Islam touched Australian soil long before British settlement in 1788, when Muslim fishermen from Makassar (today, a part of Indonesia) reached the shores of North-Western Australia. Some of them died en route to Australia and had to be buried according to the Islamic burial regulations, facing Mecca, in Australia. Aboriginal cave paintings and religious ceremonies that depict and have adopted Makassan canoe designs and words are evidences of this incident.
In later history, other Muslims including Muslim ‘Afghan’ cameleers arrived, who used their camels to transport goods and people through the harsh, unnavigable deserts. The first Mosque was built in Marree, South Australia in 1861. The presence of wild camels in the outback and the Central Adelaide Mosque (the first mosque built in Australia) remains a legacy of this bygone era.
Since the late 1960s significant migration of Muslims took place especially from Turkey and Lebanon. And in the 1990s, migrants and refugees from various places such as Africa, Iran, Iraq, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Malaysia, Indonesia and Afghanistan arrived in Australia.
RECENT TIMES
According to the latest figures, Australia is home to more than 475,000 Muslims, who make up about two-and-a-quarter percent of the national population. They are free to practice their religion as can be seen from the numerous mosques built all over Australia. Muslims have the liberty to celebrate all of their festivals.
The First Islamic Museum in Australia (IMA) is being built in Thornbury, Melbourne. It is due to open by end of 2013 or early 2014. It will embody the rich artistic heritage and historical contributions of Muslims in Australia and abroad.
View the Original article
0 comments:
Post a Comment