Protest and counter-protest descended on Penrith on December 8 as Penrith’s council voted to uphold their decision to allow the construction of an Islamic community centre in Kemps Creek.
Various far right groups turned up to show their opposition to the construction of the two-storey centre, including the Australia First Party, with chairman Jim Saleam present, as well as the Australian Defence League, Party for Freedom and Squadron 88.
Counter-protestors in support of the centre’s construction included various left groups, the Greens and Antifa, the anti-fascist group.
There was a large police presence due to the tense situation between these two sides, with the opposing sides trading insults and the far right groups hurling racial slurs.
The council approved the construction of the community centre in late November but it was put back on the council agenda thanks to the work of Liberal councillor Marcus Cornish, who rescinded the previous decision, citing a lack of community consultation.
Cornish has described the centre’s construction as the “biggest issue ever in Penrith’s history” and claimed that if it went ahead it would bring more crime to the area.
Speaking to Green Left Weekly, he said: “The people are not being heard. And the mayor, Councillor Fowler, has not advertised the fact we are getting a mosque.”
A supporter of the centre’s construction, Syed Ali, told GLW: “This is just a community centre. All the other communities have their centres: the Greeks, the Hindus, the Christians. So we, who come from the Indian sub-continent, would like an area where we can go to socialise.”
The protest against the construction of the community centre had been organised by a group called the Penrith Action Group.
President of the group, May Spencer, told GLW: “My opposition to the mosque is because I do not want our way if life to be changed and our social status to be impacted significantly by a non-tolerant religious group who have already forced us to change our way of life.”
Another member, Anne, said: “The islamicisation of Australia has to come to a halt.
“We must stop them building mosques and schools. There is enough already for them to pray in. Why can’t they go to our schools?”
The far right groups carried their organisation’s banners, some individuals impersonated the dress of Muslim imam and one individual paraded with the flag of Israel. The signs were a collection of slogans, including “Sharia Free Zone”, “Mosque = Crime” and “Muslim terrorists not welcome here. Neither are their leftist supporters”.
Opponents often label the centre a mosque; however a mosque must serve food, be open seven days a week and permanently stationed by an imam. The centre will not do this and it will also be open to all members of the public.
Brent Hoare, a member of the Greens in the Blue Mountains told GLW: “I think it is imperative that we stand up against the fascists and stand up for the diverse multicultural community that is Australia in the 21st century.
“These extremists are just a rump, a barnacle on Australian politics that needs to be confronted and exposed for their outrageous disrespect and behaviour.”
The motion to rescind approval was defeated 10 votes to four, with councillors Marcus Cornish, Mark Davies, Kevin Crameri and former Australia First Party member Maurice Girotto voting against the construction.
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