I

extend my warm wishes to Muslims in Australia and around the world for Ramadhan.

To the more than 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide, Ramadhan is a special month of fasting and prayer.

It is also a sacred time for contemplation and compassion, when Muslims are urged to strengthen their focus on providing charity and helping fellow citizens.

During the course of this month, Muslims will fast, consuming no food or water between dawn and dusk, so that they can better understand the lives and experiences of those who are less fortunate than themselves.

Today, Australia is home to nearly half a million Muslims. The Australian Muslim community is diverse, with members from more than 60 different ethnic backgrounds. Muslims make important contributions to modern-day Australia and strengthen Australia’s links with Muslim communities around the globe.

The Australian government is committed to further deepening Australia’s already strong bonds with the Muslim world.

Addressing a high-level meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Astana, Kazakhstan, in June this year, I announced the government’s appointment of a Special Envoy to the OIC, Ahmed Fahour.

A distinguished Muslim Australian, Fahour, who is the managing director and chief executive officer of Australia Post, will work to improve understanding and strengthen people-to-people links.

Ramadhan is a reminder that Muslim Australians are making a large and growing contribution to Australian society. As we welcome the beginning of Ramadhan this week, I wish all Muslim Australians “Ramadhan Mubarak”.

Kevin Rudd
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Canberra