MEDIA guide: ISLAM AND MUSLIMS IN AUSTRALIA Published by: Islamic Women’s Welfare Council of Victoria (IWWCV) Contact: 169 Fitzroy St. Fitzroy VIC 3065 (03) 9419 7888 (Telephone) (03) 9419 3002 (Fax) Authors: Asha Bedar Joumanah El Matrah Research and Education Manager Worker Editors: Peter Weineger Maher Mughrabi RMIT Copyright information © 2005 Islamic Women’s Welfare Council of Victoria (IWWCV). This material cannot be reproduced without the expressed permission of the IWWCV. The IWWCV grants to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs a permanent, irrevocable, free, world wide, non-exclusive licence (including a right of sub-licence) to use, reproduce, adapt and exploit the Intellectual Property Rights in Activity Material, and any Existing Material for any Commonwealth purpose. Additional copies: Available on the IWWCV website: www.vicnet.net.au/~iwwcv Media professionals can also obtain hardcopies from the IWWCV, as available. ISBN: 0-9758204-0-0 This project is proudly supported by the Australian Government’s Living in Harmony initiative. Administered by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, the Living in Harmony initiative aims to promote community harmony. It recognises that, whatever our backgrounds and beliefs, we are united as Australians and want to live in a country that is free of racial intolerance. For more information on the Living in Harmony initiative, visit www.harmony.gov.au. The statements and views expressed in this guide are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Commonwealth, its employees, officers and agency. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................. 3 FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 THE ISLAMIC WOMEN’S WELFARE COUNCIL OF VICTORIA............................................................ 5 ABOUT THE ROYAL MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (RMIT)..................................... 6 ABOUT THIS GUIDE ......................................................................................................................................... 7 SECTION 1: THE BASICS OF FAITH – GENERAL BELIEFS AND PRACTICES .................................. 8 1.1 ISLAM ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 PROPHETHOOD.............................................................................................................................................. 9 1.3 THE QUR’AN............................................................................................................................................... 10 1.4 THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM ....................................................................................................................... 11 1.5 IMAMS ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 1.6 EVENTS AND FESTIVALS.............................................................................................................................. 14 1.7 HALAL AND HARAM FOOD .......................................................................................................................... 15 1.8 FINANCE ..................................................................................................................................................... 16 SECTION 2: APPLICATION OF FAITH – SOURCES OF DIVERSITY AND DEBATE........................ 17 2.1 SECTS ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 2.2 SUFIS .......................................................................................................................................................... 18 2.3 HADITH AND SUNNA................................................................................................................................... 18 2.4 REASONED INTERPRETATION, LITERALISM AND IMITATION ........................................................................ 19 2.5 SHARIA ....................................................................................................................................................... 20 2.6 SHARIA LAW AND CONTROVERSY ............................................................................................................... 22 Apostasy ...................................................................................................................................................... 22 Jihad............................................................................................................................................................ 23 Unlawful sexual conduct............................................................................................................................. 25 Polygamy..................................................................................................................................................... 26 2.7 ISLAM AND THE STATE: ISLAMISATION ....................................................................................................... 27 SECTION 3: ISLAM AND WOMEN............................................................................................................... 29 3.1 RIGHTS AWARDED TO WOMEN IN ISLAM ..................................................................................................... 29 Respect and dignity ..................................................................................................................................... 29 Marriage rights........................................................................................................................................... 29 Parenting rights .......................................................................................................................................... 30 Divorce rights ............................................................................................................................................. 30 Child custody rights .................................................................................................................................... 31 Education .................................................................................................................................................... 31 Economic rights .......................................................................................................................................... 32 Political rights ............................................................................................................................................ 32 3.2 ISLAMIC FEMINISM...................................................................................................................................... 33 3.3 MUSLIM WOMEN’S ISSUES .......................................................................................................................... 35 Domestic and sexual violence ..................................................................................................................... 35 Female genital mutilation or genital cutting............................................................................................... 36 Honour killing............................................................................................................................................. 37 Child/forced marriage................................................................................................................................. 38 3.4 MODESTY AND SEGREGATION..................................................................................................................... 40 SECTION 4: MUSLIMS IN AUSTRALIA ...................................................................................................... 43 4.1 OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................................. 43 4.2 STATE SNAPSHOTS ...................................................................................................................................... 44 New South Wales......................................................................................................................................... 44 Victoria ....................................................................................................................................................... 45 1 Western Australia........................................................................................................................................ 45 Queensland ................................................................................................................................................. 46 South Australia............................................................................................................................................ 46 Tasmania..................................................................................................................................................... 47 Canberra....................................................................................................................................................