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Premier of New South Wales Honourable Barry O’Farrell MP hosted a Iftar Dinner at the Parliament House
(Coverage by: Syed Zafar Hussain, Editor-in-Chief Sada-e-Watan Sydney)

To celebrate Interfaith Harmony, an Iftar Dinner hosted by the the Honourable Barry O’Farrell MP Premier of NSW, took place at Parliament House on 08 August 2011.Chairman of the Community Relations Commission’s of NSW Mr, Stepan Kerkyasharian was MC. NSW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITIES Hon.Victor Dominello MP welcome the guests and said Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu and Christian living peacefully in the multicultural New South Wales.Minister Victor Dominello said that Indeed, we here are many lanterns – but our light is very much the same.

A Iftar Dinner to Celebrate Interfaith Harmony was attended by Attorney General Greg Smith, First female speaker for State Parliament Shelley Hancock, Leader of the Opposition NSW John Robertson, Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Mr.Andrew P Scipione & his wife, Dean of the Consular Corp in Sydney/NSW Consul General of Pakistan Mr. Azam Mohammed, Consul General of the United States Mr.Niels Marquardt, Consul General of Turkey in Sydney, Miss Gulseren Celik, Mr. John O’ Reilly, Commander Counter terrorism & Special tactics NSW Police, Diplomat’s representing a number of foreign governments, NSW Government Ministers, Members of Parliament, Selected Media Personalities, and Commissioners of government agencies, Religious Scholars & Community Leaders from diverse ethnic backgrounds. At the iftar, there were not only leaders from the Muslim Community but also leaders from other faiths as well as politician’s. There were 300 people who attended the iftar at NSW Parliament House Strangers Room.

After some interesting discussions during dinner, the NSW Premier The Hon Barry O’Farrell gave a very well versed speech in which he told of the contributions of Muslims to Australia.Premier The Hon Barry O’Farrell said that It is an honour as Premier to join this distinguished company of religious leaders at this important time in the Muslim religious calendar. We are here together from many backgrounds in support of our fellow Australians.

Tonights gathering are indicative of the importance to NSW and to my Government of creating a harmonious community. Premier said that the great tradition in New South Wales of holding a government inter-faith Iftar dinner during Ramadan was initiated in 2004 and we Liberal will continue this tradition.

Honourable Barry O’Farrell MP said that I have many Muslim friends and last week I was invited at a friend home Guildford  for Iftar. Premier said that New South Wales was the first government in Australia to recognise the importance of Ramadan. Premier said that more than one hundred and sixty (160,000) Muslims are settled in NSW and we recognise the opportunity it represents to bring religious and community leaders together in respect for this holy and sacred period for Muslims. I am very proud to be the Premier of the State where so many people from every part of the globe have been welcomed, where they have settled and contributed in peace and harmony. I wish you all Ramadan Karim.Have a wonderful evening and advance Eid Mubarak.

Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Mr. Andrew P Scipione & his Wife

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