Silma Ihram, noted Muslim educator and much respected campaigner for justice for her Islamic school, offers the following comments on the Iktimal Hage-Ali saga: In relation to the incredible defense of Iktimal, I think we have to get our priorities a little straight and in perspective: a) Yes, she is a ‘representative’ of youth, in...Read More

The conference of ex-KKK leaders, trucker’s daughters, contrarian Jews, and innocent Canadian professors with tendencies towards career self-harm recently convened by the Iranian state to “discuss” the supposedly fake Holocaust has been cast by some as striking a blow for “freedom of speech”. (Of course, people promising dissenting views were banned from attending; even Iranian...Read More

The Lebanese community, particularly in Sydney, are frequently singled out for criticism for all sorts of anti-social behaviour. At various times, commentators and politicians have accused the community of an indifference to gang rape, car rebirthing, drug dealing, gang violence, arms dealing, and so on. The intimation in much of this commentary has been that...Read More

Iktimal Hage-Ali, an Alawi (or Nusayriyya as they are often termed in the classical Islamic texts) member of the now defunct Muslim Community Reference Group (MCRG), has been nominated as Young Australian of the Year. After being nominated for the award in recognition of her supposed contributions to relations between Muslims and non-Muslims, she drank...Read More