WA’s Largest Mosque Inspires Women’s Leadership in Peace and Human Rights

Regular readers will recall the Shipping News reporting on this community opening the doors of the Nasir Mosque to members of the public for a special celebration of Australia Day earlier this year. That event showcased the community’s commitment to Australian values and its dedication to interfaith harmony and social justice.

Indeed, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community motto is ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’, and this is inscribed in bold and simple type above the entrance to the Nasir Mosque; welcoming all who pass through the doors.

The peace symposium explored similar themes of human rights and social justice, with a focus on the vital contributions of women in promoting peace. By taking part in the peace symposium, those gathered took in thoughts and ideas from diverse and noteworthy women leaders.

The speakers included Senator Fatima Payman (Senator for WA), Dr Renae Barker (Law and Religion Expert – Senior Lecture from UWA), Ms Sky Dawson (Buddhist Women’s Association, WA) and Mrs Wafiiqah Blugeloo-Hadi (Women’s Auxillary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community). All spoke of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 December 1948, and compared the rights and freedoms set out in that ‘common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations’ to values such as kindness, respect and compassion. Values which are common to many spiritual traditions including Islam, Christianity and Buddhism.

The speakers spoke of the importance of embracing diversity and of bringing communities together. They also suggested tangible actions individuals could take to uphold human rights and freedoms including:
· support social justice initiatives to alleviate adversity
· help one another
· join your local community and cultural organisations
· show up and speak up
· become involved in advocating for human rights issues
· voting.

The country many of us call home, Australia, was described as a leading multicultural society, a society rich with diversity and opportunity. All of this in an inviting room decorated in shades of blue and white; instilling a sense of calm and creating a reflective and thoughtful atmosphere. A room full of women curious to explore ideas about the dignity of humanity; women who all call Australia home and love its diversity of people and culture, and acceptance of others.

Those attending were also able to engage with women from diverse backgrounds; stories were thoughtfully shared, ideas and problems discussed, and compassion and understanding given and received.

Thanks to the generosity of the organisers, attendees of the peace symposium were served a delicious feast of gently spiced food, accompanied by rice and flatbread. And a sublime mango mousse dessert never to be forgotten.

Whilst this year has been quite the year for spiralling global conflicts, division and misinformation – at the peace symposium we found common ground between beliefs and cultures, interconnectedness in and around Fremantle, and an inspiring atmosphere of hope for a more just and equitable world.

Madeleine Cox at the Peace Symposium

Attending the peace symposium was akin to travelling to Utopia; happily, whilst staying home. It was a way to be open to new ideas, meet new people and try new food. And as Alain de Botton declares in The Art of Travel, ‘we realise we are global citizens at the same time as being locals’.

Consider attending one of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s gatherings. Not just out of curiosity, but to take up Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s invitation: ‘Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.’ In doing so we reclaim our human interconnectedness in our globalised multicultural yet divided world.

Every Friday, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community WA welcomes visitors to attend and listen to Friday prayers at the Nasir Mosque, and afterwards to meet Muslims and enjoy refreshments.

* By Madeleine Cox. Madeleine Cox was raised on a farm on Binjareb Noongar country and now, together with her New Zealand / Aotearoa husband, lives with her children in Fremantle / Walyalup. She loves exploring places and ideas, and connecting with people and nature. This has prompted Madeleine to start writing independently, after many years work as a corporate and government lawyer, and service on not-for-profit boards in the health and education sectors. For more articles on Fremantle Shipping News by Madeleine, look here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* If you’d like to COMMENT on this or any of our stories, don’t hesitate to email our Editor.

** WHILE YOU’RE HERE –