Vic: Muslim appointed head prison chaplain
MELBOURNE, Dec 9 AAP - In an Australian first, a Muslim chaplain has been appointedhead of pastoral care at Victoria's Port Phillip prison.
Aziz Cooper will coordinate the multi-faith team and ensure all prisoners have accessto religious services regardless of their faith.
The prison chaplaincy team consists of Anglican, Muslim, Buddhist, Roman Catholic,Uniting, Salvation Army and Jewish religious leaders.
Mr Cooper, 34, said his role will also help minority faith prisoners settle in whenthere is no chaplain available to meet their particular needs.
Prisoner's rights to practice their religion and have access to religious servicesare protected under the United Nations Charter.
About six per cent of the prison population is Islamic, and arrangements are made toobserve the holy month Ramadan.
Prison chaplain Mohammed Newas said inmates are able to fast and are provided mealsafter sundown.
A feast has also be planned to mark the end of Ramadan.
"We're having a big barbecue," he said.
While ostensibly prison chaplains are there to provide spiritual guidance, ReverendJonathon Chambers said their role is more often about providing a friend and confidantefor inmates.
"We're not part of the prison management," he said. "There is no uniform, so we'reseen as separate."
Mr Cooper will replace the Reverend Lesley-Anne Curran from the Uniting Church.
"At this time in history, with the public spotlight on us, the Muslims in Victoriawant to show us as passive and progressive in serving the whole community," he told thecongregation at a service today marking his appointment.
AAP svm/gfr/cd/de
KEYWORD: CHAPLAIN (PIX AVAILABLE)
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