‘Muslim backlash’ if school rejected
Saturday, June 14th, 2008Ashleigh Wilson; 14/6/08
Australia’s reputation will be at risk in Muslim countries if aplanned appeal against a council’s rejection of an Islamic school on Sydney’s southwestern fringe fails. Islamic Friendship Association of Australia president Keysar Trad accused Camden council of acquiescing to a “vocal minority” by rejecting a planned development of an Islamic school. Mr Trad told The Weekend Australian he did not believe the council’s decision last month to reject the proposal was based solely on planning grounds, as it had stated. “We market this country for foreign students and send exports to many Muslim countries,” Mr Trad said. “So how are you going to show these people we respect them if we won’t even allow our own citizens to have a school for their children? I think it’s already done damage, but people are waiting to see the appeal.” The Quranic Society applied to build an Islamic school for 1200 residents just outside Camden, a small rural town about an hour’s drive southwest of Sydney’s CBD.
