AN Islamic community leader has called on people to abide by the law.
Imam Abdullah Hawarri made the call at a multifaith interfaith pre-Ramadan conference in Newport on Thursday.
It was organised by the Australian Arabic Women’s Community Group on the eve of the Muslim holy month of fasting.
Mr Hawarri said a Muslim’s duties included “abiding by the laws of the country” and “participating in the election process”.
“In Islam, all citizens of any country are equal before the law and share the same rights and duties,” he said. “Each citizen is allowed to enjoy his rights and everyone has to respect his freedom to utilise such rights.
“However, practising one’s rights should never be an excuse to cause any sort of harm to others.
“The citizen is any person who belongs to a certain country and considers it his home and, therefore, he is expected to participate in the construction of this country and protect its borders and security if needed.”
Mr Hawarri stressed everyone was equal regardless of attributes like religion, colour, country or gender.
“I will end by a saying of the prophet: ‘You do not become a believer until you wish for your fellow brother what you wish for yourself’.”
Hobsons Bay’s Inspector Bill Mathers said he was “very humbled” after hearing the speakers, including Victorian Multicultural Commissioner Chin Tan, who was born in Malaysia to Chinese parents.
Mr Tan noted a 40percent national growth in Islam, with the number of Muslims now more than 150,000 in Victoria in the last Census.
He said the conference was about “promoting unity in our diversity”.
-Goya Dmytryshchak
