Feature: Outrage over Muslim prayer hall

United Press International ^ | 11/29/2002 7:52 AM | Stephen Sheldon

[Michael2001]

SYDNEY, Australia, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Abbas Aly, an Australian computer science engineer, expected some objections when he applied to his local council to build a small prayer hall on the outskirts of Sydney, but he never thought his plan would unleash the community anger he is now facing.

Aly's proposal, submitted Oct. 1, seemed innocuous enough at the time. A small hall -- no minarets or domes -- plus offices, and parking for 53 cars, on a five-acre block in rural Annangrove.

The idea was to provide premises for the 60 or so Muslim families in the surrounding area who otherwise need to drive almost an hour to the nearest mosque.

All services and meetings would be in English. It would be used twice a week for religious functions, which 80 people would attend. Three times a year, the number might reach 250.

It met all the zoning requirements and is, according to Baulkham Hills Shire Council, a "permissible use."

At any other time, the proposal might have slipped through unnoticed.

But then along came the Oct. 12 nightclub bombings in Bali, Indonesia, which heightened public fears and paranoia already fuelled by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and a series of gang rapes by a group of Lebanese-Australian youth in western Sydney.

Not to mention the fact Australia is under a terror alert, with daily warnings that an al Qaida attack is imminent.

Now, all hell has broken loose in this sleepy "white bread" area -- population 1,989 -- on the edge of Sydney's "Bible Belt."

The development application attracted 4,500 written submissions from the public, an unprecedented number for such a proposal.

"Eight is usually a lot," Council spokeswoman Justine O'Leary told United Press International.

The main objections related to the likely increase in traffic congestion and noise, as well impacts on the natural environment and public safety. Very few submissions mentioned religion or ethnicity.

In addition, the proposal has seen 700 locals attend a public protest meeting.

Which makes Aly even more convinced that traffic and noise are not the main issues.

"I paid for two planning reports, and I can tell you there is no planning issue there -- it's the fear of the unknown," he told UPI. "People don't know who we are, and they are not ready for the prayer hall right now."

Aly has also had a brick through his office window, fires in his household garbage bins, and has received thousands of letters.

"I think the big winner is Australia Post," he said.

The irony is that Aly sees himself as Australian first, and Muslim second. He loves cricket, voted for the conservative Prime Minister, John Howard, and owns a computer hardware company.

"I am not even devout," he said.

Aly's predicament is symptomatic of the situation of many in Australia's 300,000-strong Muslim community, who are now on the defensive due to the actions of extremists overseas.

"I can see why these people (the residents) are scared of the terrorists and their followers. I'm scared of them too," he said. "I worry every time I go on a plane."

For its part, the Council is sticking to the script. Deputy Mayor Mike Blair told UPI he tries to "keep politics out of it" and says he really believes it is about planning issues.

"I don't have a problem, but there is a concern out there. It's a very close-knit community, and residents are irate because they feel the prayer hall is unwarranted," he said.

Sharon Wells, president of the Annangrove Progress Association, which is leading the campaign, said that while she had planning concerns she opposes the development because of the "social impact" of a meeting place for Muslims.

At the public meeting, Mayor John Griffiths, who is also a lay preacher, was more blunt, saying he was "concerned about the girls and ladies in this community" if a mosque were built.

Many Australians, probably even a strong majority, are critical of the Annangrove view. Labor Sen. George Campbell spoke for them when he told The Hills News: "Prejudice has no place in Australia and Annangrove residents should embrace diversity."

But it is easy to believe that, privately, most are breathing a sigh of relief the development proposal was not for their neighborhood.

The fate of the proposed prayer hall will be decided by a full Council meeting on Dec. 17. For his part, Aly is staying remarkably calm.

"I'm hoping common sense will prevail, and Council sees the prayer hall not such a problem," he said.

[Michael2001]

The development application attracted 4,500 written submissions from the public, an unprecedented number for such a proposal.

"Eight is usually a lot," Council spokeswoman Justine O'Leary told United Press International.

The Aussies may be smarter than we are.

[Lilly]

...it appears, MUCH SMARTER!

Thanks for the thread FRiend.

[monkeyshine]

who are now on the defensive due to the actions of extremists overseas

And I'm sure that roving band of domestic rapists doesn't help much either.

[paul51]

The irony is that Aly sees himself as Australian first, and Muslim second

Don't believe it for a minute

[xm177e2]

Americans should hang their heads in shame, we're the worstest people on the face of the earth </sarcasm>

[KEVinSHANNONnz]

ping from me and Shaggy Eel.

[autoresponder]

I believe Islamics consider the critical point is 15% when they start to alter their peaceful submissive behaviors.

In some European countries they list religions as "Christians" (Protestants) and "Catholics" and "Jewish" to get the percentages under the 12% Islamic populations.

Much like 1930s Europe they willingly set off down the Yellow Brick Road to obvious doom.

Ozzies.

Just like the Socialist Aussie gun-grabber pols.

[Aaron0617]

And I'm sure that roving band of domestic rapists doesn't help much either. To other who like me didn't know what you were referring to. Link to Gangrape Article

[Pliney the younger]

In India, two years ago, some 300 Hindi were returning home, after working on the construction of a new Hindu temple. When their train stopped, their Moslem neighbors blocked the doors and threw gallon bottles of gasoline into the cars and burnt some 200 men, women and children to death.

Did the Australians by any chance burn to death any Moslems?

In Nigeria last week, to demonstrate their disapproval of a newspaper article, Mobs of Muslims burn down 10 churches. They then hacked and burnt to death some 225 of their Christian neighbors. They were quite displeased with the article.

Did the Australians hack any of the Muslims to death?

Last week two Christian Americans who had dedicated their lives to helping Muslims were shot in the head by their Muslim neighbors. One was a UN employee, and the other was a beautiful young Christian nurse who had served displaced Palestinian Muslims at a dispensary for some years. Their Corpses have been returned to the US for burial.

Did the Australians shoot any of the applicants in the head?

Reverend Roberts, who use to operate the most powerful radio broadcast station in Lebanon, (Until it and several of his Christian employees were blown apart by a car bomb) reports that one and a half MILLION Christians have been mattered by Muslims within the not too distant past for the crime of not submitting to Allah.

I didn't notice any mention of the Australians burning, bludgeoning, shooting, or bombing any of the applicants to death in this article.

I am not an American Moslem; I am a Christian American.

But if I were a Muslim I would go on TV and announce that 9/11 and all of these other acts were DESPICABLE.

And that no God of Love could do anything but DAMN the participants.

And I would announce that I would condemn any Muslim that has destructive intentions against my country. And that I would immediately go you the FBI and report them.

But do you know what? I have never head a single Muslim say that. And I haven‘t heard a single Counter American Culturist Announcer from any of the big three TV networks ask why no Muslims come forward with just such a proclamation!

Just maybe the Australians have a point. And just maybe until the Muslim Communities announce their loyalties to their nations it will stay that way.

Some Muslims have Condemned the bombings (They same ones we later learned ordered the bombings.) And some have said they love living in America. But none have said I as a Muslim am ready to die for my country to stop other Muslims from doing her damage.

Just maybe American Muslims don’t believe in the American principle that Americans respect other citizens rights to worship in their own way.
And that they reject the orders in their Korans to kill their neighbors if they do not submit to Allah!

And PS
Just maybe the members of the liberal press despise American principles just about as much as the Muslim terrorists do!

Love,

Pliny the Younger

[bluefish]

"I am not even devout," he said

And when the prayer hall finally gets built, some visiting Iman will command his death for this statement. That, or the local Islamists, upon reading it in the paper, will go on a rampage, killing anybody in sight with a machete.

[2sheep]

>"I am not even devout," he said.

 AL-TAQIYA...The Muslim Method Of Conquest

>At the public meeting, Mayor John Griffiths, who is also a lay preacher, was more blunt, saying he was "concerned about the girls and ladies in this community" if a mosque were built.

All they need is a Muslim "Revival" and a few mullas to spread the madness and there will be another Nigeria.

[2sheep]

Right.  Aussies are becoming more experienced at inspecting the "fruit" of this so-called religion.

On our Australian 60 minutes last night was a woman who was raped by three at a train station then carted off to a park then raped by 25 individuals,Lebanese Muslims,they all called each other on mobile phones to come join the fun,at one stage they even hosed her off with a fire hose before the last 2 raped her.  They called her 'Australian pig' etc.

 21  posted on 8/11/02 5:54 PM Pacific by Crazymonarch

[krb]

Why does one have to apply to found a place to peacably assemble there?

Don't get me wrong, I don't like the militant islamikazi's one bit, but having to apply for a permit to meet with your fellow spiritual believers is tyranny, unless there is proof this guy is a terrorist who is trying to build a safe-house for terrorism.

[krb]

In India, two years ago, some 300 Hindi

That's Hindus. Hindi is the (main) language that Hindus speak

[2sheep]

Good post!  The intent of the satanic Islamists is world domination by force and they will stomp every nation's sovereignty to get it.  Further, the globalists are helping them, not Jews and Christians.

>>> Allah and the Real-World-Order <<<

[Redleg Duke]

Suggest that these towelheads emmigrate to the promised land...Iran. Lots of mosques and meeting halls there.

[anu_shr]

That's Hindus. Hindi is the (main) language that Hindus speak >> wrong too. Hindi is a language spoken by a large majority of Hindus ( and muslims and christians ) living in northern part of India. Otherwise there are something like 25 languages and over 300 dialects that Hindus speak. The incident of Muslims burning Hindu women and children happened in Feb/march this year and about 60 were killed. the Hindu retaliation resulted in over 1000 deaths.

[MissAmericanPie]

When a mosque is built, these idiots consider it ground taken for Islam to be defended at all costs. You don't just tear one down, you don't turn the building into a small business if the Mosque fails. It belongs to them forever, and they will find something in their stupid Quaran to back up the fact that Muhammad spoke of that very mosque, like they have with in Israel with the Al Aska and Dome of the Rock.

Just like they are doing now that they are building a Mosque on top of Joseph's Tomb. Lying about history or anything is part and parcel of the Islamic culture. The Aussie's are indeed smarter than us.

[Ron H.]

..."People don't know who we are, and they are not ready for the prayer hall right now." ..

That's the problem here Aly, these folks may not know you personally but like many Americans do, they recognize that you are indeed a bunch of paynim [noun: paynim. 1. A heathen (especially a Muslim)] (aka practicing paganism or engaging in a pagamn religion).

[Iscool]

I am not an American Moslem; I am a Christian American.

But if I were a Muslim I would go on TV and announce that 9/11 and all of these other acts were DESPICABLE

No you wouldn't...Or if you did, you would be intentionally lying...