For more than two decades, Ar-Rukun Mosque in Rockingham, Perth, Western Australia, has been running Saturday classes for children, aimed at instilling Islamic values and teaching them to read the Quran in a fun, exciting, safe and supportive environment.

Unfortunately, over the years, the Saturday classes have changed several times in administration and teaching teams, which has made it difficult for previous teams to sustain the program over the long term. However, the current IREAD team has successfully maintained and expanded the Saturday classes for more than a decade, and we aim for an even longer continuity of this program. 

The Current Situation

The IREAD team recently received an ultimatum from the newly appointed President of Ar-Rukun Mosque regarding the future management of the Saturday classes, with no appropriate reasoning provided, discussed or documented. 

As communicated to the IREAD community, the options presented to the current team are understood to involve either:

    •    placing the IREAD program under the direct control of the new President, which would involve changes to the existing IREAD team, the name of the program, and the way the program is currently operated

    •    OR

    •    for IREAD to operate independently outside of the Ar-Rukun Mosque compounds

This situation has raised significant concern among parents, students, teachers, and members of the wider community who value the program's continuity.

Our Request

We, the undersigned members and supporters of the IREAD community, respectfully call upon the Executive Committee of Ar-Rukun Mosque to:

    •    Allow the current IREAD team to remain in place and continue operating the Saturday classes as they have been doing successfully for approximately the past decade.

    •    Preserve the continuity and stability of the existing program for the benefit of the children and families who depend on it.

    •    Recognise the significant contribution and commitment of the current IREAD volunteers.

    •    Ensure that any proposed changes to the program's structure or management are discussed openly and transparently with the existing IREAD team and affected community members.

    •    Avoid the cessation of a long-running education program. 

    •    Ask the President and the mosque's Executive Committee to come forward and meet directly with the parents and members of the IREAD community, as requested by the parents and members of the IREAD community.

Our intention is not to create division within the mosque community, but to support the continuity of IREAD, a program that has served generations of children and has been sustained by the dedication and commitment of the current IREAD team. We believe that any major changes to IREAD, including changes to its leadership or management, should not be made without proper reasoning, transparency, and meaningful consultation with the IREAD team, parents, and wider community. The IREAD community deserves to have knowledge of, and a voice in, decisions that directly affect the program and its future.

Through this petition, we hope to encourage respectful consultation between the mosque leadership, the IREAD team, parents, and the wider community before any major decisions are made.

We would be honoured to have your support in preserving IREAD and ensuring that the voices of the community are heard.