and former army officer said the Australian Defence Force could already harbour Muslim personnel who may be a threat to their comrades in arms. "Australians would like to be assured that our defence forces have in place a system of assessment and review which would identify any person whose adherence to any alien ideology might one day override loyalty to mates and loyalty to the Crown," Mr Nile said. "There is an argument for suggesting that the safety and morale of our troops may warrant a ban on dedicated Muslims joining the armed forces, who may be influenced by Islamic fundamentalism."

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Down Under

CDP behind rally opposing Muslim school in rural Australia

2007-12-21

The Christian Democratic Party is behind a mysterious group called the Committee for Public Affairs Education that organised a large meeting this week to protest against a proposed 1200-student Muslim school in Camden. In the guise of a local residents' action group, the CDP organised the meeting, which has been accused of inflaming anti-Muslim feeling. The CDP leader, the Reverend Fred Nile, and Robert Balzola, a Christian lawyer and lobbyist, were key speakers on the night. Police had to calm about 100 people outside Camden Civic Centre who could not get into the packed hall, some of whom issued threats against people of Muslim heritage. Mr Nile told the crowd he opposed the school because Islam opposed Christianity. Mr Nile and one of the meeting organisers, Colin Broadbridge, a CDP member who lives in Campbelltown, denied that the party had staged the meeting. But the state MP Charlie Lynn, who was also invited to speak, said he had been approached two weeks ago by the CDP and asked to attend.

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Muslims to use polls as a sounding board

2007-03-24

Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib and a handful of other Muslims will stand for election today in New South Wales - Australia's most populous state - hoping to secure the community a political voice. "One of the reasons we stepped forward is to confront racism head on and to confront Islamaphobia head on," said Kaysar Trad, spokesman for Sydney's Islamic Friendship Association. "We owe it to this nation to stand up to racists and make a positive political stand," Trad said. The Iraq war and comments about women, jihad and Jews by radical imams in Australia have inflamed tensions between Australia's small, mainly Sunni, Muslim community of some 280,000 people, and the rest of the country. During the election campaign, Christian Democrat leader Reverend Fred Nile called for a 10-year ban on Muslim immigrants to give priority to Christians fleeing persecution. He also called for a study of the effects of Muslim immigration. Habib, with his slick-back hair and ponytail, aviator sunglasses and chain smoking, admits he is a political novice and stands little chance of victory in the election to the New South Wales parliament. On the steps of a Sydney shopping mall, microphone in hand, however, he pleaded emotionally against the Iraq war and for democracy. Habib is contesting the seat of Auburnin Sydney, an area with a large Muslim community, along with converts Silma Ihram and Malikeh Michaels. A fourth Muslim is a candidate in a neighbouring seat.

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Australian Christians call for halt to Muslim immigration

2007-03-11

The New South Wales election campaign has been drawn into a debate about immigration after the Christian Democrats leader Fred Nile called for a decade long halt to Muslim arrivals in Australia. State Premier Morris Iemma avoided questions about whether he would continue to work with the Christian Democrats if re-elected while addressing a small crowd while on the campaign trail. Reverend Nile earlier argued that there has been no study of the impact of Muslims in Australia and there needs to be some breathing space. "It would be best if we had a moratorium on Muslim immigration into Australia as I have suggested for 10 years," he said. But Mr Iemma says he opposes the idea. "I don't agree with those statements, I don't see what the connection is with the state government," he said. Meanwhile, opposition leader Peter Debnam says Reverend Nile can debate the issue if he wants, but he is not focussed on it. "I'm dealing with the issues where I can make a real difference to the people of New South Wales," he said. But Mr Debnam would not comment on whether the coalition would agree to preference deals with the party.

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Call for halt to Muslim immigration

2007-03-10

THE leader of the Christian Democratic Party, Reverend Fred Nile, has called for an immediate moratorium on Islamic immigration to Australia Rev Nile, who is the longest serving member of the NSW Legislative Council, was speaking to supporters at a gathering in the Sydney suburb of North Ryde yesterday. He said there has been no serious study of the potential effects on Australia of more than 300,000 Muslims who are already here, and Australians deserve a breathing space so the situation can be carefully assessed before Islamic immigration can be allowed to resume. In the meantime, Australia should extend a welcoming hand to the many thousands of persecuted Christians who are presently displaced or at risk in the Middle East. "I pray that within a decade, Muslims in Australia will clearly have demonstrated their commitment to Aussie values including democratic pluralism and the rights of women. We can then assess whether Muslim immigration should begin again," he said. Rev Nile is leading 21 Christian Democratic Party candidates contesting seats in the NSW Legislative Council at the March 24 state election. Fifty-three Christian Democratic Party candidates are also running in Legislative Assembly electorates across the state. Rev Nile said there are many reasons why it's appropriate for NSW voters to make a statement on a federal issue as important as immigration. He said NSW has the benefit of a big share of Australia's Middle Eastern Christians, and they're rightly alarmed at the rapid growth in NSW of Islamic concentrations, where the English language is disregarded and Australian family values are unknown or despised.

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Anti-Islam Conference

2005-03-08

FEDERAL Health Minister Tony Abbott has been listed to appear as the main speaker at an anti-Islamic Christian conference in May. The conference's theme is how Islam is destroying Australia's Christian values. The Daily Telegraph has learned that the minister, who is pushing a Christian-backed anti-abortion agenda, is listed as the keynote speaker at the fundamentalist gathering. His topics are to include Christian values and abortion. The Annual Festival of Light Conference is a coalition of Christian groups from around the country convened by NSW Upper House MP the Reverend Fred Nile. While Mr Abbott is yet to officially confirm his attendance, he is being promoted in advertising literature. The promotional brochure, which was posted out inside issues of the newsletter Family News, warned that only Christians were allowed to attend the conference "because of the subject matter". "The conference, because of the subject matter, is restricted to Christians who attend a Christian church," said the brochure, signed by Mr Nile. "All Christians are welcome who wish to be informed about the Daniel Scot v Islam court case, Islam, Humanism and Paganism, which are seeking to undermine our Christian heritage. We will also examine our relationship to Israel as God's chosen people." NSW Democrats MP Arthur Chesterfield Evans said it showed poor lack of judgment by the minister. "There should be a separation of church and state," said Mr Chesterfield Evans. "This should be the basis of a modern secular state. [Mr Abbott] should represent Australians without fear or favour ... it is worrying he is attending a forum which would appear to be Christian fundamentalism attacking other religions." Organisers of the Festival of Light said Mr Abbott had not confirmed his availability but had made a commitment to try to attend. Mr Abbott, who was recently reunited with his son, whom he gave up for adoption when Mr Abbot was 19, is listed as the guest speaker at the May 28 conference at the Southern Cross Bible College at Chester Hill.

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