On Saturday 14 September 2019 AFIC was honoured to host the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (retd) and Mrs Hurley in Perth. This was an historic visit representing the first time a sitting Governor-General had visited the Perth Community.

His Excellency met with Dr Rateb Jneid, AFIC President, and other community leaders in a private session before attending the Perth Mosque for a public gathering. In addressing The Governor-General, Dr Jneid said “We congratulate you on your appointment and look forward to building a strong relationship with the Muslim community based on mutual respect and a desire to strengthen our social harmony and build bridges across our society.”

We note His Excellency’s comments about the importance of faith in our society and his own experiences with Muslims and Islam and his respect for our religion. Local community leaders and members had the opportunity to discuss these matters with The Governor-General and Mrs Hurly further as they walked through the Mosque and its grounds.

AFIC President, Dr Jneid stated “We are very pleased to have hosted The Governor-General and Mrs Hurly. They were welcoming and appreciative of the welcome they received. The Governor-General has a rich personal connection with Islam, and we look forward to building our relationship based on mutual respect and a desire to improve our society.