according to his own words, persecuted by the authorities for defending the rights of Muslims. Accused of extremism, he denied the accusations vigorously, claiming that his only ‘crime’ was defending the rights of little Muslim girls, who did not wish to attend school without wearing their tudung headscarves (1) as well as criticizing all those Muslim stooges, who co-operated with the Singaporean authorities against the interest of the persecuted Muslim minority.(2)
"As a social activist, I was made to look like an extremist. It affects my reputation," Zulfikar said in his complaint. (3)
Apart from his outspoken support for Muslim terrorist activities, Shariff was the CEO of an extremist Muslim website called Fateha.com where he published his thoughts on social change (according to Shar’ia of course).
Here are some examples of Shariff’s love for his role model Sheikh Abdullah Yusuf Azzam (4) copied from Fateha.com before it was taken off the Internet (for the time being you can only access its cached version):
When Sheikh Azzam realised that only by means of an organised force would the Ummah ever be able to gain victory, then Jihad and the Gun became his pre-occupation and recreation. "Jihad and the rifle alone: no negotiations, no conferences and no dialogues," he would say. By practicing what he was preaching, Sheikh Abdullah Azzam was one of the first Arabs to join the Afghan Jihad against the communist USSR.
The Sheikh's life revolved around a single goal, namely the establishment of Allah's Rule on earth, this being the clear responsibility of each and every Muslim. So in order to accomplish his life's noble mission of restoring the Khilafah, the Sheikh focused on Jihad (the armed struggle to establish Islam). He believed Jihad must be carried out until the Khilafah (Islamic Rule) is established so the light of Islam may shine on the whole world. (5)
And here are some views on global terrorism posted on his website:
Osama Bin Laden’s terrorist attack on 9/11 was an opportunity squandered by the Arab and Muslim world to galvanize its masses to the total eradication of internal and external threats, the most important being Israel’s occupation and daily murder of Palestinians. Instead of a proactive forceful approach to unify the world in the eradication of the root causes of “terrorism” against the West which is primarily the American supported terrorism of Israel in total violation of the United Nations and world peace, instead of coming to the grieved American people and educating them as to why terrorism finally hit their shores, the Arab leaders cowered and withdrew even further as doormats to Bush, Israel and company. (6)
I can't go back now as they have prepared a 'house' for me in a prison cell for some charges, and we are not just talking about a mere two-year imprisonment here. (8)
And here is where the whole affair becomes an inexplicable mystery?
Australia accepted Mr Shariff as a political refugee, who immediately resumed his mission to establish the world Khilafah on our soil.
And why not, we are a democracy after all. As Zulfikar Shariff said himself to the Australian once:
"In Australia you can think independently and speak freely. You don't have that in Singapore." (9)
Just two years after his acceptance into Australia we find our hero rooting for Muslim causes and this time in the area of halal Muslim, interest free finance as he became Marketing Manager of the Muslim Community Co-operative (MCCA). (10)
Peter Martin: In Melbourne, Dr Rahim Ghouse runs one of Australia's two big Islamic home finance organisations: the Muslim Community Co-operative of Australia, or MCCA. And as it happens, it is from a source close to the MCCA that some of the strongest attacks on myself and Ganesh in the wake of the SBS program have come.
Now here's another name: Zulfikar Shariff. He joined the MCCA as its Marketing Manager in September 2004.
In the months leading up to that appointment and beyond, Zulfikar Shariff sent a series of emails to the management of the SBS with copies to Australia's Attorney General, and a number of other Australian government ministers.
They made gripping reading. (11)
Just for the record the Commercial IBT was charged with fraud. (12 ) , but it would be also nice to know on what basis Australian Department of Immigration granted residency to our activist Muslim, Mr Shariff.
After all, as a fellow Muslim and one of the most important figures deciding about immigration, he might be able to shed some light upon this mystery.
Mr Abul Rizvi | Please drop Mr Abul Rizvi an e-mail. Who is in charge of the security checks in his department? Why was Australian residency granted to Mr Zulfikar Shariff? (Mr Shariff wasn't even arrested in Singapore and the police just started their investigation into possible defamation.) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
Australians celebrate and revere Anzac Day on April 25th each year in remembrance of our brave soldiers who fought in two great world wars to secure our freedom. Every Australian identifies with the slogan “lest we forget” and in services held around the country people reflect on the battles and men who died to secure our freedom. Yet across the world in France, there is one remarkable battle which helped form the Europe we know today and allowed the development of civilization based on Judeo Christian principles. This one famous battle has become known as the battle of Tours and effectively stopped the Muslim advance into Europe. After the death of Mohammed in 632AD, Muslim armies exploded out of the Arabian peninsula to conquer much of the Middle East, expanding across north Africa. From there they crossed into Spain in 711AD and eventually controlled much of al-Andalus by 715AD. It was the victory at Tours by Charles Martel that stemmed the tide and eventually the Muslim marauders were expelled from Spain in 1492 when the last outpost at Granada fell to King Ferdinand of Spain. 
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born, lived, fought and won battles against religious and social oppression in the 17th century Bharat or India. He was a shining star in the Indian firmament and is renowned as a champion of the downtrodden and depressed masses. He was and continues to be an icon for the classes and masses alike and is seen as a rallying point for peasants oppressed by foreign rulers, Pathans and Moghuls alike. Sexually exploited women found in Shivaji Raje a protector, a benefactor and flocked to his Hindavi Swaraj to find solace and feel liberated under his saffron flag. 
Perhaps some readers might be interested to know that January 28 is considered a feast day among Catholics – actually 2 feast days are celebrated on the same day – one is of ST Thomas Aquinas, the great medieval theologian and philosopher who adapted Aristotle to the western Judeo-Christian worldview. . It is also the feast day of a lesser known person – St Peter Nolasco, the great ransomer of captives from the Muslims.
How often in conversation with a Muslim, do they quote Spain as the crowning achievement of Islam, where Muslims, Jews and Christians lived in harmony for about 800 years?
Why do Muslims insist that Jerusalem is their Holy City?
There is a very strongly entrenched view among majority of Westerners today that the three main monotheistic religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam share one common God and therefore despite the obvious differences, the core foundation of these three religions is the same. 
