Australian Muslim woman aims to raise awareness through an interfaith project

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Friday 01 May 2015 - 14:47 Makkah mean time-12-7-1436 (Image from OnIslam) Canberra, (IINA) - Inviting people to look beyond her hijab, an Australian Muslim woman aims to raise awareness about her culture and faith through an interfaith project, OnIslam reported. Organized by Mordialloc and Springvale Neighborhood Houses, the program, titled, "Learning and Living Together" aims to bring together women of different faiths to understand the true face of Islam. The eight-week program is slated to include visits to mosques and churches, sharing stories and cooking recipes. Lebanese origin Hayat Doughan has been trying to counter misconceptions about her faith by making others see her as a normal person who just happens to also run an interfaith project while donning a headscarf. "We are women like any other women, the only difference is we follow our religion, we do prayers, we cover ourselves this is the only difference between us and any other woman in Australia,” Doughan told the Herald Sun on Thursday. “We consider ourselves Australian, our children are Australian...we are citizens like any others." “The project aims to promote understanding, respect, appreciation and co-operation between all members of the community,” said Mordialloc Neighborhood House member Amna Janjua. SM/IINA

New Zealand Muslims offered interest-free mortgage

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Friday 01 May 2015 - 14:26 Makkah mean time-12-7-1436 (Google image) Wellington, New Zealand (IINA) - In glad tidings to New Zealand's Muslims, a finance company has proposed plans to provide interest-free mortgages to Muslims that comply with Islamic Sharia, according to media reports. New Zealand's first Islam-friendly KiwiSaver provider plans to offer interest-free mortgages to Muslims. Amanah Ethical launched the country's first Sharia-compliant KiwiSaver earlier this year. "They want to own their own homes, they want to be New Zealanders, they want to raise their kids," Brian Henry, Amanah managing director, told Stuff.co.nz on Thursday. The scheme charges a "purification payment" to cleanse any investment income that might be generated through ways considered prohibited in Islam. Henry said his company intended to provide finance products that comply with Islam, noting that paying or receiving interest on loans is forbidden in Islam. New Zealand's growing migrant Muslim community was highly educated and engaged in good jobs, he said. Kiwi Muslims had the means to own their own homes but did not want to go against their faith in order to become homeowners. Islamic loans involve various alternative ways for the borrower to repay the lender at a premium, while technically not charging interest. Henry said he could not disclose the exact structure of the model Amanah would use for its home finance product or when it would launch, but did say it was at least a couple of years away. SM/IINA

Auckland woman urges New Zealand banks to provide Islam-friendly loans

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Friday 01 May 2015 - 14:11 Makkah mean time-12-7-1436 Auckland, New Zeeland (IINA) – An Auckland woman is lobbying New Zealand banks to consider providing interest-free home loan for Muslim customers including herself, 3news New Zealand reported.   Sara Jowadi wants banks in New Zealand to offer similar products. "I'm not trying to be inconsiderate to New Zealanders, I understand they will have different responses to this issue, but at the end of it I'm trying to provide a solution for myself and people like me." "With rent, you're not guaranteed that you can stay in that place for too long we're sort of trying our best to find an alternative." Under Islam, paying or receiving interest on loans is forbidden therefore loans must involve various ways for borrowers to repay the lender at a premium, while technically not being charged interest. Jowadi had contacted ANZ, BNZ, Westpac and Kiwibank with a proposal, but told Radio NZ none had responded. Westpac and Kiwibank said they did not offer a specific Sharia-friendly product and did not have any plans to do so in the near future. ANZ spokesman Stefan Herrick said demand for Islamic loans were "very low" and the bank did not offer a specific product catering to this community. "However, we're always happy to talk to Muslim customers or otherwise about how we can help meet their needs." New Zealand Bankers Association's boss Kirk Hope said Islamic mortgages were likely to be a niche products, and was not surprised banks had not yet taken an interest. It is noteworthy that countries like Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States are among other countries who already offering Islam-friendly loans. SM/IINA