RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY ISLAM IN AUSTRALIA Faiza El-Higzi

History  Islam presence in australia predates European settlement – 16 century indonesian divers the Makkasans  Afghan Cameleers from ( 8 muslims arrived in Melbourne for the Burke and Wills expedition, the next group in 1866 were from Rajasthan and Baluchistan in south Australia for the Thomas Elder expedition

History  The first mosque was built in 1861 at Maree SA  The Great Mosque of Adelaide was built in 1866  1870 muslim Malay divers were recruited for pearling  Early 20 century Muslims of European descent were allowed to enter under the White Australia Policy

History  Albanian Muslims migrated to Austarlai and built the first mosque in Victoria – Shepparton in 1960 and the first mosque in Melbourne in 1966  The first religious tension took place in 1915 Battle of Broken Hill – 2 afghan killed 4 Australians in allegiance with the Ottoman Empire. They were killed by the police

Migration  After WWII Muslims from Bosnia and Herzegovina were accepted under Australia migration policy aiming for population growth and economic development  Between 1967 and 1971 Turkish arrived – around under an agreement with Turkey

Multiculturalism  In the 1970 Australia multicultural policy enabled other groups to arrive eg Lebanese  Lebanese displaced by the civil war came to Australia to form the largest group of Muslims  By the beginning of the 21 century Muslims from more than 60 countries settled in Australia

Demographics  2011 ABS census more than Muslims live in Australia – 2.2 percent  NSW largest groups 50 percent followed by Victoria 33 percent WA 7 percent Queensland 5 percent SA 3 percent and ACT 1 percent Tasmania and NT both 0.33 percent  Muslims come from Lebanon, Turkey, Afghanistan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iraq, Bangladesh, Iran, Fiji, Somalia

Muslims in Australia  Majority of Muslims are Sunni  Smaller groups of Shia, Ahmadiyya and Indiginious Australians

Islam the Religion Basis of Belief  Monotheism  Belief in all Prophets and Messengers  Belief in fate and in a day of judgment

Islam the Religion Basis of worship  Proclamation of faith  Prayer daily five times  Giving of charity  Fasting the month of Ramadan  Pilgrimage

Organizations  Federation of Islamic Councils of Australia  Looks after religious affairs including mosques, schools, halal certification  Community groups focusing on women, social issues

Contemporary Issues  Trade links with the Middle East and Indian sub continent  International students from Indonesia, Malaysia Pakistan and Bangladesh  CONCERNS  September 11 attacks, Bali bombing, Cronulla riots  Report by HREOC 2004 Muslim Australians felt media was critical and unfair

Concerns  Social issues such unemployment  Average wages lower than national average  5 percent of Muslims earn more $1000 a week compared to 11 percent  Women rights and perceived gender equality  Religious preaching  Extremism among youth. Currently ISIL

Concerns  Issues of identity as family values and community values conflict  Community leaders  Access to internet preaching  Lack of understanding of religion

Muslim Refugees  Muslims arrived as refugees in the mid 1970  Lebanon civil war  Iranian Revolution  First Gulf war – Iraqis  Bosnian Serb Conflict  War on Terror – Iraqis, Afghanis, Iranians  Sudan civil war – small numbers  Somali civil war

Better Future Instruments available to us in a secular society  Universal Declaration of Human Rights  Refugees Convention and Protocol  Convention of the Child  Convention against Torture  Convention Violence against Women