Unity in diversity
by Michel Sam Mathew 
Islamophobia may be the topic de jour, but AUT’s Muslim Students Association (AUTMSA) aims to look beyond the prejudice.
At the annual Islam Awareness Week, which was held at AUT last week, the association members did just that.
More than 25 members of the AUTMSA held a string of events such as movie nights, a free BBQ, indoor soccer, lectures, and a talent night to help paint Islam and Muslims in a better light.
“Terrorism and jihad have now come to represent the face of Islam, and most non-Muslims have no clear understanding of the teachings of our religion and its beliefs,” says, Fahd Farooq, who was one of the event organisers.
“What we had aimed [to do] with this event was to generate awareness about Islam and Prophet Muhammad to Muslims and non-Muslims, and promote friendly relations and understanding between them,” he says.
However, Mr Farooq admits that the event generated a mixed response from students and the general public.
“As usual, we did get a lot of good and bad vibes, but we have learned to take it in our stride and to help those who come to us to learn about Islam and to keep off from those who come to challenge us and debate religion,” he says.
The awareness week included lectures by British journalist Yvonne Ridley who had turned to Islam after her release from her captors, the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Movies and documentaries from Middle Eastern and African regions were also screened as part of the awareness week.
“AUTMSA represents students from a wide array of Muslim countries in Africa, Middle East, South Asia and South East Asia and it truly lives up to its slogan ‘Unity in Diversity’,” says Farooq, who was born in Kashmir but was brought up in Dubai.
“MSA is the most active [group] one on the campus, and last year we won the best club award at AUT,” he adds.
This was the first time the Islam Awareness Week was jointly held at both the AUT and the Auckland University campuses.