CAIRO – Muslims in Victoria, the second most populous state in Australia, are delighted by police efforts to reach out to the community, including a milestone mosque visit by the police chief.
"We appreciate the effort Victoria Police force has gone to work with us over the years," Newport Islamic Society spokesperson Mohamad El Hawli told Hobsons Bay Leader newspaper on Tuesday, December 15.
"They have worked with Newport mosque so that unfortunate events which have occurred locally and internationally won’t have a negative effect on our community."
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Aussie Govt Celebrates Muslim Contributions
Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland paid a milestone visit to the mosque on Friday, December 11, promising to learn more about Islam.
Imam Abdul Razak Bakroo offered the visiting guest an English translation of the Quran and prayer beads.
Islam is Australia's second largest religion after Christianity.
Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.7 percent of its 20-million population.
The government recently issued an 88-page book that tells the success stories of more than 40 Muslims over the past three centuries.
Bridging Gaps
The mosque visit was seen as important for cross-cultural education.
"It is a big step to building a bridge to understanding and the working relationship between Victoria Police and the Muslim community here in Newport," says Sam Afra, chairman of Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria.
"It is not just about Newport, but the Muslim community in Victoria."
Commander Trevor Carter also praised the visit.
"What I’ve seen here is one of the strongest relationships between community and the police force," he told Star newspaper.
"It wasn’t overnight. The relationship with the Muslim community has been built up over 10 years."
But Commissioner Overland admitted that more work was still needed.
"Let’s not pretend there aren’t challenges," he said.
"The challenge for us is to rise above that and always come back to that starting point of respect."
IslamOnline
"We appreciate the effort Victoria Police force has gone to work with us over the years," Newport Islamic Society spokesperson Mohamad El Hawli told Hobsons Bay Leader newspaper on Tuesday, December 15.
"They have worked with Newport mosque so that unfortunate events which have occurred locally and internationally won’t have a negative effect on our community."
*
Aussie Govt Celebrates Muslim Contributions
Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland paid a milestone visit to the mosque on Friday, December 11, promising to learn more about Islam.
Imam Abdul Razak Bakroo offered the visiting guest an English translation of the Quran and prayer beads.
Islam is Australia's second largest religion after Christianity.
Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.7 percent of its 20-million population.
The government recently issued an 88-page book that tells the success stories of more than 40 Muslims over the past three centuries.
Bridging Gaps
The mosque visit was seen as important for cross-cultural education.
"It is a big step to building a bridge to understanding and the working relationship between Victoria Police and the Muslim community here in Newport," says Sam Afra, chairman of Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria.
"It is not just about Newport, but the Muslim community in Victoria."
Commander Trevor Carter also praised the visit.
"What I’ve seen here is one of the strongest relationships between community and the police force," he told Star newspaper.
"It wasn’t overnight. The relationship with the Muslim community has been built up over 10 years."
But Commissioner Overland admitted that more work was still needed.
"Let’s not pretend there aren’t challenges," he said.
"The challenge for us is to rise above that and always come back to that starting point of respect."
IslamOnline
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