(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - They celebrate the exceptional and remarkable contributions made by Muslim individuals and organizations to both the Australian Muslim community and the mainstream community,” Hanan Dover, President of Mission of Hope, said, reported Muslim Village website on Tuesday, November 27.“These remarkable people make us proud to be Australian Muslims, inspiring us all to strive harder and live better.” The group has hosted the 2012 7th Annual Australian Muslim Achievement Awards (AMAA) to honor 16 Muslim individuals and organizations for their efforts to serve the society. Getting more than 150 nominations from across Australia, the AMAAs, sponsored by the Islamic Museum of Australia and Human Appeal International Australia, were judged by a panel of 25. The Awards celebrate the important role that Australian Muslims have played in Australian society. The AMAA awards also recognized efforts of non-Muslims who have helped foster mutual respect and understanding by awarding John Cornwall, President of the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Agency (HARDA), the prestigious Abyssinian Award. The award was named after the people of Abyssinia who provided shelter from prosecution to the first Muslims over 1400 years ago. Islam is Australia’s second largest religion after Christianity. Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.7 percent of its 20-million population. At the ceremony, 15 celebrated award categories were announced to raise the profile of Australian Muslims and promote their achievements. Getting the title of ‘Man of the Year’, Waleed Aly, a broadcaster, academic and author was honored for his work as a lecturer in politics at Monash University where he works within the Global Terrorism Research Center. Since 2010 he has been listed in Who’s Who in the World. In 2011, Waleed, a father of two, was named Victoria’s Local Hero as part of the Australian of the Year Awards. The Women of the Year Award went to Amina ElShafei for her remarkable impact as a contestant on one of the Australia’s most popular television programs of the year, the reality cooking show Master Chef. Another memorable winner was Haj Mohamed Hassan OAM, the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, who was honored for his over 45 years community service to the Muslim community. Categories include the ‘AMAA Woman of the Year’, the ‘AMAA Man of the Year’ and the ‘Australian Muslim Lifetime Achievement Award.’ The title of the ‘Community Organization of the Year’ went to the Islamic Council of Victoria while ‘Business of the Year Award’ went to Pharmacy 4 Less project founded by Assad Karem. The best community initiative award was granted to ‘Silence Is Betrayal’ movement which was established in May 2012 by 10 Sydney youth who wanted to see change in the world. The dynamic team set itself a very clear goal and a vision from the outset, their aim is to create a world where no injustice goes unnoticed.
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