Update: Islamic school students sing 'banned' national anthem

December 05, 2008

STUDENTS at an Islamic school in Brisbane sang Advance Australia Fair at a year-end assembly on Friday, as a furore erupted over claims it had banned the anthem.

Controversy erupted after a former teacher at the Australian International Islamic College told The Courier-Mail newspaper the school, in the Brisbane suburb of Durack, had “banned” the anthem.

But the school chairman, Imam Abdul Quddoos Azhari, told AAP the anthem was played at “every important occasion”.

School trustee Keysar Trad said news the anthem was not played regularly at school assemblies came as a shock.

“A quick investigation we did ... found that because they have a daily assembly at the school every morning, the principal came up with the idea - without getting the full board's endorsement - she didn't want to perform the anthem every morning,” Mr Trad said.

“The anthem is being performed at every special function we have.”

Mr Trad said the anthem was sung as recently as a graduation ceremony last Wednesday.

“Our school choir has performed the anthem at many other events, not just at the school but outside the school as well,” he said.

“Our school choir is fairly well known for their ability to perform the national anthem.

“We actually promote the anthem, because we like it.

“Personally, I love the content because it's full of these wonderful words which reflect values that we all share.”

Mr Trad said the anthem will continue to be performed at every school function. Trustees and the board will meet to discuss the logistics of performing the anthem at every school assembly.

“My personal recommendation is that it be performed at every assembly,” he told AAP.

He said the anthem was performed at the holiday break assembly at the school on Friday.

“Anyone can see that the children are standing up and performing the national anthem,” Mr Trad said.

Source: The Australian

Muslim school sacks teacher who wanted national anthem

James O'Loan | December 05, 2008 12:00am

A MUSLIM school has banned the national anthem at assemblies and sacked the teacher who asked for it to be played.

Australian International Islamic College teacher Pravin Chand was sacked last month, four months after his proposal for students to sing Advance Australia Fair was ruled to be against the "Islamic view and ethos".

A memo sent to teachers in July also announced "the singing of the anthem will be put on hold".

Yesterday, the Brisbane school denied it had banned the national anthem at assemblies.

The school chairman, Imam Abdul Quddoos Azhari, said students sang the national anthem "at every function, on every occasion".

But Mr Chand, whose version of events was backed by a second teacher, said he had not heard the anthem once this year.

"No national anthem, to me, means no integration with Australian kids," he said.

"Western values (at the school) are a no-no.

"It's like a paramilitary camp, that place."

Mr Chand's employment was terminated by the college board on the ground that he was "not fitting into the school's ethos".

Outgoing principal Azroul Liza Khalid, who started at the school in July, said she had not heard the anthem at assembly, although it was played on two or three other occasions.

Ms Khalid said she was told by a board member not to play the anthem, or any songs, on a Friday because it was a holy day. In July, school assembly day was moved from Monday to Friday.

The revelations follow a public outcry over a plan by the same Brisbane college to open another campus.

A vocal crowd draped in Australian flags and playing local rock anthems accused the college of promoting segregation, anti-Australian values and even terrorism.

Muslim leaders said the protests were "un-Australian" and claimed religion should not be used as a reason to protest against a school.

Local Education Minister Rod Welford's spokeswoman indicated it was unlikely a public school had ever banned the national anthem.

"It's not compulsory for schools to play the national anthem," she said.

"There's an expectation it would be played on formal occasions when the Australian flag is being raised."

A Catholic education spokesman said: "I'm absolutely confident that no Catholic school has ever banned the playing of the national anthem and never will".

The future of the proposed 60-pupil college at Carrara will be decided by Gold Coast City Council next year.

Source: Herald Sun

Muslims Against Sharia call on Senator Obamato distance himself from al-Qaeda supporters

With the black Islamic flag of war draped behind him, an individual on You Tube that goes by the name Abdul Hakim Khatab has called for people to support Barack Obama for U.S. President in 2008. The video is titled 'Barack Obama 2008 spokenword.' Muslims Against Sharia call on Barack Obama to distance himself from his extremist supporters and to denounce this You Tube video for promoting violence in the name of the Obama for President campaign.



More on the subject: Obama advisor raises concerns

Update:A picture is worth a thousand words

Link to video

United States Code TITLE 36 > Subtitle I > Part A > CHAPTER 3

§ 301. National anthem

(a) Designation.— The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing.— During a rendition of the national anthem—
  (1) when the flag is displayed—
    (A) all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart;
    (B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and
    (C) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note; and
  (2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.