October 2018

14
AUSTRALIAN
Senator Mehreen Faruqi
The New Voice In Australian Parliament
By Princess Lakshman
(Sister Iqra)
Gold Coast hosts
Australian International
Quran Competition
Amidst the racially
discriminating voices of
senators such as Pauline
Hanson and Fraser Anning
rises a brand new voice - that of Greens
Senator, Dr Mehreen Saeed Faruqi,
Australia’s first female Muslim senator.
Senator Faruqi was born in Lahore,
Pakistan and arrived in Australia in 1992.
As a qualified civil and environmental
engineer, Dr Faruqi has worked
extensively on climate change and
environmental protection.
In an interview with SBS, Senator Faruqi
said that living and experiencing the
cultural evolution of Australia since 1992
and observing the political approach
towards migrants in Australia has
equipped her to tackle the obvious gaps
that exist in providing the appropriate
support systems required for migrants
in Australia. Dr Faruqii said, “We see
a lot of push from Liberal-National
government to have less support from
migrants. There have been a lot of cuts,
citizenship issues, high level English test,
so things have changed a lot. Migrants
who come to Australia are looking for a
better chance in life but they contribute
so much to the country. As politicians
we must see how they are helping
Australia.”
Senator Faruqi expressed her concerns
about the position of migrant women
in Australia saying why she joined the
Australian politics was because, “One
of my missions was to raise the voice
of women like me, raise the voice of
migrant women and women of colour so
it could be part of the political system.”
Breaking the stereotypical perception of
how a Muslim woman should be, Senator
Faruqi has made Australian politicians
sit up and listen as she gave her recent
maiden speech in the parliament. She is
prepared to continue her mission to be
the voice of not only Australian migrants
but also the Australian Indigenous
people.
QLD
Last month the Gold Coast
Mosque organised and held
the Australian International
Quran Competition.
The entire event was broadcast live
by the Al Jazeera network over the
internet.
The judges:
1. Sheikh Mohamed Ali Abdelkaget:
(Imam of the Gold Coast Mosque)
2. Sheikh Akram Buksh (Imam of Slacks
Creek Mosque)
3. Sheikh Sayed Abdelalim (Imam of
Islamic House in Sydney)
4. Sheikh Ahmed Nafaa (Imam of Kuraby
Mosque)
5. Sheikh Bassem Zeini (Imam from
Sydney)
The winners:
1st : Hafiz Fikreth from Brisbane
2nd: Hafiz Ali Sehab from Sydney
3rd: Hafiz Zayan Nadeem Mohamed from
Brisbane
The Gold Spice Experience
100
different herbs,
spices and marinates
Available
in most markets
9/15 Nathan Drive Campbellfield, Vic - 3061
Phone: (03) 9308 6096
Mobile: 0432 498 478
Web: www.goldspices.com.au
Email: info@goldspices.com.au
الوسط ¿ 94 صفَ‏ ر 1440 ه ¿ تشرين األول AL WASAT 94 ¿ Safar 1440 ¿ October 2018