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Australia row over Islamic school | Australia row over Islamic school |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Authorities in an Australian town are due to decide whether or not to allow an Islamic school to built there. | Authorities in an Australian town are due to decide whether or not to allow an Islamic school to built there. |
A Muslim organisation wants to build a school for 1,200 pupils on land it has bought in Camden, near Sydney. | A Muslim organisation wants to build a school for 1,200 pupils on land it has bought in Camden, near Sydney. |
But cultural, religious and racial concerns have been raised amid complaints the school would be too large for a small rural community. | But cultural, religious and racial concerns have been raised amid complaints the school would be too large for a small rural community. |
Camden's authorities have received some 3,200 submissions from the public about the school and only 100 are in favour. | Camden's authorities have received some 3,200 submissions from the public about the school and only 100 are in favour. |
The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says Camden does not harbour a large Muslim population - about 150 families - so most of the pupils for the proposed school would have to be bussed in from Sydney, an hour's drive away. | The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says Camden does not harbour a large Muslim population - about 150 families - so most of the pupils for the proposed school would have to be bussed in from Sydney, an hour's drive away. |
Town moves against school | Town moves against school |
That has prompted a strong response from Camden locals. | That has prompted a strong response from Camden locals. |
"They've got terrorists amongst them, OK? We can't say they haven't - they have," said one resident. | "They've got terrorists amongst them, OK? We can't say they haven't - they have," said one resident. |
"We're quite happy to integrate, we happily integrate with Italians, Greeks, English, Scottish - this town has every nationality. Muslims do not fit in this town - we are Aussies, OK?" | "We're quite happy to integrate, we happily integrate with Italians, Greeks, English, Scottish - this town has every nationality. Muslims do not fit in this town - we are Aussies, OK?" |
An internal council report has already recommended against construction, mainly citing traffic concerns. | An internal council report has already recommended against construction, mainly citing traffic concerns. |
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