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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Australia Muslim school rejected | Australia Muslim school rejected |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Authorities in an Australian town have rejected proposals to allow an Islamic school to be built there. | Authorities in an Australian town have rejected proposals to allow an Islamic school to be built there. |
| Councillors for Camden, a small town on the outskirts of Sydney, unanimously voted against the proposed school for 1200 pupils. | Councillors for Camden, a small town on the outskirts of Sydney, unanimously voted against the proposed school for 1200 pupils. |
| The councillors said they based their decision solely on planning grounds, citing an internal report about its environmental impact. | The councillors said they based their decision solely on planning grounds, citing an internal report about its environmental impact. |
| The proposed development had met with fierce local opposition. | The proposed development had met with fierce local opposition. |
| Camden's authorities received some 3,200 submissions from the public about the school and only 100 in favour. | Camden's authorities received some 3,200 submissions from the public about the school and only 100 in favour. |
| The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says Camden does not have a large Muslim population so most of the pupils for the proposed school would have had to be brought in by bus from Sydney, an hour's drive away. | |
| Town moves against school | Town moves against school |
| Residents' views | |
| The issue 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?" |
| A variety of local residents' views were aired at a public meeting late last year and attended by over 1,000 people. | |
| Some speakers focused solely on the environmental impact of locating an urban-scale school in such a bucolic setting. | |
| One speaker implored the crowd to stick to planning issues, and not let the campaign be contaminated by racism or xenophobia. | |
| Andrew Wynnet of the Camden/Macarthur Residents' Group told the BBC's Nick Bryant about local concerns for the long-term demographic impact of such a development. | |
| "The character of the town will change," he said. | |
| The Quranic Society, the organisation behind the proposal, has kept a low public profile throughout the process. | The Quranic Society, the organisation behind the proposal, has kept a low public profile throughout the process. |
| Its position has been that Australian parents have the right to educate Australian children wherever they wish, regardless of race or religion. | Its position has been that Australian parents have the right to educate Australian children wherever they wish, regardless of race or religion. |
| The organisation was not represented at the meeting, but it can appeal against this decision in the courts. | |
| An internal Camden council report had earlier recommended against construction, mainly citing traffic concerns. | An internal Camden council report had earlier recommended against construction, mainly citing traffic concerns. |
| Do you live in Camden? What are your views on the school? Send us your comments and views using the form below: | Do you live in Camden? What are your views on the school? Send us your comments and views using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: | You can send pictures and video to: |
| yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions | yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |