Category Archives: Australia

Bendigo councillor stands by anti-Islam comments

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Elise ChapmanBendigo leaders say they will not tolerate bigotry, especially from fellow community representatives, as councillor Elise Chapman remained steadfast in her comments about not “being a fan” of Islam.

Ms Chapman, who was one of two councillors to vote against a successful application for a mosque in Bendigo, reiterated she was not a racist and said people should not be made to feel so if they shared their opinions.

“My comments about not being a fan of Islam stand, although it must be noted I’m not a fan of many things,” she said. “The people of Bendigo have every right to object to the application for a mosque without being labeled a racist or bigot.

“My comment that I wouldn’t want to live next door to a mosque, also stands. Although it must be noted that I’d not like to live next door to a cemetery, nightclub, hotel, landfill, abattoir, train station…the list goes on. I think it’s sad that many residents are afraid to publicly voice their concerns for fear of being labelled racists and bigots.”

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Bendigo mosque: Black balloons hung outside councillor’s house

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Mark WeragodaA Bendigo councillor has had black balloons hung outside his house as part of a campaign against plans to build the city’s first mosque.

Councillor Mark Weragoda said his Sri Lankan heritage has been targeted in reaction to the council’s approval of the mosque at a rowdy meeting on Wednesday night. “Outside the actual chamber there was a little bit of abuse,” Cr Weragoda said. “I know one person yelled out to me, saying, ‘we don’t want you here’.”

The campaign against the mosque has included the hanging of black balloons throughout the city over the past couple of weeks. It is expected objectors will take their fight against the plans to Victoria’s planning tribunal, VCAT.

Cr Weagoda said the backlash against plans for the city’s first mosque has been a challenging experience. “We’ve got one of the best, best cities in the world and you come back and there’s a minority group who are a little disrespectful, that’s the disappointing thing,” he said.

ABC News, 20 June 2014

See also “‘Symbol of hatred’ leaves councillor shaken”, Bendigo Advertiser, 19 June 2014

Bendigo mosque approved amid local protest

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Bendigo mosque protestorsA Victorian council has approved the construction of a $3 million mosque in the regional centre of Bendigo despite fierce opposition from local residents.

More than 200 protestors packed a City of Greater Bendigo meeting on Wednesday night, heckling councillors, and calling on them to reject the plans. The proposal for the $3 million mosque, which includes two prayer rooms, a shop and a community sports hall, received more than 400 letters of objection, with more than half of them based on religious grounds.

Bendigo Councillor Elise Chapman says many residents are worried about an “influx” of Muslims in their area. “This isn’t about racism. This isn’t about bigotry. It’s genuine concern,” she told SBS.

Council documents show the majority of complaints related to concerns over the influence of Islam, citing the threat of terrorism, the introduction of Sharia and the dilution of “Christian values”.

But Ms Chapman says safety concerns were among the objections, citing a 2011 case that came before the Melbourne County Court in which a young woman was raped by a group of young men at Flora Hill. “I’ve received numerous pleas from women about their safety. The people are concerned,” she said.

A campaign on Facebook to “stop the Mosque in Bendigo” has so far attracted more than 7,000 likes. The page features photographs of the Bendigo councillors who approved the plans, labelling them “traitors”.

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Anti-Islamic group behind black balloons stunt in Bendigo

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Bendigo black balloonsAn anti-Islamic group has sent an anonymous email to all Bendigo media outlets, local politicians and prominent media commentators claiming it was behind the black balloons that have mysteriously appeared across central Bendigo.

The email has ended weeks of speculation about what the balloons mean and who is behind them.

The first line of the email states that the “black balloon campaign was established by those who are against the legislated inequality and abuse in our Western society of women and children”. It says Islamic influence, especially in relation to abuse of women and children, is “creeping into our Western culture”.

It says Western communities are being “forced to accept cultures like Islam”. The final line of the email reads: “The view of the black balloon supporters is to accept Islam into our community is endorsing domestic and child abuse in our community.” The email also says it is a “misconception” that the views expressed are “racist”.

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Brisbane: Christian college rejects student teachers who wore hijab

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Redlands CollegeThe principal of a Christian College has come under fire for transferring two student teachers after they turned up for work dressed in traditional Muslim headwear.

The two women, in their final year of a teaching degree, had started a work placement at Redlands College this year.

In a newsletter addressed to the school’s parents on Tuesday, principal Mark Bensley outlined his reasons for dismissing the pair, explaining he had acted out of a “duty of care”.

“I have a duty of care to ensure that those teaching at the College are actively supporting the Christian principles, practices and beliefs of the College,” he wrote. “I see the wearing of the hijab as openly acting in a manner that is contrary to or inconsistent with these principles, practices and beliefs.”

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Queensland rejects anti-niqab bill

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Peter WellingtonThe Queensland government has rejected a push by independents and minor parties to force Muslim women to remove their burqas or veils to prove their identity.

The bill, introduced by the independent MP for Nicklin, Peter Wellington, would have allowed lawyers, police, prison officers, justices of the peace and other “persons of responsibility” to require a person to remove any face covering to establish their identity.

Wellington said the measure was especially necessary in light of the upcoming G20 meeting in Brisbane. “It is not about religion; it is about doing the right thing, about making sure there is security in Queensland,” he said.

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Australia: Far right targets Muslims with hate campaign

Posted on by Bob Pitt

ADL logoAustralia’s violent far right has begun to stir again, targeting Muslims in a campaign that has erupted into conflict with Islamic radicals involving at least one shooting, death threats and intimidation.

The worst of the anti-Muslim drive is led by the Australian Defence League, joining a small but widening base embracing the Australia First Party, a registered political party that contests local, state and federal elections, white supremacists, neo-Nazis and skinheads.

A newly formed Australian branch of Greece’s fascist Golden Dawn has been supported by Australia First. Golden Dawn has a history of violence, uses Nazi symbolism and regards Adolf Hitler as a “great personality”.

Australia’s far right has drawn heavily on foreign mentors. The ADL grew from Britain’s violently anti-Muslim English Defence League, with others linked to an international network of fascists and white supremacists.

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Wilders helps to launch anti-Islam party in Australia

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Wilders Q SocietyAn anti-Islam party based on the hardline views of Dutch politician Geert Wilders plans to field candidates at the next federal election, raising fears among moderate Muslims of a rise in extremism.

Mr Wilders, an influential far-right figure expected to shape the results of this year’s European elections, told followers in a video message that the Australian Liberty Alliance was being formed to “offer civil minded Australians fresh political vision and better policies”. Policies advocated by Wilders’ Party for Freedom include deporting immigrants convicted of a crime and stopping all immigration from Islamic countries.

“Many of you are disappointed by current political parties and have had enough of politicians who sell our Western civilisation,” Mr Wilders said in his video. “Like you, good people in Europe, America, Canada have had enough of politicians who don’t share our values and foolishly declare all cultures are equal, and who lack the courage to speak the truth and say that Islam is the biggest threat to freedom today.”

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