Media Release

25 February 2007

Australian Muslims Elect New Leadership
As most would be aware, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils
Inc (AFIC) has been under Administration since September 2006 after the
suspension of the then Executive Committee of AFIC. The Administrator
appointed by the Court was empowered to call a Special Congress in
February 2007 to hold fresh elections for the leadership of AFIC.

The Special Congress was held today, Sunday 25th February 2007. The
main Item of agenda was to elect AFIC`s office bears and the election
processes were conducted by and under the supervision of the Australian
Electoral Commission. A large number of delegates and observers
attended the day-long meeting held at AFIC Headquarters in Sydney.

The new AFIC President said that with this election a new chapter of
inclusiveness has opened for the Australian Muslim Community and urged
all interested Australian Muslims to take this opportunity to join the peak
National body.

The following were elected:

President - Mr. Ikebal Patel of ACT
Vice President - Mrs. Mariam Siti A. Kawi of Christmas Island
Secretary - Mr. Ashraf Usman Ali of NSW
Treasurer - Mr. Adnan Sert of South Australia
Assistant Secretary - Mr. Mohammad Harun Abdullah of Tasmania
Assistant Treasurer - Mr. Hafez Malas of NSW
Executive Members - Mr. Abbas Ahmed of Queensland
- Mr. Mohamed Masood of Victoria
- Mr. Hafez Kassem of NSW

For further information, please contact

Nicky
In regards to evidence I understand what you are saying. Can you get some cases that have been through the courts and light sentences been given in that cases.? We can do QLD. Also yes your wise we must move forward. I simple wanted to make it clear we are not main stream and support farmers and the truth is! the truth.
Yes indeed where is Richard . We must work harder he would expect nothing less.

“And here, I'm afraid, PF, I have to take issue with you. I know how strongly you feel about your free-range pig farm/s so I don't really understand why you are concerned about this information being obtained in intensive pig farms by whatever means are available to Animal Liberation (whose members are really risking a lot by doing this). YOU are doing the right thing, so you would have nothing to fear from them.”

Nicky – why should anyone have to ‘fear’ anything from them? This is my point. Try and look at this from another perspective, things aren’t just black and white. I talk to intensive pig farmers quite often and they all genuinely see nothing wrong with what they do. They honestly believe they are looking after their pigs far better than if they were let run free range. There are certain industry bodies that have played a big part in instilling these beliefs and back them strongly. The way they farm is legal. Attacking these people is counter productive.

I have come under attack from them because they think free range pigs will suffer and that Iam doing the wrong thing promoting this method of farming. How would I feel if they trespassed here, set up a compromising photo and released it to the media? Just how fair would that be? What damage would it do to my business? BTW – not something the extreme groups are above either because their only agenda is to stop all animal farming, good or bad. They just don’t care what damage they do to anyone along the way.

No Nicky – you have no place taking issue with me.

Reply to Nicky

Sorry, meant to say we are “not vegetarian rather main supporting RSPCA

For the sake of the animals, farmers, public, some things are well overdue to be disclosed.
It’s not in the best interests of the animals for PALE to be seen as another animal libber group.
There are some fantastic people doing great work throughout this country.

Look at yourself. Australia needs to hear from some of the others.
Have you ever heard of Dawn Low? The public need to hear far more from people like her and what about Trish Brown.

60 minutes by the way were not trying to do anything other than expose a cruel trade.
We have had steady contact with them and yes there has been some doubt if it was a mistake to only interview AA and PETA because of the extreme factor.
No that’s not 60 minutes fault it’s the way Ingrid is. PETA don’t even believe people should have a dog as a pet.

They are totally vegetarian and tell people they should not wear any clothes made from animal skin or eat meat.

Naturally that gets the farmers offside along with the Government. 96% of the public eat meat.

That makes it almost impossible for us to approach farmers with alternatives.
Want to help the animals we MUST work with farmers.

After years of nagging you can now see support Free Range farmers on their web site. Sorry not good enough.

We need a hand to establish plants here to divert live exports to carcass.
The President of the Farmer’s Federation was right. Lets find an alternative and DO it.
All AA member groups are banned from
working with PALE by Animals Australia. That’s something that has been reported to the Federal Ministers office and they are just as concerned and looking into it.

In the mean time the public are being turned towards feeling sorry for the farmers against that mad bunch of Animal libbers.

People need to become involved in looking for old or new abattoirs in their areas and talking to farmers.

"In the mean time the public are being turned towards feeling sorry for the farmers against that mad bunch of Animal libbers."

How to true it is. You guys are your own worst enemies. A little less infighting would help the cause.

PF
For once you are SO right and it is not coming from us. We all! joined AA as private members. We sent info offers of lawyers. By the way we think Lyn White is fantasic.
However the one big difference we have is we want to donations to go towards A. Advertsing and promting Free Range Farmers such as yourself.
Mr or Mrs Pig Farmers face on packets of Free Range Pork or Chicken or whatever. Things children will learn very quickly. look mummy buy Mrs Piggys meat Shes kind to the animals. Problem is we cant promote free range to woolworth or any where else when there IS none[ or very few]
I am sorry but I think we need to promte farmers like yourself in a very big way. We also require people like yourself to train others.
Thats not happening. As far as we are concerned regarding pig farming your face should be everywhere. Its a missed oportunity for the animals and free range farmers and I am personally furious about it.

We want to oportunity to to introduce Free Range Farmers to overseas investors .
No for goodness sake nobody wants to take your farm or their farms before you say that again.
They only want to - If you like take over the intensive piggies with Free Range and Poultry- They want the business not the land or farm.
What the farmer gets in return apart from clients are funds to improve their properties to expand their free range farms and where suitable add on a plant for value adding. Yes at times more land will have to be purchased.
That will be between the farmer and the investor when the time comes to sort between themselves.
I would propose that a company purchasing lets say five hundred acres might share the ownership of the new land fifty fifty with that farmer provding the farmer continued to supply product. We are prepaired to assist with legals for farmers to a degree but the choice is totally there's to make.

Heres a website you should take a look at:

http://www.freerangepork.com.au