Lebanese Moslems Association

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The Lebanese Moslems Association is an Australian non-profit welfare organization based in Lakemba, a south-western suburb of Sydney. It is also variously cited as the Lebanese "Moslem", "Muslim" or "Muslims" Association.

The Association was founded between 1961 and 1962 as a community project aiming to serve the "social, religious, recreational and educational" needs of Australian Muslims, and to advocate on their behalf in pursuit of these aims.[1][2] The Association also owns and operates Lakemba Mosque, which is situated close to its head office and is the venue for most of its programs and events.[3]

[edit] History

Lebanese Muslims left the NSW Islamic Society in 1961 to form the Lebanese Muslim Association.[4] The LMA was formally registered as an Australian Public Limited Company in 1973.[5]

[edit] Membership

In 2002, the LMA had more than 1100 financial members, with more than 5000 members attending Friday congregational prayers and "over tens of thousands" (members and non-members) using the Association's facilities on festive occasions.[2] Sheikh Taj El-Din Hilaly, the Mufti of Australia, is also tied to the LMA, being one of its clerical advisors and an Imam at Lakemba Mosque.[6]

Public figure and spokesperson Keysar Trad has been both vice-president[2] and president[7] in his time with the LMA. Its president since late 2006 has been Tom Zreika.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "About the Lebanese Moslems Association", LMA website. Retrieved on 2007-02-01.
  2. ^ a b c Trad, K. "Submission to Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission's National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention", HREOC website. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
  3. ^ "History of Lakemba Mosque", LMA website. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
  4. ^ Cleland, B. "MUSLIMS IN AUSTRALIA: A Brief History", ICV website. Retrieved on 2007-02-01.
  5. ^ "National Names Index", ASIC website. Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
  6. ^ "Sheikh Services", LMA website. Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
  7. ^ "PM - Lebanese community reacts to long sentence", ABC PM website. Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
  8. ^ "AM - Australians caught in besieged town in Lebanon", ABC AM website. Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
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