Thu, 28th Mar, 2024 / 18 Ramadan 1445
الخميس ٢٨ , مارس , ٢٠٢٤ / 18 رَمَضَان 1445
Thu, 28th Mar, 2024 /
18 Ramadan, 1445
الخميس ٢٨ , مارس , ٢٠٢٤ / 18 رَمَضَان , 1445

Darulfatwa, the Islamic High Council of Australia, successfully held a Multicultural Eid festival at Paul Keating Park on Sunday the 28th of October, to celebrate the special occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. Thousands of people from different ethnic backgrounds and communities attended the huge celebration with delight and happiness.

The festival united the Australian Community under the banner of moderation and harmony. The crowd enjoyed the spectacular live stage performances of the Islamic Charity Projects Association Band, who lit up the stage with a spectacular performance of chants. The festival goers enjoyed the variety of food, sweet and clothing stalls at the festival. The children had fun in the theme park erected by the organizers, and other children’s activities prepared by the ICPA’s Bankstown 5th Scouts group.

Present at the festival was the president of the Islamic Charity Projects Association, Dr. Ghayath Al-Shelh, who gave a speech about the importance of bringing the diverse Muslim community together. 

 A Darulfatwa board member and imam, Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Shafie, also gave a speech and  congratulated the Muslim community on the blessed occasion of Eid ul-Adha and highlighted that an Arab is not superior to a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab to an Arab, except by their level of piety and good deeds.Also, after congratulating the Muslim community on Eid, the representative of

 

NSW Premier Mr Barry O’Farrell, Mr Glen Brookes MP for East Hills reflected on the image of togetherness in the crowd. He said:  “The Islamic charity projects association deserves special praise for its outstanding works since it started as an incorporated organization in 1991 and even earlier. The NSW government appreciates the association’s continued stance for education and awareness against all forms of terrorist actions, which are harmful to our society.

“I understand that the association is interested in advocating its goals through restraint and understanding…and that is highly commendable. On behalf of the premier of NSW, on behalf of Mr. Victor Dominello Minister of Citizenship and Community, and the Liberal Government of NSW, I thank the Islamic Charity Projects Association for its excellent work in the community”.

 Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Western Sydney, MP for Blacktown, Mr John Robertson said:Events like this are significant and very important because they send a very powerful message to the rest of the community about our great state and our great nation and I’m reminded by the words that sheikh Ibrahim gave to us about harmony and tolerance, two absolutely vital parts of the strength of our multiculturalism here in Australia. “Events like this reach out to the wider community, strengthen our community and strengthen our multiculturalism. “They send a message to those who seek to tear down our multiculturalism, that they themselves are the ones who seek to tear down Australia and its culture, because the story of Australia is one of immigration. “It’s one of multiculturalism and what defines modern Australia in culture is multiculturalism. It is events like this and to those around the world who continue to say multiculturalism is failure, I say to them look at Australia, look at what we do here and how we embrace each other’s culture and how we make that a part of our culture and anyone and all of us have a responsibility that when we hear people talk down multiculturalism here.

Shadow Minister for Volunteering and Youth MP for Bankstown Ms. Tania Mihailuk, in her speech said:  “I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge a number of people here today, in particular who have helped to play a huge role in coordinating this festival here today, but it also is the work that they undertake throughout the year in supporting our Muslim friends throughout Bankstown, throughout Sydney and Australia. “I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge Darulfatwa, the Islamic High Council of Australia, in particular sheikh Ibrahim Al Shafie and sheikh Bilal Homaysi and all our other religious leaders here today and of course Dr Ghayath El-Shelh, the president of the Islamic Charity Projects Association, and remind all our friends here today of the wonderful work the ICPA do throughout the year,  and they have worked now for more than 20 years in becoming one of the most significant Islamic organizations in Australia, providing a great deal of support to our Muslim community but also making sure that our Muslim youth become great leaders and great citizens.

“Also, The Muslim Community Radio 2MFM and Mr Muhammad El-Dana from Al Amanah College and the wonderful work the college does as well and Ziad Daoud who is the coordinator for the Sydney Eid festival and also the leaders of the Bankstown 5th Scout group. Congratulations to all of you again on coordinating a wonderful festival to celebrate Eid.

   Mayor of Bankstown Mr Carl Asfour, said: “I think it’s important that the Islamic community continues to show its strength by interacting with the wider community and I think today’s example at the heart of Bankstown at Paul Keating park is another example of that, something that I wish to keep going at the Council.” He also mentioned the importance of family ties, and said: “We also need to remember the responsibility of those that are underprivileged, those who are poor and needy. “It’s important that we not only celebrate the day, but we continue to remember what it teaches us every day in our lives.”He also recognized the efforts and role of Dr. Al-Shelh, and the work of the ICPA in integrating with the wider community, including their schools, scouts and sports activities. He said:  “I think it’s important that those three things continue to grow and develop. And it’s very important that we as the community continue to support and encourage such endeavours.

Other prominent community figures who gave a speech included, Seikh Bilal Homaysi,Al Amanah College principal, Mr Muhammad Dana, the principal of Salamah College, Mr. Wissam Saad and the president of Lakemba Islamic Association, Sheikh Khalid Saj, a Muslim Community Radio Executive Mr. Rafiq Hussein, and Liverpool Councillor, Mr Ali karnib.They congratulated the Muslim community on the blessed occasion of Eid, they thanked the event organisers and the Islamic Charity Projects Association for the great efforts made to serve the Australian community.

 Published by the Media office of Darulfatwa. 

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