PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES
SPEECH BY PREMIER BOB CARR
NSW LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2004

IFTAR DINNER FOR ISLAMIC COMMUNITIES

Mr Speaker,

Mutual respect and understanding. They're the key to making our multicultural achievement work.

Tolerance isn't enough. It's a narrow, grudging concept.

But mutual respect and understanding can bridge our cultures and civilisations, because that's what we need, an engagement of cultures and civilisations. And that's what will be happening tonight, when the NSW Government will, for the first time, host an Iftar dinner for the State's Islamic communities. Iftar is the communal meal held after sundown when people from the Islamic faith, who do not eat or drink anything from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramadan, break their fast.In the month of Ramadan, Muslims everywhere reflect upon values such as the importance of family, and the need for charity, forgiveness and goodwill to all

- the Community Harmony Reference Group following the Bali attacks in October 2002; and

- the visit by leading Egyptian scholar, Professor Hassan Hanafi, in August last year; and

- the visit by leading New York Islamic cleric, Imam Feisal Rauf in March this year.

But, Mr Speaker,

Tonight's gathering not only honours the State's Islamic community.
With Christian and Jewish leaders in attendance, it also promotes inter-faith harmony, and thus further extends the concept of mutual understanding and respect I outlined earlier.

Mr Speaker

I am sure every Member joins me in welcoming this important occasion, and in extending the good wishes of this Assembly to the State's respected and growing Islamic community.

I thank the House for its attention.

ENDS

Muslim Community Representative
Mehmet Ozalp's Iftar Speech - 20/10/04

Hon Premier, distinguished Members of the Parliament, quests and friends…

I feel extremely privileged and humbled to give the vote of thanks to our Premier Bob Carr for inviting us all to this fantastic iftar dinner. Truly this is a historic moment indeed - a Premier of the state of NSW is giving an iftar to the Muslim community along with friends from other faith traditions. If I could capture my feelings in time, I would freeze this moment and place it in an envelope and post it to all members of the community.

The Premier has proved himself as a genuine supporter of interfaith movement that has been gaining momentum over the last few years. I was pleasantly surprised in the speed of positive response from the Premier when we suggested the idea of an iftar. He immediately saw the positive potential and gave directives to make it a reality without hesitation.

Ramadan dinners for Muslims are very special. We rejoice the spiritual atmosphere and share it with our friends and relatives by inviting them to our homes to break fast altogether. Similarly, I feel at home this evening having broken my fast at the home office of the Premier. His invitation and the recognition of an integral Ramadan practice is a great gesture and a sincere hand of understanding extended towards the Muslim community.

A gesture of understanding could be very significant for those who receive it. I know this from my personal experience. When I came to Australia as a 15 year-old teenager in 1984, I went to an intensive language centre in Redfern. Those of you who know me may be surprised to hear that I was identified as a "troublemaker" in that school. I won't tell you what I was up to but let me tell you that I was almost thrown out of school. Until one day one of my teachers said to me this in front of the whole class. She said "Mehmet, I know why you behave the way you do. You are an intelligent person and you are simply bored." After a moment of silence I said, "Yes I am". She said "I will talk to the principle and place you in a more challenging class." She did what she said and I was never the same since. A moment of understanding changed my life for the better.

I sincerely thank you, the Honourable Premier Bob Carr, on behalf of all the guests tonight for extending such a hand of understanding and inviting us today to break our fast in your home office. I am sure under your tutelage interfaith developments will continue to prosper.