Lakemba Mosque

Lakemba Mosque, (also known as the Imam Ali ben Abi Taleb Mosque at Lakemba, and Masjid Ali Bin Abi Taleb) is one of the largest mosques in Australia. It is located in the suburb of Lakemba, New South Wales and is used mostly by Lebanese Australians. The construction of the mosque was completed in 1977. It is owned and managed by the Lebanese Moslems Association. [ [http://www.islamicrealm.com/icnsw/index.php?page=mosques Islamic Council of NSW: Mosques and Prayer Halls] retrieved 2007-01-26] Irfan Yusuf [http://newmatilda.com/home/articledetail.asp?ArticleID=1899 Islam and Australia: Hilali Has to Go. Wednesday 1 November 2006 ] retrieved 2007-01-27]

Mosque personnel

Leading people at the Mosque include:
*The former Mufti of Australia & New Zealand, Taj El-Din Hilaly, frequently in the Australian news regarding controversial statements, has been based at Lakemba Mosque since his arrival in Australia.
*The Imam of Lakemba Mosque is Shiekh Yahya Safi, [http://www.lma.org.au/sheikhs.php The Lebanese Muslims Association: Sheikhs] retrieved 2007-01-26] the "Australian Representative of Dar ul Fatwa of Lebanon". Born in Tripoli, Lebanon (1970), he was awarded a degree in Islamic Jurisprudence (Islamic Sharia'h Law) in 1992. He worked as an Imam in Tripoli, before arriving in Australia, to be the Imam of Lakemba Mosque in 1996. Awarded a "Masters degree in the interpretation and studies of the Qu'ran in 2002," Sheikh Yahya is preparing for a PhD in Islamic studies. He has gained Certificate IV in English for Academic Purposes. [Sheikh Yahya Safi [http://www.yahyasafi.com/biography_e.html Biography] retrieved 2007-02-02] He teaches at Sydney Islamic College. [Sydney Islamic College [http://www.sydneyic.org.au/Sh_Yahya.html About Us: SHEIKH YAHYA SAFI] retrieved 2007-02-02]
*Shiekh Bassam Alameddine is Assistant Sheikh.
*Shiekh Shady Al-Suleiman is Youth Representative. Born in Sydney he completed his School Certificate before undertaking Islamic studies in Pakistan and Syria. He also teaches at Sydney Islamic College.Sydney Islamic College [http://www.sydneyic.org.au/Sh_Shady.html About Us: SHEIKH SHADY AL-SULEIMAN] retrieved 2007-02-02]
*Faisal Kassir is the Mosque's Education Department leader, organising classes in the Arabic language.

Cronulla riots fallout

In December 2005, following the Cronulla race-riots and subsequent rumours that the mosque would be attacked, a mostly Middle-Eastern group assembled at the premises with the aim of protecting them, amidst a heavy police presence. After calls for calm by Muslim leaders present at the mosque, the crowd dispersed. It was reported that some Muslim men gathered at the mosque were preparing to travel to Maroubra Beach to fight with the "Bra Boys". [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/armed-gangs-on-rampage/2005/12/12/1134236005902.html] [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/riots-fire-debate-on-racism/2005/12/12/1134236003072.html]

References