Sisters:

The week organised for the new female members of the Islamic Society involved numerous events aimed at allowing the Freshers to become familiar with the older members of the society, as well as other Freshers, and to help them settle in. We held an informal video night showing "Lion of the Desert: Omar Mukhtar". The society squash that followed included a brief welcome given by myself highlighting a few aspects about life in Cambridge for a female Muslim. It gave us a chance to talk and exchange details, providing the Freshers with a point of contact. The week ended with a session of punting on the River Cam - an excellent way of showing the Freshers the beautiful colleges as well enjoying each others company.

Mehrunisha Suleman – Head Sister

Brothers:

As the wide-eyed Freshers entered the hallowed courts of Cambridge for the very first time they were initiated with the enthusiastic fanfare that Freshers’ Week. Beginning with the respective brothers’ and sisters’ squashes the newbies were welcomed amongst towers of pizza and merriment, only for the brothers to then get their first taste of 5-a-side football at Kelsey Kerridge. Undoubtedly though, the climax of the week was the Freshers’ Dinner on the Saturday. The Dinner was a chance for the curry to flow as freely as the eloquence and initiating wisdom of Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, and capped off an excellent week.

Faisal Mir – Vice President

Following the SPT event, the Human Rights Committee organised a letter writing day after the Jumuah prayer before Eid (12th November). Students and the community were given the chance to write a personal letter to a Muslim prisoner being held unjustly under the new terrorism laws and to sign an Eid card. Twenty cards were signed, twenty letters were written and all were posted to twenty Muslim prisoners at Belmarsh and Woodhill prisons with a letter on behalf of the whole Islamic Society to reach them in time for Eid-ul-Fitr. Nine replies have been received so far Alhamdullilah.

Sarah Abdulla – Alumni Officer & Vice Head Sister

On Sunday 28th November, we hosted the Islamic Human Rights Commission who came down to hold a series of workshops to make us more aware of our rights under the new terror laws and gave practical advice on what we should do if we are ever "picked up"! The three workshops were on "Stop and Search", "Being Arrested or Detained" and "Community Responses". Essentially, the message was that we have very few rights under the new terrorist laws so the few we have, we must know and use. We were briefed on the reality of the situation and how we can expect to be treated by the police. We discussed the practical things we can do in our communities to battle such treatment. All in all it was a very informative afternoon and we thank IHRC for coming down and sharing their expertise with us. If you would like to be sent the information that was covered at the event, please do not hesitate to get in touch with hr_@_isoc.co.uk.

Hajira Qureshi – Human Rights Officer

On November 21, 2004, the Islamic Society of Cambridge held its first annual Muslim Careers Evening. We invited a panel of muslim scholars and professionals to address the topic from a variety of perspectives. Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad gave an overview of the fiqh perspective on the virtues of work in a Muslim's life. The remainder of the panel was composed of Muslim professionals, each distinguished in his/her own field. Lorraine Hamid discussed the place of Muslims in the public sector and her experiences as a Muslim woman in a western workplace. Rashad Yaqoob drew on the breadth of his experience in law, finance and the media fields and challenged us to find a forward vision in our careers. Finally, Dr. Abdullahi Shehu, of the Muslim Doctors and Dentists Association, introduced the broad topic of Islam in Modern Medicine and invited us to continue to the dialogue on the many unresolved questions that Islam
must address.

Amro Farid – External Officer