Affinity Intercultural Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of ISRA Australia (Islamic Sciences and Research Academy of Australia) to provide information and research services to social and educational institutions in Australia. ISRA Australia will be responsible for the operation and improvement of adults and youth education program that was offered through Affinity to date.
After ten years of building interfaith and intercultural relations through education and dialogue and growing considerably in size, Affinity President Mr Mehmet Saral said “We have looked at what we have achieved over the last ten years. And then looking into the future we have seen it necessary to redefine ourselves. We have decided to peel off our educational platforms in to a new organisation that we named ISRA Australia – Islamic Sciences and Research Academy of Australia”.
Mr Saral describes the establishment of ISRA Australia as a “significant transition from an intercultural dialogue phase to an intercultural and interfaith cooperation phase where we can cooperate in social, educational and environmental areas to address issues facing all of us as Australians”.
ISRA Australia was launched nationally in Canberra on 24th of November 2009 in the presence of Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia Ms Quentin Bryce AC. The launch coincided with Affinity signing an agreement with Charles Sturt University to provide Islamic and Interfaith studies as part of CSU’s academic program.
Attending the national launch in Canberra, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia Ms Quentin Bryce AC described the agreement as “an agreement that promises to foster awareness and cooperation not only between Charles Stuart University and Affinity Intercultural Foundation, but across generations of students, infusing our institutions and structures, our neighbourhoods and communities with an understanding of Islam as an enriching element of our common life.”
Commenting on the significance of the agreement and the establishment of ISRA Australia Professor Ross Chambers, Chair of the Board of ACCC and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Charles Stuart University said “one of the things that our agreement says is that Islamic studies within Charles Stuart University will be taught from within the rich and inclusive scholarly traditions of Islam.” Because “if you’re going to talk about Islam, if you’re going to talk about Christianity, if you’re going to talk about Buddhism, its best to talk with people who know what they are talking about and that is people who are working from within those faith traditions.”
Affinity’s founding president since 2000 and its CEO since 2007 Mr Mehmet Ozalp accepted to lead the formation of ISRA Australia and head the organisation from its inception. Mr Ozalp said, “I am honoured to have been appointed as the Founding President and the Executive Officer of ISRA Australia.”
Mr Saral further remarked that “Establishment of ISRA Australia does not mean that Affinity will no longer be involved in educational or intellectual areas. Affinity will continue to do what it does best – intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Going forward, Affinity’s educational and intellectual work will be more relationship oriented. The new organisation ISRA Australia’s main focus will be largely educational. It will also be involved in interfaith dialogue especially in the area of education, interfaith research and scholarly level dialogues.”
Mr Ozalp said, “ISRA Australia rises on the foundations laid by the pioneering educational work of Affinity. Over time, it intends to contribute to the social capital of Australia by engaging with all educational and research institutions in Australia. We are looking forward to continuing our interfaith and educational cooperation around Australia to create more space for dialogue between Islam and contemporary Australia.”
Affinity’s Mrs Zuleyha Keskin will continue her important contribution within the leadership team of ISRA Australia as the Vice President. Mr Mehmet Ozalp and Mrs Zuleyha Keskin have both assumed their new roles and are working closely with Affinity Board of Directors through a transition plan. ISRA Australia is soon to establish its own centre at a new premises. During the implementation of the transition plan, Mr Mehmet Ozalp and Mrs Zuleyha Keskin will work from the premises of Affinity Intercultural Foundation until the new centre is operational.
Mr Mehmet Saral will assume the role of Executive Officer of Affinity as well as fulfilling his role as the President. Mr Ahmet Keskin has been elected as the Vice-President, Affinity Intercultural Foundation.
ISRA Australia will be launched in Sydney on 23rd of March 2010. ISRA Australia can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 02 9649 9040.
The Affinity Intercultural Foundation is a non-profit community based organisation that is committed to bringing together people of different backgrounds to help improve understanding and respect and to build greater community harmony. Affinity has been involved in many bridge building activities that help to overcome ignorance and prejudice since 2000.
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