Anne Aly: First Muslim Woman in Australian Parliament

 

Anne Aly: First Muslim Woman in Australian Parliament

When he was only two years old, in 1969 his parents decided to emigrate from Egypt to Australia. His mother is a nurse while his father is an engineering graduate. But it is not easy to get a job in a foreign country that fits their field. His father was forced to become a bus driver. Somber portrait of an immigrant family.

After graduating from high school, his father sent him back to Egypt to get to know his cultural roots. Anne Aly, the girl's name, instead decided to take a 4-year college at the American University Cairo. She married an Egyptian man and had two sons from that marriage. He brought his little family to Australia. But once they arrived in Australia, life was not easy. This young couple then divorced when their children were 3 and 1 year old. Anne Aly then had to be alone to support her two small children. Working odd jobs day and night just to earn $400 to survive for two weeks.

Anne Aly reminisced bitterly about those dark times. He is now a Professor at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, who was recently elected to the Australian parliament. Anne told how the history she had just created as the first Muslim woman in the Australian Parliament was achieved with difficulty. There is no success story without pain.

In addition to supporting her two small children, recalls Anne, she decided to take the Master's program. What an intelligent woman, she finished her thesis in just 9 months. He had married a second time, but once again the marriage failed. He took up a PhD program and completed his dissertation in less than two years. Anne took the theme of terrorism. Slowly his name began to be known as an expert in the academic world. He has produced 4 books and dozens of journal articles. In 2015, he won the position of Professor. His life changed. Now at 49 years old, he is at the peak of his career.

Her two children are now in their twenties. He apologized because as a single mother, he admitted that he could not present an ideal father figure for his two children. The two children, who know very well how their mother struggles to raise them, replied: "We already have that ideal figure in you, Mother!"

Professor Anne Aly continues to travel abroad and is invited by many parties, including President Obama who once invited her to make a presentation on terrorism at the White House. For Anne Aly this is very personal. He saw that many Muslim immigrant children were marginalized by western society and had the potential to become radicalized. He didn't want his two children to experience the same thing. He also decided to marry a third time four years ago. Past failures don't mean he doesn't deserve to be happy now. Life goes on – regardless of other people's negative comments.

The taller the tree, the more wind it blows. Anne Aly was criticized from various quarters. For example, she was criticized by Muslim groups because she did not wear the hijab and was therefore not considered a representative of the Ummah. Meanwhile, anti-Islam groups sent death threats to him because of his many writings criticizing the government's policies on dealing with Islam and terrorism. Columnists like Andrew Bolt attacked Anne Aly's credibility after she decided to run in the election. Every inch of information about it continues to be dug up to destroy it. The chair he was aiming for originally belonged to Luke Simpkins who had a very negative view of Islam. Who would have guessed that Luke Simpkins lost his vote and now the seat of the DPR is occupied by Anne Aly.

Yesterday (22 July 2016) I attended Anne Aly's presentation at the Annual Human Rights Conference organized by The Castan Center for Human Rights Law, Monash University. He is a good speaker, clear and calm. Anne honestly admits that her current research elaborates more on questions than provides answers. The issue of Islam and terrorism is indeed very complex. Inevitably the presence of an expert like him in Parliament will make the debate more exciting. At least now there is a Muslim woman's voice that must be heard by all members of Parliament and the people of Australia.

Anne Aly has shown that we must judge the ideas and achievements of others, not even question her background as a Muslim immigrant woman who does not wear a hijab and is married and divorced. Like it or not, the fact is that Anne Aly is now a Professor and member of Parliament in Australia. His contributions and ideas are now awaited by all parties, both those who hate him or those who have voted for him.