Mantingan—On January 23, the University of Darussalam Gontor held a “talk show” with the theme “The Development and Challenge of Muslim Society in Australia.” This event is organized by the Bureau of Cooperation, Alumni, and International Affairs (BKAUI) and delivered by a Ph.D. candidate of Charles Darwin University, Australia, Mr. Peter Lilly William. 

At this moment, some potential topics could be covered, (1) Muslims in Australia have a long and diverse history that predates European settlement. The existence of Islam originated with Makassar traders. (2) The role of Islam in shaping the cultural and social identity of Australian Muslims. They have faced many challenges, including discrimination and Islamophobia, and have made efforts to combat this problem. (3) The contribution of Australian Muslims to a wide range of fields, including politics, the arts, and sports. There is diversity within the Muslim community in Australia, with differences in ethnicity, nationality, and sect.

Mr. Peter said the results of the Muslim community’s relationship with Australian society are very diverse, including issues of integration, cultural exchange, demography, economic mobility, and social integration. These issues could be a challenge for the Muslim communities in Australia.

At the last minute, he told us that at the end of the 19th century, some Muslims were also recruited by the Dutch and British colonies in Southeast Asia to work in Australian industry. The first major mosque was built in Adelaide in 1890, and another mosque was built in 1891 at Broken Hill (New South Wales).

At last, Mr. Peter took pictures with all lecturers, and before leaving, he was thankful for the warm welcome to all participants. This precious time takes the form of an interactive discussion, questions, and interesting ideas between the speaker, students, and lecturer in the UNIDA Meeting Hall. (Red: Fieky Mawaddah/ Ed: Fika Ma’asyi)

Ahmad Kali Akbar

Ahmad Kali Akbar