Latest news with #MJC
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
Orang Ulu community hosts state-level Gawai Dayak Open House 2025, drawing thousands
Wan Junaidi (fifth right) leads the toast during the state-level Gawai Dayak Open House with Abang Johari (seventh right), Uggah (sixth right), Gerawat (eighth right) and other guests. – Ukas photo KUCHING (June 1): The state-level Gawai Dayak celebration this year saw the Orang Ulu community take centre stage as hosts of the Gawai Dayak Open House, held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today, drawing over 3,000 attendees from all walks of life. In attendance were Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and his wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Juma'ani Tuanku Bujang, along with state and federal dignitaries. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the open house was not only a platform to highlight Dayak culture and traditions, but also a testament to Sarawak's racial harmony. 'Today is an opportunity for us to showcase Dayak culture, tradition and practices, and also to bring all races together. 'We are very happy to have our Head of State, the Premier, leaders as well as people of all races in attendance. This is the true picture of Sarawak,' he told reporters. One of the cultural performances during the open house. – Ukas photo He added that the open house demonstrated the state's cultural diversity and harmony to the rest of Malaysia, and the pride Sarawakians have in their traditions. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala, who is also chairman of the organising committee, said the Orang Ulu were proud to be given the opportunity to host this year's state-level celebration. This year, it is our turn to host the celebration, and we are showcasing the Orang Ulu culture together with other major Dayak communities like the Bidayuh and Iban,' he said. He noted that hosting responsibilities for the state-level Gawai celebration rotate among the Dayak communities, with the Iban community scheduled to host next year. He also outlined a series of events held in conjunction with this year's celebration, including the Gawai Bazaar at MJC, Batu Kawa which was held from May 15 to 25, and the upcoming Gawai Dayak 'Niti Daun' Parade on June 21, which will feature 90 cultural troupes parading from Tun Jugah building to the Kuching Waterfront. 'Our guest of honour for the 'Niti Daun' Parade will be our Premier and we welcome everyone to come and join us as the parade is one of the best showcases of our Dayak culture,' he said. More than 3,000 people from all walks of life visited the open house. – Penerangan photo He added that there will also be a Gawai Dayak Gala Dinner on June 22 at BCCK where the Head of State and his wife will serve as guests of honour. 'We have also invited the Prime Minister and Premier to attend,' he added. He said one of the highlights of the dinner will be the Kumang-Keling showcase, with participants from various divisions showcasing their traditional attire as well as other cultural performances.
Borneo Post
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
MJC Batu Kawa's Bazaar Gawai Dayak 2025 draws crowds with culture, crafts and cuisine
KUCHING (May 16): The Bazaar Gawai Dayak 2025 at MJC Batu Kawa has drawn large crowds as it enters its second day, offering a vibrant fusion of culture, crafts, and cuisine. Visitors are greeted by rows of stalls showcasing Dayak-themed items, including traditional accessories, handwoven crafts, intricate beadwork, and cultural attire. The atmosphere is festive, with upbeat music playing in the background as people wander from booth to booth, soaking in the vibrant displays and diverse offerings. From intricately beaded jewelry to handmade garments and artisanal goods, the bazaar highlights the rich cultural heritage of Sarawak's indigenous communities. Food has become a major draw, with an abundance of stalls offering traditional delights such as pansuh (meat cooked in bamboo), authentic Bidayuh dishes, and other Dayak specialties. Aromas of smoky grilled meats, hearty stews, rice wrapped in leaves, and sweet local treats fill the air, tantalising the senses. Refreshing drinks, including locally brewed tuak (rice wine), are also available to complement the meals and enhance the festive mood. Adding to the excitement, tonight's programme features the Gawai Country Night, complete with live music and cultural performances. One of the evening's highlights is the Tuak Nyamai competition, where homemade rice wine is judged based on flavour and quality. Running until May 25, the Gawai Bazaar 2025 features 180 stalls and a variety of nightly activities to keep the celebratory spirit alive throughout the 11-day event.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Even in his final seconds of life, first gay imam pushed boundaries
