Australia is a multicultural, multilingual and multi faith country. It has more than 300 ethnic groups, 200 languages and 100 religions. It has 700,000 community organisations and 665.000 voluntary groups. They are in the form of consortiums, networks, forums, councils, federations and confederations.
After looking at the organizational structure in Australia let us now focus on the Australian Muslims particularly the Shia Muslims in this continent.
The first Muslims settlers in Australia were the Afghani cameleers between in 1860 and 1920's. The first mosque was built in 1861 in South Australia.
Al Zehra Mosque was the first Shia mosque built in the state of New South Wales in 1983. There are now many Shia mosques and Islamic Centres in all Australian states. In New South Wales State there are around 50 Mosques, Shia Islamic Centres, Associations and Shia places of worship.
In 1964 Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, an umbrella organisation was created by the Australian Muslims. There was no Shia representation in it.
In view of the above there always has been a need for Shia Umbrella organisations in Australia. Individually all Shia centres and Mosques have been doing excellent service to the Shia community. They have been celebrating and commemorating th wiladat (birthdays)
and shahdat(martyrdoms) of the 14 infallibles, running weekend Islamic schools and Al Zehra college a full time IB school, organizing youth camps and various youth activities. There are huge gatherings there during the months of Ramadhans and Moharrams.
Australia is one of the greatest successful multicultural Continent. There has been always a felt need of a Shia multicultural and multilingual umbrella organisation in order to develop a well knit network in the Shia community.
The terrorist attack on two Muslim mosques in New Zealand on 15th of March, 2019 by an Australian born citizen Brenton Tarrant triggered the idea of creating a Shia unity group in Sydney. After 2 days of New Zealand massacre the representatives of various Shia organisations had an emergency meeting in Alamdar Centre in Granville, Sydney and a network was formed.
The network sought an urgent meeting with the Police which was held in Granville Police station on the 1st of April, 2019 under the Chairmanship of Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell. All local police commanders were present. Subsequently a delegation of the network met the NSW Police Minister Hon. David Elliot, who very kindly directed the officials of the Counter Terrorism to arrange the unmarked cars to go around the Shia centres during the first ten days of the Moharram in October, 2019
It must be noted that two Shia centres were attacked in Sydney and the culprits were awarded a prison for 20 years by the Parramatta court.
Shia National network of Australia was given the name to the network. It was registered with New South Wales department of Fair Trading in August, 2019.
After its registration an Executive Committee was elected from the representatives of different Centres/Mosques.
On regular basis its affiliated groups have been assisting the vulnerable people around the world especially in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Myanmar, Lebanon, Pakistan and Yemen. During the pandemic Covid-19, its workers had been serving the deserving people in Australia.
The Shia National Network of Australia known as SNNA has its affiliated Centres, Mosques and Associations of the people from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Pakistan. It has in its loop the Ahlulbyat Societies comprising of the Shia youth from the University of Sydney, UNSW, UWS, UTS, Macquarie and Catholic University. The youth communicate on their youth whatsApp.
The aims and objectives of SNNA have been stipulated in its constitution which could be browsed on this website.
All Australian states are keen to learn from the experience of SNNA and are willing to sign MOUs with it.