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MUSLIM DOCTOR WINS AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
A Muslim doctor from Sydney, whose active work among disadvantaged ethnic communities in Sydney has been awarded the 2007 Australian Human Rights Community Award.
Dr Jamal Rifi who is a general practitioner and President of the Sydney-based Lakemba Sports and Recreation Club, was presented with the honour in Sydney this week
Sydney’s Lakemba precinct has a large Muslim population and under his Presidency, the Lakemba club has provided disadvantaged community members with equal opportunity initiatives to participate in affordable sporting activities - and club membership has grown from 100 members in 2003 to more than 600 in 2007.
An active community volunteer, Dr Rifi, has seen the club become the base for community meetings (including the women’s group for Islamic studies and fitness and senior citizens social group evenings). He has also initiated innovative projects such as training 22 young Muslim people to become surf lifesavers in the wake of the last year’s riots at Cronulla beach.
Over the years, Dr Rifi has donated his time to many community and government agencies, contributing his expertise to advisory committees such as the Youth Partnership with Arabic Speaking Communities and the National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security. He is also a founding member of Muslim Doctors Against Violence and the Muslim Christian Friendship Society.
In awarding the 2007 Human Rights honour to Dr Rifi, the Human Rights Commission acknowledged his deeply-felt commitment to achieving practical outcomes for community harmony in a number of different ways, particularly through sport.
Canberra
12 December 2007