Grievance Debate

Amadiyya Muslim Community

Ms COOK (Fisher) (15:08): I rise today to celebrate some fantastic work happening in my community over the past week. The Amadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, fast-growing, international revival movement within Islam. It was founded by His Holiness Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian India in 1889, and it now spans over 207 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions.

The motto of their community is 'Love for all and hatred for none'. Most members are from the subcontinent with others from Africa and the Pacific Islands. The community invests heavily in teaching its youth the true teachings of Islam and to enjoin each other in matters of goodness and piety, refraining from matters of sin and injustice as well as to vie each other in matters of excellence. The association actively participates in various initiatives such as the national tree planting day, Red Cross door knock appeal, blood donations and feeding the hungry.

Every year, thousands of Amadiyya Muslim men and women, young and old, enthusiastically take part in clean-up activities in their neighbourhoods, and also generously donate to their organisation. They have some of the highest volunteer numbers in the country. Clean Up Australia inspires and empowers communities to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment. Since its first day in 1989, Australians have devoted more than 27.2 million hours towards the environment through Clean Up Australia Day, and collected over 288,650 tonnes of rubbish.

The Amadiyya Muslim Association has been taking part in Clean Up Australia Day since soon after its inception in Australia in 1989. This year, they successfully participated in clean-up activities in all eight states having the most volunteers and financial donations with over 1,500 volunteers, and around $4,000 in donations.

Amadiyya state headquarters is Mahmood Mosque, Beverley, and they started their clean-up activities around on Tapleys Hill Road, near the airport. Their community have now adopted additional sites including Panalatinga Road at Woodcroft, and last Sunday they had their large group of volunteers, which I supported. This last week there were 268 registered volunteers in all of their projects, including youth, children and the elderly. Their Adelaide chapter also donated $687, and during clean up collected 70 bags of rubbish. They were very large and, indeed, very full bags of rubbish.

Working with this community, I was struck by their commitment to being positive role models to not only their own children, but two other children in their community. They are committed to an inclusive, respectful and peaceful community. I had some great conversations with a few of the local participants, and really got a good understanding of what drives them. I was very impressed.

By coincidence, on Monday night I then attended our local citizenship ceremony where 101 new citizens were being welcomed in the City of Onkaparinga. I noticed an old friend of mine, Dr Munawar Rana, sitting in the front row. I have worked many long shifts in the Flinders Medical Centre Intensive Care Unit with Dr Rana, as well as flying retrieval missions with some extremely sick patients. I remember being so confident in his skills as a trainee anaesthetist at that particular point, and I know together we saved lives; and that ensures a life bond—one that is long-lasting.

Dr Rana is the SA President of the Amadiyya Muslim Association. I had not seen him for perhaps eight years and, just by chance, bumping into him the day after joining his association for Clean Up Australia Day was uncanny. Dr Rana's son, Khizar—and I apologise for the pronunciation, if that is incorrect—was the recipient of a perfect ATAR score in year 12 last year. He had been invited to speak as a youth leader to the new citizens in the City of Onkaparinga.

Khizar's speech explained much to me about Dr Rana's journey to Australia which, I am sure, is no different from many members of the Amadiyya Association, and explains their compassion as well as their determination. With four children, he and his wife came to Australia as refugees from Pakistan. As Amadiyya Muslims, they had faced state-sponsored religious persecution in Pakistan, the constitution of which restricts them from identifying themselves as Muslims and from practising their religion in any manner.

Dr Rana spent time in gaol for praying, and his father also spent time in gaol for saying As-salamu alaykum—and again I apologise for the pronunciation—which is a simple expression which means: 'Peace be upon you'. Basic rights of living were withheld from them. Open hate speeches and life threats were in abundance, so they left and came for a better life, and, along with many inspiring immigrants to this country, delivered pizzas and drove taxis while they studied and achieved excellence in the studies of medicine, and I thank you all for what you are doing for our community today.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Before I call the next speaker, I must say I actually spend a lot of time at Panalatinga Road, Woodcroft, and I noticed it is cleaner. So, well done. Member for Hammond.