Key facts
Population: 10 million
Religion: Sunni Islam
Average annual income: $600
Exports: Goats, bananas and fish
Language: Somali
Capital: Mogadishu
Rise of the Islamic Courts Union
On June 5, an Islamic Courts-allied militia defeated the US-backed leaders and took control of Mogadishu.
Since then, they have expanded their control over much of southern Somalia, capturing the key port town of Kismayo.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, executive chairman of the Union of the Islamic Courts Areas under the Islamists' control have enjoyed a return to relative normality.
The Islamic Courts Union has also re-opened the city's international airport and numerous other ports along the Somali coast and invited foreign countries and individuals to invest in the war-shattered country.
The interim administration has been powerless to control fighting in Mogadishu and is not strong enough to move to the capital. It is based in Baidoa.
In the country's north, Somaliland and Puntland, two break-away regions, have established functioning governments and enjoy a measure of security and stability.
Somaliland, with the city of Hargeisa as its capital, declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
Read full article
Map of Africa
World fact book
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
What's the score with all those Poms?
A bigger issue for citizenship is, or ought to be, the anomaly that permits as many as 300,000 British subjects to have all the rights of Australian citizenship without having to sign up. Most famous among this group was Nicky Downer, the wife of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer. She acquired citizenship in 1995, only after Labor exposed the fact that although she was married to the then leader of the opposition, and thus could potentially be the wife of the prime minister, she was not Australian. Moreover, such was her attachment to her British citizenship that she went back to England to have one of her children to ensure that the child was British.
Read all
Read all
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Vandals strike airport prayer room
Jordan Chong
December 20, 2006 - 4:40PM
link
A prayer room used mainly by taxi drivers working at Melbourne Airport was vandalised today, according to police.
Police were unable to confirm the exact nature of the incident, but said in a statement a damaged Koran was found at the scene at about 5.30am.
"Forensic procedures are being used in attempt to identify the offender or offenders," the statement said.
The "non-denominational facility" on Melrose Drive near the airport is used by taxi drivers waiting for available cab ranks at the airport.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
December 20, 2006 - 4:40PM
link
A prayer room used mainly by taxi drivers working at Melbourne Airport was vandalised today, according to police.
Police were unable to confirm the exact nature of the incident, but said in a statement a damaged Koran was found at the scene at about 5.30am.
"Forensic procedures are being used in attempt to identify the offender or offenders," the statement said.
The "non-denominational facility" on Melrose Drive near the airport is used by taxi drivers waiting for available cab ranks at the airport.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Uniting Australia Against Racism
On behalf of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah Association of Australia, we extend our sincere greetings.
Peace be upon you.
We would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to everyone who overcame the high temperatures on the day in support of the “Uniting Australia” sausage sizzle.
The community of Moreland city and greater Melbourne joined together to make a stand against racism, discrimination and sexual assault. There were distinguished members of the community, emergency services, union representatives, community groups, children, parents, grandparents, people, from all walks of life and many more uniting to break down barriers and show solidarity.
The event strengthened existing and built new community relationships, further demonstrating why our wonderful state prides itself on the diversity of cultures, religions and ethnic communities all coexisting harmoniously together.
Guilty or not, Hicks has done his time
Natasha Stott Despoja
December 17, 2006
THE Federal Government has announced it will introduce a citizenship test for migrants — to test their commitment to "Australian values" and principles such as the importance of democracy and the rule of law.
Yet the Government is flouting these very values in relation to someone who is already an Australian citizen — David Hicks
Full Article
December 17, 2006
THE Federal Government has announced it will introduce a citizenship test for migrants — to test their commitment to "Australian values" and principles such as the importance of democracy and the rule of law.
Yet the Government is flouting these very values in relation to someone who is already an Australian citizen — David Hicks
Full Article
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Melbourne Islamic school official bashed
Melbourne Islamic school official bashed
December 11, 2006 - 12:20PM
A board member at the Melbourne Islamic school which recently expelled students for desecrating the Bible has been bashed by a man police fear is armed.
Samir Mohandis, a member of the board of the East Preston Islamic College, said he suffered head injures during the attack by an unknown assailant who entered the school ground about 4.45pm on Friday.
