Asalamualaikum wa Rahmatullah

Bislmillah Rahman Raheem,

As Muslims we were all hurt and challenged by the recent events in Gaza. It was very difficult watching the news reports of the countless killed everyday. It is only natural to find outlets for the frustration that builds up.

FOSIS Ireland was able to be constructive and begin a campaign to fundraise for the victims of the Gaza atrocities. Our "For Gaza" campaign was a collaberation with several other Muslim Student organizations in Ireland including Malaysians Muslim Students Association Ireland (PPIMI), Islamic Medical Association Malaysia (IMAM), and Kelab UMNO Dublin (KUD). We have raised 5000 plus euros to date! Mashallah. Muslim Students were very active also in protesting against the war crimes committed by Israel and participated in many of the large rallies held in Dublin.

You can visit the website set up for the "For Gaza" Campaign at http://forgaza.wordpress.com/.

The recent events have also caused some changes to our upcoming Islam Awareness Week in the first week of February, and will include fundraising dinners to further support our brothers and sisters in Palestine. Other events to be included in Islam Awareness Week are speeches addressing the "Credit Crunch" and other interesting topics, go-karting, swimming, and much much more. The committee is hard at work to make this IAW a memorable one.

Other events to be keeping an eye out for is the FOSIS Ireland Annual General Meeting, where the current committee will be taken to account and a new committee will be elected which will occur on February 28th. There will also be a training session for all Islamic Society committee members and future committee members in March. Please email me at ireland.chair@fosis.org.uk if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Please forgive our shortcomings and please suggest how we can improve ourselves.

Jawad Vaid
Ireland Chair

www.fosisirelandchapter.com