Assaults on Muslims in Australia in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks have brought the vexed issue of identity in a multicultural society to the fore. Being Muslim in Australia has not... Show moreAssaults on Muslims in Australia in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks have brought the vexed issue of identity in a multicultural society to the fore. Being Muslim in Australia has not been easy, but before the recent events there was a sense among Australian Muslims that the two objects of loyalty could stand side by side. This was clearly evident among a growing number of Australian-born Muslims who knew no other homeland than Australia. That belief is now placed under enormous strain as racist attacks on Mosques and Islamic schools question the 'Australianness' of Muslims. Show less
The debates surrounding the theory and practice of citizenship have gained increased prominence in the last decade. They have been partially prompted by an increasing awareness of the role played... Show moreThe debates surrounding the theory and practice of citizenship have gained increased prominence in the last decade. They have been partially prompted by an increasing awareness of the role played by the civil society and its relationship to state apparatus. But the emergence of cross-border migration as a major feature of the post-Cold War era has also aided this phenomenon. Show less
Images of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Centre point Tower, and Darling Harbour flank the mosques of Mecca and Medina on this greeting card designed and printed in Australia. This card... Show moreImages of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Centre point Tower, and Darling Harbour flank the mosques of Mecca and Medina on this greeting card designed and printed in Australia. This card reflects on the theological and cultural struggles experienced by Australian Muslims since their period of mass migration to Australia in the 1970s, particularly among the most influential of Australia’s Muslims: the migrants and the Australian born and bred generation. The experiences of both these groups may be understood through a remark made in a recent article published in Salam, the official magazine of the Federation of Australian Muslim students and Youth (FAMSY): ‘It is our destiny that we found ourselves here (Australia). However, the rest is a test.’ 1 Destiny is a fundamental pillar of the Islamic faith. However, as with the practice of Islam, the ways in which destiny is perceived differs between particular places, periods, cultures and peoples. How have members of the Australian Muslim population conceptualized their destiny? Where will it lead them? Show less