Police said the attacker, a man aged in his 30s, appeared to have been holding a firearm.
The assailant was not known to Mr Mohandis nor did he say anything to indicate the attack may have been racially motivated, a police spokeswoman said.
Mr Mohandis told Southern Cross Broadcasting the man claimed to be Jesus.
He said security at the school would be increased.
"I still have scars to my head," he said.
The attacker is described as being about 180cm tall and of muscular build with a tattoo on his right forearm.
He had straight dark brown hair and at the time of the incident was wearing a grey t-shirt and dark trousers.
Anyone who may have seen the man in the vicinity of the school around the time of the incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Two Muslim students were expelled from East Preston College earlier this month for urinating and spitting on a Bible and then setting it alight.
At the time, the college head, Shaheem Doutie, said the incident was isolated and the school had done all it could to punish the people involved.
Link
December 11, 2006 - 12:20PM
A board member at the Melbourne Islamic school which recently expelled students for desecrating the Bible has been bashed by a man police fear is armed.
Samir Mohandis, a member of the board of the East Preston Islamic College, said he suffered head injures during the attack by an unknown assailant who entered the school ground about 4.45pm on Friday.
Police said the attacker, a man aged in his 30s, appeared to have been holding a firearm.
The assailant was not known to Mr Mohandis nor did he say anything to indicate the attack may have been racially motivated, a police spokeswoman said.
Mr Mohandis told Southern Cross Broadcasting the man claimed to be Jesus.
He said security at the school would be increased.
"I still have scars to my head," he said.
The attacker is described as being about 180cm tall and of muscular build with a tattoo on his right forearm.
He had straight dark brown hair and at the time of the incident was wearing a grey t-shirt and dark trousers.
Anyone who may have seen the man in the vicinity of the school around the time of the incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Two Muslim students were expelled from East Preston College earlier this month for urinating and spitting on a Bible and then setting it alight.
At the time, the college head, Shaheem Doutie, said the incident was isolated and the school had done all it could to punish the people involved.
Link
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Bikini march sparks retort
Mark Dunn
December 07, 2006 12:00am
MUSLIMS, socialists, unions and other groups will conduct a counter-rally against bikini protesters who plan to march on a Brunswick mosque on Saturday.
Police will monitor the demonstrations, with white supremacists claiming to have infiltrated bikini protest ranks, increasing the potential for confrontation.
Organisers of the "Great Australian Bikini March" had planned to march against the Michael St mosque last Saturday, anniversary of the Cronulla riots in NSW.
Though the bikini march has been postponed until Australia Day next year, some supporters say they will still hold the rally on Saturday.
The march has been promoted on white supremacist websites.
In response, the Islamic Information and Support Centre and the Socialist Party Australia are organising a barbecue and mosque open day for Saturday at the same time.
The so-called bikini march, criticised as being insensitive, was designed as a reaction to mufti Sheik Taj el-Din el-Hilaly's comments on scantily clad women being the cause of some rapes.
Sheik Mohammed Omran, who heads the Brunswick mosque, later defended the mufti.
A mosque spokesman said the theme of their meeting and sausage sizzle was uniting Australia.
Link
December 07, 2006 12:00am
MUSLIMS, socialists, unions and other groups will conduct a counter-rally against bikini protesters who plan to march on a Brunswick mosque on Saturday.
Police will monitor the demonstrations, with white supremacists claiming to have infiltrated bikini protest ranks, increasing the potential for confrontation.
Organisers of the "Great Australian Bikini March" had planned to march against the Michael St mosque last Saturday, anniversary of the Cronulla riots in NSW.
Though the bikini march has been postponed until Australia Day next year, some supporters say they will still hold the rally on Saturday.
The march has been promoted on white supremacist websites.
In response, the Islamic Information and Support Centre and the Socialist Party Australia are organising a barbecue and mosque open day for Saturday at the same time.
The so-called bikini march, criticised as being insensitive, was designed as a reaction to mufti Sheik Taj el-Din el-Hilaly's comments on scantily clad women being the cause of some rapes.
Sheik Mohammed Omran, who heads the Brunswick mosque, later defended the mufti.
A mosque spokesman said the theme of their meeting and sausage sizzle was uniting Australia.
Link
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