The execution-style killing of an openly gay imam, Muhsin Hendricks, in South Africa has left people in the LGBTQ+ community fearful for their safety - but also determined to forge ahead with the campaign to end their marginalisation in religious circles. Reverend Toni Kruger-Ayebazibwe, an openly gay Christian cleric, told the BBC that Hendricks was a "gentle spirit" who brought light into any room he occupied. "The gap Muhsin leaves is massive," she told the BBC, adding that she knew for a fact that there there were "a large number of queer Muslims around the world who are grief stricken". The 57-year-old was shot dead in what appeared to be a hit on Saturday in the small coastal city of Gqeberha. Initial reports that Cape Town-based Hendricks had been in Gqeberha to perform the wedding ceremony of a gay couple have been dismissed as untrue by his Al-Gurbaah Foundation. "He was visiting Gqeberha to officiate the marriages of two interfaith heterosexual couples when he was tragically shot and killed," it said in a statement. It is unclear why the couples had asked Hendricks to oversee their ceremonies, but it suggests that he was pushing the boundaries, even in the last seconds of his life. Traditional imams in South Africa rarely, if ever, perform the marriage of a Muslim to a non-Muslim - something that Hendricks clearly had no issue with. He had, according to a faith leader that the BBC spoke to, conducted one such marriage ceremony and was on his way to conduct the next one when he was gunned down in his vehicle. Two leading bodies that represent imams - the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) and the United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA) - condemned Hendricks' killing. "As members of a democratic, pluralistic society, the MJC remains steadfast in advocating for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, even amidst divergent views," the MJC said, while the UUCSA said it condemned "all forms of extra-judicial killings". However, Hendricks - who did his Islamic studies in Pakistan - was a pariah in their circles, as they hold the view that Islam prohibits same-sex relations. They pointedly referred to him as "Mr Hendricks", rather than by religious titles like imam or sheikh. In contrast, Hendricks' supporters hailed him as the world's first openly gay imam who made it possible for them to reconcile their sexuality with their Islamic faith. That he was a trail-blazer is not surprising - South Africa's constitution, adopted in 1996 after the end of white-minority rule, was the first in the world to protect people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation. Then in 2006, South Africa became the first country in Africa to legalise same-sex marriage. Once in a heterosexual marriage with children, Hendricks came out as gay in 1996 - and, according to The Conversation, he later broke another taboo by marrying a Hindu man. He then spearheaded the formation of The Inner Circle as "an underground social and support group" for queer Muslims. It started out at his home in Cape Town, and has "proven to be very successful in helping Muslims who are queer to reconcile Islam with their sexuality", The Inner Circle's website says. Despite South Africa having a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, members of the community still face some stigmatisation and violence. Only a few of the country's religious groups have adopted policies that are more favourable towards the community, among them the Dutch Reformed Church and the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. The Dutch Reformed Church was in 2019 forced by the courts to reinstate a policy it had introduced four years earlier, but then scrapped, allowing same-sex marriages and for gay and lesbian pastors to be in romantic relationships. The following year, the Methodist Church said that while it was "not yet ready to apply for its ministers to officiate at same-sex marriages", no congregant residing in a member country that recognised civil unions would be "prevented from entering into such a union which can be as same-sex or opposite sex couples". Reverend Ecclesia de Lange, the director at Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM), told the BBC that even in instances where faith groups had adopted inclusive policies there were still "pockets of very strong conservatism". "The traditional interpretations of sacred texts continue to exclude LGBTQ+ people, so the struggle for acceptance within faith communities remains ongoing," she said. Senior lecturer in Islamic Studies at South Africa's University of the Western Cape, Dr Fatima Essop, reflected on the "distressing" vitriolic content circulating on social media in the wake of Hendricks' killing. "I just find that completely shocking and so far removed from our... Islamic tradition, which is all about compassion and mercy and preservation of human life," she told the BBC. Dr Essop added that while she understood some of the strong feelings against Hendricks' work, there was "absolutely no justification, Islamic or otherwise, for this kind of violence". And while the motive is unclear, Hendrick's killing - and the negative comments that followed - was likely to make people fearful to "speak about their sexuality or sexual orientation", Dr Essop said. Reverend Kruger-Ayebazibwe said that while Hendricks' shooting would make LGBTQ+ leaders rethink their security, it would not deter them from campaigning for change "because the work matters too much". Hendricks has already been buried at a private ceremony, though his Al-Gurbaah Foundation has pledged to organise a memorial in the near future to "honour his immense contributions". For Teboho Klaas, the religion programme officer at The Other Foundation, which champions LGBTQ+ rights in southern Africa, his killers may have cut his life short "but not his legacy because he has multiplied himself". Born free, killed by hate - the price of being gay in South Africa Gay rights: Africa, the new frontier The long road to legalise same sex marriage in Thailand Uganda anti-gay laws: Beaten and forced to flee for being LGBT Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Muhsin Hendricks murder: Even in his final seconds of life, first gay imam pushed boundaries
