Islamic organisations in Australia

Islamic organisations in Australia include a wide range of groups and associations run and supported by the Islamic community in Australia. Organisations include major community councils, local organisations, mosques and schools. Most Australian Muslims are Sunni, with Shia then Sufi and Ahmadiyya as minorities.^[1]

Australian Muslim, Irfan Yusuf says that Western Muslim organisations, including those in Australia, are predominantly Sunni.^[2] All of the Islamic organisations listed below, other than the Darulfatwa - Islamic High Council of Australia, are affiliated with the Sunni denomination.

Major organisations

Australian Federation of Islamic Councils

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) (also known as Muslims Australia) was founded in 1964 as an umbrella group for various Islamic groups and councils, and is Australia's most important Islamic organisation. The AFIC sees its role to represent Islam and Muslims of Australia to the Australian government and other bodies nationally and internationally. AFIC coordinates and provides resources for activities of its State Islamic Councils and member Islamic societies.

The AFIC has come under scrutiny under claims of mismanagement of Islamic schools run by the organisation. Claims range from financial impropriety, unfair dismissals of staff, gender discrimination and the hiring of teachers with fundamentalist or extremist backgrounds.^[3]

Lebanese Muslim Association

The Lebanese Muslim Association is an Australian non-profit welfare organisation based in Lakemba, a south-western suburb of Sydney. The Association was founded in the early 1960s as a community project to service the social, religious, recreational and educational needs of local Muslims. The group operates the Lakemba Mosque which has 5,000 members.

Australian National Imams Council

The Australian National Imams Council was formed in 2006 during a meeting of more than 80 imams which had gathered to discuss the crisis created by comments made by Taj El-Din Hilaly.^[4]

Minor groups and associations

Crescents of Brisbane

Crescents of Brisbane

Crescents of Brisbane was formed in 2004 as a community-based organisation promoting healthy lifestyle through sport, entertainment, education and culture, among the Muslim community in Queensland.^[5]They publish an e-newsletter on their website called "Crescent Community News" every Friday/Saturday that includes general news about the Muslim community, as well as local events and activities. ^[6]

Darulfatwa – Islamic High Council of Australia

Darulfatwa - Islamic High Council of Australia was established in 2004 as an, "independent and moderate, symbol of hope for Australian Sunni Muslims". It is also known as Darul-Fatwa and provides fatwas. It is based in Bankstown, NSW^[7]

Islamic Community Milli Görüş Australia

Islamic Community Milli Görüş Australia (ICMG) is an Islamic community which comprehensively organises the religious lives of Muslims. The ICMG not only aims at maintaining the Islamic teachings, proclaiming the Islamic creed and communicating religious duties resulting from that proclamation. Other than that the ICMG addresses all issues regarding Muslims while at the same time representing their interests. It is the goal of the ICMG to improve the living circumstances of Muslims as well as to provide for their fundamental rights.

Islamic Friendship Association of Australia

The Islamic Friendship Association of Australia (IFAA) is an organisation founded by Keysar Trad, a former director of the Lebanese Muslim Association.^[8]

Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia

The Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia (IISNA) is an independent Islamic organisation based in Broadmeadows, Victoria.

Islamic Museum of Australia

The Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA) is a not-for-profit foundation^[9] noted for establishing the first Islamic Museum in Australia. The museum showcases the artistic heritage and historical contributions of Australian Muslims and those from abroad through the display of artwork and historical artefacts.^[10]

Islamic Research and Educational Academy

The Islamic Research and Educational Academy (IREA) is an Islamic dawah organisation based in Hoppers Crossing, Victoria.

Islamic Women's Welfare Council

The Islamic Women's Welfare Council of Victoria (IWWC) is a community welfare organisation supporting Islamic women in Victoria. Founded in 1991, the group's director is Joumanah El Matrah. In 2011, the group was renamed to the Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights (AMWCHR).^[11][12]

Muslim Aid Australia

Muslim Aid Australia (MAA) is as an Australian-based relief organisation whose main work is humanitarian relief in Muslim countries.^[13] Founded in 1989,^[14] the organisation is a branch of Muslim Aid UK.^[15] The group has raised funds from Australians for the purpose of assisting victims of the 2004 tsunami in South East Asia.^[16] The group has been criticised for not providing enough transparency in how funds were distributed.^[16]

Muslim Business Network

The Muslim Business Network (MBN) was established in 2006 with the aim of creating a network for Muslim businesspersons and to advance the business interests of Muslims.^[17] The group's presidents include Farouk Adam^[18] and Mahomed Khatree.^[19]

Muslim Community Reference Group

The Muslim Community Reference Group was an advisory body to the Australian federal government, set up by the Howard Government, from mid-2005 to mid-2006.

Muslim Women's Association

The Muslim Women's Association (MWA) was formed in 1983. The executive director is Maha Abdo.^[8] The group's president is Joumana Harris.^[20] The group initially included many women activists from Lebanon but women from Turkey, Singapore, Egypt and other Muslim countries participated as well. The group received support of the Sheik Taj El Din Hilaly. The group supports women who suffer domestic violence or other forms of abuse at home. The MWA has also established child care centres in local communities. The group supports the Islamic women's magazine Reflections.^[8] According to the group's 2013 annual report, the yearly budget for the organisation is approximately $950,000 (AUD).^[20]

National Zakat Foundation

The National Zakat Foundation is one of a number of Australian Islamic organisations established to distribute Zakat to each of the eight categories of needy Muslims.^[21]

Radical Islamic groups

A number of Australians, from these organisations, have been identified as "succeeding in radicalising our youth" which in some instances has in resulted in people joining IS.^[22][23]

Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association

The Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association of Australia (ASWJA) was founded by Melbourne sheik Mohammed Omran.^[24] Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah is a generic term referring to Sunni Islam. Those who adopt it as organisational name, do so as adherents of the Wahabi movement.^[25]

Global Islamic Youth Centre

The Global Islamic Youth Centre is an organisation founded by Feiz Mohammad in Liverpool, Sydney. It is linked to the ASWJA.^[26] Local residents have opposed the group on the premise that it would seek to spread a fundamentalist form of Islam.^[27] Opposition education spokesman Andrew Stoner said the NSW government must closely watch the school and what it may teach, to ensure that it would not teach the "extremist views" and "messages of hate" to young school children.^[28]

Hizb ut-Tahrir

The Hizb ut-Tahrir is a radical Muslim group operating in Australia. The group adheres to a form of Islamic fundamentalism and has been reported calling for Australian Muslims to reject democracy^[29] and not to co-operate with Australian law enforcement officers.^[30] A speaker associated with the group was criticised for his views on honour killings, leading to a cancellation of one of his talks.^[31] An Australian Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman has, "threatened to make Jews pay with blood".^[32] The group has come under scrutiny of the Australian government although no legal action has been taken against it.^[33][34] Columnist, Janet Albrechtsen says, "the young men from Hizb ut-Tahrir are a slippery bunch. They dance around our laws. So let's expose, debate, confront every one of their utterances instead of ignoring them".^[35]

Islamic Youth Movement

The Islamic Youth Movement is an offshoot group of the ASWJA.^[36] The group was raided by the ASIO following 11 September 2001.^[8] The group runs the Sydney-based online publication of Nida'ul Islam, "The Call of Islam."^[8] The publication is noted for releasing a number of interviews with persons associated with Islamic terror groups, including al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden. The group's publication has been criticised for publishing inflammatory material condemning the West, Christianity and Judaism.^[37]

Islamic militant groups

"Ahmed Y" group

An Algerian man, known as "Ahmed Y," arrived in Australia in the late 1980s. Ahmed established a small militant group in Australia in 2001 and supported the idea of establishing an Islamic State in Australia and the use of violence against Australians.^[38]:14

Benbrika group (Melbourne)

A group led by Algerian cleric Abdul Nacer Benbrika in Melbourne was active until Australian police arrested its members in 2005.^[39]

Cheikho group (Sydney)

A group led by Khaled Cheikho was active in Sydney until the Australian police arrested its members in 2005 under Operation Pendennis.^[40]

Lashkar-e-Taiba

The Lashkar-e-Taiba, a proscribed terrorist organisation operating in India and Pakistan, set up a terror cell in Australia.^[41][42] French convert to Islam, Willie Brigitte, accused of planning an attack in Australia, was trained by Lashkar-e-taiba.^[43]

Mantiqi 4 (Jemaah Islamiah)

A short-lived terror cell, known as Mantiqi 4, existed in Australia for several years. The group was sponsored by Jemaah Islamiah (JI), a terrorist group known for their attacks in Indonesia, and was established by Abdul Rahim Ayub, a member of Jemaah Islamiah.^[44][45]:111 Ayub resided in Perth during the late 1990s all while being an active JI member, travelling and attending the group's leadership conferences in Indonesia.^[46] In contrast to the Jemaah Islamiah's other cells in Southeast Asia, the Mantiqi 4 cell was less of a focus for the organisation.^[47]:38 The activities of the Australian branch of JI included fundraising among the local Indonesian community in Australia. Jemaah Islamiah leadership also expressed intent on identifying targets in Australia to be attacked by Al Qaeda.^[47]:128

Al-Shabaab

The Al-Shabaab terror group is believed to have been behind the Holsworthy Barracks terror plot.^{[48][49][50][51]}

Syrian syndicate

A group referred to as the "Syrian syndicate" has been investigated for sending Australian Muslims to fight in the Syrian Civil War. Australian Counterterrorism Police have investigated Wassim Fayad in connection to an attempt to ram an ATM during the 2011 Auburn riots. It is suspected that the funds were to be used in connection to local efforts of involvement in the Syrian conflict.^[52]

Outlawed terrorist organisations

As at January 2015, there were 20 organisations designated and banned, by a court or a government department, for active involvement in terrorism. All but one of those organisations are Islamist. Identification of terrorist organisations may result from a prosecution for a terrorist offence, or from a listing determined by the Attorney-General of Australia.^[53]

Mosques

A listing of the 384 Australian Mosques, Masjids and Musallahs is maintained by Islamiaonline.^[54]

Schools

Islamic schools in Australia are predominantly located in New South Wales and Victoria.

New South Wales

• The Islamic Sciences and Research Academy of Australia (ISRA), University and School
• Al Amanah College
• Al Kauthar Institute
• Al-Faisal College
• Unity Grammar College
• Al-Noori Muslim Primary School
• Qibla College
• Al Zahrah College
• Arkana College
• Australian Islamic College of Sydney (formally King Abdul Aziz College)
• Irfan College of Australia
• King Abdul Aziz School
• Malek Fahd Islamic School
• Noor Al Houda Islamic College
• Rissalah College
• Sule College

Victoria

• Al Siraat College
• Australian International Academy (formerly King Khalid Islamic College)
• Darul Ulum College
• East Preston Islamic College
• Ilim College of Australia
• Minaret College
• Werribee Islamic College
• Isik College

Queensland

• Islamic College of Brisbane
• Australian International Islamic College

South Australia

• Islamic College of South Australia

Western Australia

• Langford Islamic College
• Australian Islamic College
• Al-Hidayah Islamic School

See also

• Islam in Australia
• Islamic schools and branches
• Education in Australia
• Religion in Australia

References

External links

• Directory of Islamic organisations in Australia