Islam In Brisbane Booklet

As well as state governments and federal governments forming groups to work with Muslim leaders, and publishing supportive statements about Islam, even local governments are getting in on the Act.

Many Councils have established 'Multi-faith Networks' to bring all religions together...

This is a response to the booklet published under the federal 'Living in harmony' program. See our website at http://www.saltshakers.org.au/html/P/302/B/308/

The Brisbane City Council has published a booklet titled 'Islam in Brisbane' and posted it on their website. It was actually published in 2004 but has recently been discussed and posted at other places on the web. It presents an apologetic FOR Islam...

Action Needed!

Following the description and links for the 12 page booklet, I have asked for ACTION - this has been initiated by Festival of Light who met with the Lord Mayor this week.
Your letters and support would be of GREAT assistance in following up this issue with the Lord Mayor.

The Booklet

The booklet is posted on the BCC website at http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:STANDARD::pc=PC_1946

The website says:

Islam in Brisbane publication   
The Islam in Brisbane publication was developed in consultation with the Brisbane’s Muslim Community. It aims to help Muslims feel welcome in Brisbane and to ensure the wider community is informed about Islam and Muslim ways of life.

The publication includes profiles of Muslims living in Australia, definitions on Sunni and Shia Islam and a section on dispelling myths surrounding Islam.

The need for such a publication was identified during extensive community consultation as part of the Hand-in-Hand Anti-Racism project in 2002.

Feedback from representatives of Muslim and non-Muslim communities has indicated a great demand for impartial information. Although there have been fact sheets about Islam produced in various parts of Australia, none of them have focused on Brisbane.
The publication promotes:

Brisbane City Council as a progressive council, embracing diversity as adding value to Brisbane's social, cultural, political and economic life cultural and religious tolerance informed discussion about the cultural make-up of Brisbane benefits of productive diversity in Brisbane Islam in Brisbane is a 12 page coloured brochure distributed to ward offices, community centres and public services. The file has been broken up into sections for easier download.

Islam in Brisbane coversheet and index (219kb)
Islam in Brisbane pages 1-7 (572kb)
Islam in Brisbane pages 8-14 (544kb)

The document is also posted on this Brisbane Refugee Coalition website see http://www.barc.org.au/cms/index.php?module=announce&ANN_user_op=view&ANN_ id=1041

And also posted on the 'Multicultural Australia website at http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/history/timeline.php?myOption=This+ Generation&currentRecord=2

Action

Festival of Light has recently analysed the publication and asked the Brisbane City Council to remove the document. They prepared an 'Open Letter' and presented it to the Council this week - over 700 Open Letters were presented.
The Open Letter is attached.

If you would like to send a letter to the Brisbane Council that would be very helpful... either send the Open letter plus a covering letter OR write in your own words...

Write to Lord Mayor Lord Mayor Campbell Newman

Online letter to Council - https://obonline.ourbrisbane.com/services/startOnlineRequest.do

Or email the Lord Mayor at http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:LMEMAIL:1738649264:pc=PC_1662
Post (needed if sending the Open Letter!) - Office of the Lord Mayor, GPO Box 2287, Brisbane, Qld 4001

This is the letter sent out by FOL.

Dear Friends,
You may have come across a booklet in Queensland libraries called "Islam in Brisbane". It was prepared by the Islamic Council of Queensland and funded by the Brisbane City Council (BCC). The booklet is primarily an apologetic for Islam. It was funded by BCC to "demystify this religion and through this, to lessen the chances of discriminatory or violent acts being perpetrated against Muslim people in Brisbane. It was hoped that this would enable a greater awareness of the tenets of Islam and provide an alternative view to the fundamentalist interpretations that are now more commonly associated with this religion".
The booklet contains statements which Christians find offensive, as the attached letter shows. Approaches to Brisbane City Council to have the booklet emended or withdrawn have been refused. We also asked them to do produce similar booklets for Christianity and other religions to lessen the possibility of similar misunderstandings from the Muslim community. This was also refused, on the grounds that "a significant
amount of easily accessible information about Christianity and the Christian way of life" already exists. One would have thought that was the case for Islam also.

I ask that you might consider signing the letter and returning it to us, thus adding your weight to the need for changes to this inappropriate document. Those outside Brisbane can also write, as the booklet is available on the internet, and may even be in all state libraries.

All for Jesus,
Geoffrey Bullock
Queensland State officer
Festival of Light Australia
07 4687 7717