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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Australia Muslim school rejected | Australia Muslim school rejected |
| (3 days 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. |
| Tensions reached their height last November when two pigs' heads were left on the site of the proposed school. Pork products are forbidden for consumption according to Islamic dietary laws. | Tensions reached their height last November when two pigs' heads were left on the site of the proposed school. Pork products are forbidden for consumption according to Islamic dietary laws. |
| Camden's mayor, Chris Patterson, stressed that the decision to reject the proposals was not made on religious or nationalistic grounds. | Camden's mayor, Chris Patterson, stressed that the decision to reject the proposals was not made on religious or nationalistic grounds. |
| "It is a site issue, clearly a site issue," Mr Patterson said after the vote. | "It is a site issue, clearly a site issue," Mr Patterson said after the vote. |
| Residents' views | Residents' views |
| Town moves against school Council meetings, which addressed the proposed development, regularly drew large and outspoken crowds. | Town moves against school Council meetings, which addressed the proposed development, regularly drew large and outspoken crowds. |
| A variety of local residents' views were aired at one such public meeting late last year and attended by over 1,000 people. | A variety of local residents' views were aired at one such 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. | 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. | One speaker implored the crowd to stick to planning issues, and not let the campaign be contaminated by racism or xenophobia. |
| The loudest cheers of the night greeted a speech from a local man in his late 70s, according to the BBC's Nick Bryant. | The loudest cheers of the night greeted a speech from a local man in his late 70s, according to the BBC's Nick Bryant. |
| "Can I just say this without being racist or political?" the man said. "In 1983, in the streets of London, a parade by Muslims chanted incessantly 'If we can take London, we can take the world'. Don't let them take Camden." | "Can I just say this without being racist or political?" the man said. "In 1983, in the streets of London, a parade by Muslims chanted incessantly 'If we can take London, we can take the world'. Don't let them take Camden." |
| The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says Camden does not have a large Muslim population - about 150 families - 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. | The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says Camden does not have a large Muslim population - about 150 families - 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. |
| Andrew Wynnet of the Camden/Macarthur Residents' Group told the BBC about local concerns for the long-term demographic impact of such a development. | Andrew Wynnet of the Camden/Macarthur Residents' Group told the BBC about local concerns for the long-term demographic impact of such a development. |
| "The character of the town will change," he said. | "The character of the town will change," he said. |
| Low profile | Low profile |
| 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. | The organisation was not represented at the meeting, but it can appeal against this decision in the courts. |
| Camden Mayor Chris Patterson said that the society would be welcome to re-submit the application on a different site in Camden. | Camden Mayor Chris Patterson said that the society would be welcome to re-submit the application on a different site in Camden. |
| An internal council report had earlier recommended against construction, mainly citing traffic concerns. | An internal council report had earlier recommended against construction, mainly citing traffic concerns. |