The execution-style killing of an openly gay imam, Muhsin Hendricks, in South Africa has left people in the LGBTQ+ community fearful for their safety - but also determined to forge ahead with the campaign to end their marginalisation in religious circles. Reverend Toni Kruger-Ayebazibwe, an openly gay Christian cleric, told the BBC that Hendricks was a "gentle spirit" who brought light into any room he occupied. "The gap Muhsin leaves is massive," she told the BBC, adding that she knew for a fact that there there were "a large number of queer Muslims around the world who are grief stricken". The 57-year-old was shot dead in what appeared to be a hit on Saturday in the small coastal city of Gqeberha. Initial reports that Cape Town-based Hendricks had been in Gqeberha to perform the wedding ceremony of a gay couple have been dismissed as untrue by his Al-Gurbaah Foundation."He was visiting Gqeberha to officiate the marriages of two interfaith heterosexual couples when he was tragically shot and killed," it said in a statement. It is unclear why the couples had asked Hendricks to oversee their ceremonies, but it suggests that he was pushing the boundaries, even in the last seconds of his life. Traditional imams in South Africa rarely, if ever, perform the marriage of a Muslim to a non-Muslim - something that Hendricks clearly had no issue with. He had, according to a faith leader that the BBC spoke to, conducted one such marriage ceremony and was on his way to conduct the next one when he was gunned down in his vehicle. Two leading bodies that represent imams - the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) and the United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA) - condemned Hendricks' killing. "As members of a democratic, pluralistic society, the MJC remains steadfast in advocating for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, even amidst divergent views," the MJC said, while the UUCSA said it condemned "all forms of extra-judicial killings".However, Hendricks - who did his Islamic studies in Pakistan - was a pariah in their circles, as they hold the view that Islam prohibits same-sex relations. They pointedly referred to him as "Mr Hendricks", rather than by religious titles like imam or sheikh. In contrast, Hendricks' supporters hailed him as the world's first openly gay imam who made it possible for them to reconcile their sexuality with their Islamic he was a trail-blazer is not surprising - South Africa's constitution, adopted in 1996 after the end of white-minority rule, was the first in the world to protect people from discrimination because of their sexual in 2006, South Africa became the first country in Africa to legalise same-sex in a heterosexual marriage with children, Hendricks came out as gay in 1996 - and, according to The Conversation, he later broke another taboo by marrying a Hindu man. He then spearheaded the formation of The Inner Circle as "an underground social and support group" for queer started out at his home in Cape Town, and has "proven to be very successful in helping Muslims who are queer to reconcile Islam with their sexuality", The Inner Circle's website South Africa having a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, members of the community still face some stigmatisation and violence. Only a few of the country's religious groups have adopted policies that are more favourable towards the community, among them the Dutch Reformed Church and the Methodist Church of Southern Dutch Reformed Church was in 2019 forced by the courts to reinstate a policy it had introduced four years earlier, but then scrapped, allowing same-sex marriages and for gay and lesbian pastors to be in romantic relationships. The following year, the Methodist Church said that while it was "not yet ready to apply for its ministers to officiate at same-sex marriages", no congregant residing in a member country that recognised civil unions would be "prevented from entering into such a union which can be as same-sex or opposite sex couples".Reverend Ecclesia de Lange, the director at Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM), told the BBC that even in instances where faith groups had adopted inclusive policies there were still "pockets of very strong conservatism". "The traditional interpretations of sacred texts continue to exclude LGBTQ+ people, so the struggle for acceptance within faith communities remains ongoing," she lecturer in Islamic Studies at South Africa's University of the Western Cape, Dr Fatima Essop, reflected on the "distressing" vitriolic content circulating on social media in the wake of Hendricks' killing."I just find that completely shocking and so far removed from our... Islamic tradition, which is all about compassion and mercy and preservation of human life," she told the Essop added that while she understood some of the strong feelings against Hendricks' work, there was "absolutely no justification, Islamic or otherwise, for this kind of violence".And while the motive is unclear, Hendrick's killing - and the negative comments that followed - was likely to make people fearful to "speak about their sexuality or sexual orientation", Dr Essop Kruger-Ayebazibwe said that while Hendricks' shooting would make LGBTQ+ leaders rethink their security, it would not deter them from campaigning for change "because the work matters too much".Hendricks has already been buried at a private ceremony, though his Al-Gurbaah Foundation has pledged to organise a memorial in the near future to "honour his immense contributions".For Teboho Klaas, the religion programme officer at The Other Foundation, which champions LGBTQ+ rights in southern Africa, his killers may have cut his life short "but not his legacy because he has multiplied himself". You may be interested in: Born free, killed by hate - the price of being gay in South AfricaGay rights: Africa, the new frontierThe long road to legalise same sex marriage in ThailandUganda anti-gay laws: Beaten and forced to flee for being LGBT Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Yahoo
World's first openly gay Muslim imam Muhsin Hendricks shot dead in South Africa
Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The world's first openly gay imam in the Muslim faith was shot and killed in what local authorities say may be a hate crime. Police are "hot on the heels" of the alleged suspects and an investigation is underway behind the shooting death of Muhsin Hendricks in Bethelsdorp, South African Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel told Newzroom Afrika TV. Hendricks, 57, and an unidentified driver were seen on Saturday inside a gold-colored Volkswagon TRoc on Haley Place near Extension 24 at around 10 a.m. local time. A silver-colored Hilux double cab truck stopped in front of the vehicle and "blocked them from driving off," the Eastern Cape provincial police wrote in a statement. The South African Department of Justice stated it was "saddened" and pledged to "track and monitor that justice is dispensed" if his murder is ultimately confirmed to be a hate crime. "Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle," officials added. "Thereafter they fled the scene, and the driver noticed that Hendricks who was seated at the back of the vehicle was shot and killed." However, a motive is unclear. The South African constitution was adopted in 1994 after the end of Apartheid's white-minority rule. It became the first nation on Earth to protect citizens from discrimination because of sexual orientation despite ongoing bigotry and a high murder rate. The cleric in 1996 became the "first imam in the world to come out as gay," the advocacy group International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association said on Saturday. Meanwhile, South Africa in 2006 became the first country in Africa to legalize same-sex marriage. "The ILGA World family is in deep shock at the news of the murder of Muhsin Hendricks, and calls on authorities to thoroughly investigate what we fear may be a hate crime," Julia Ehrt, the ILGA World's executive director, wrote in the statement. Hendricks was founder and executive director of the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation in Cape Town, a human rights organization which provides support to "Queer Muslims helping them to reconcile Islam with their Sexual orientation and Gender Identity," according to its website. On Sunday, the Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa (MJC) said in a statement it "unequivocally" condemned the "shocking killing" despite his sexuality. "It has been alleged that the killing may have been motivated by hatred towards Muhsin Hendricks due to his views on same-sex relationships," the MJC says. "While the MJC has consistently maintained that Muhsin's position is incompatible with Islamic teachings, we unequivocally condemn his murder and any acts of violence targeting members of the LGBTQ community or any other community." Amid death threats, Hendricks was the subject of a 2022 documentary called The Radical which followed his journey to establishing an LGBTQ+ mosque. "The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die," he said in the film. This followed the murder of Imam Hassan Shariff in January 2024 outside a Newark mosque in New Jersey. Hendricks, however, was outspoken on interfaith dialogue, mental health and trauma faced by persecuted individuals within religious communities. "It is important that we stop to look at religion as the enemy," Hendricks said in Cape Town last year at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association World Conference. Hendricks was "a South African that we can all be proud of, a South African that we can all aspire to be," Nel, the deputy justice minister, said of the religious leader.
