freediver
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Iran war?
I find the comment about the catholic school very hard to believe. If it isn't a racial thing, why even bring up the number of muslims?
School opponent denies being anti-Muslim
http://news.smh.com.au/school-opponent-denies-being-antimuslim/20080108-1krc.html
The leader of a residents group which opposes plans for an Islamic school on Sydney's southwestern fringe says the issue is not one of religious intolerance.
Spokesman Emil Sremchevich said hundreds of Camden residents had attended heated public gatherings because they felt their democratic rights were not being observed.
"We're a community of 30,000 people and the majority so far has expressed a negative sentiment towards this proposal.
"Therefore, we seek a referendum on this issue and for council to give us polling rights to say 'yay or nay,'" Mr Sremchevich told the Nine Network.
"Camden residents need to be given the rights to chose what type of development they want in their area."
Mr Sremchevich said census data showed there were fewer than 200 muslims living in Camden and the area had two public high schools which were half full.
The community would be equally concerned about plans to place a Catholic school on the proposed rural site, he said.
Govt rejects call for Islamic courts
http://news.smh.com.au/govt-rejects-call-for-islamic-courts/20080208-1r0s.html
The federal government has ruled out the introduction of Islamic courts in Australia, following debate triggered by the global head of the Anglican Church.
Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said Muslims should to be able to resolve marital and financial disputes under Islamic courts, rather than the mainstream judicial system.
Dr Williams said in a radio interview in Britain that allowing Islamic Sharia law to operate in some circumstances could help improve social cohesion.
A similar proposal was put forward by Australian Muslim leaders to Howard government minister Peter McGauran in April 2005, but was rejected.
Australia's new attorney-general Robert McClelland also ruled out the introduction of Sharia law in Australia.
Yasser Soliman, who sits on the Victorian Multicultural Commission and is president of the Victorian Islamic Family and Childcare Agency, said there could be a role for Islamic courts, but Sharia law had to be clearly defined.
"It needs to be clarified and put down clearly on paper how it would run because everyone walking around has a different understanding of what Sharia means," Mr Soliman said.
He said, for example, that Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims would interpret Sharia law differently.
"It would have to be accepted by the wider community, as well as the Muslim community, because there has been quite a lot of injustice happening in recent times under the name of Sharia," he said.
Mr Soliman said Sharia law was not written in stone but extracted and deduced from teachings in the Koran and what people agreed with amongst themselves.
"The idea is worth exploring but it is not worth adopting the first suggestion by one group which may be pushing for it - you have got to consult quite widely and it has to be optional for individuals," Mr Soliman said.
"I can see some potential applications in matters of family disputes, inheritance law and so on - that would be a win/win for the Muslim community and the wider community."
Melbourne and Sydney have Jewish courts, or Beth Din, which rule on divorce, conversions and adoptions.
Bishop Robert Forsyth, spokesman for the Sydney Anglican diocese, said the move would lead to the "ghettoisation" of the law in Australia.
Terror group urged to kill 1,000: court
http://news.smh.com.au/terror-group-urged-to-kill-1000-court/20080213-1rvk.html
The leader of a Melbourne-based terrorist group told his members they should kill 1,000 non-believers to try to force the withdrawal of Australian troops from Iraq, a court has heard.
Among targets discussed to inflict maximum casualties were railway stations or football grounds, the Victorian Supreme Court was told on Wednesday.
In its opening address in Australia's biggest terrorist trial, the prosecution said the group regarded Australia as a country at war and that indiscriminate murder of innocent citizens was justified by the teachings of Islam.
On trial are Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 47, Aimen Joud, 23, Shane Kent, 31, Hany Taha, 23, Ezzit Raad, 26, Abdullah Merhi, 22, Bassam Raad, 26, Shoue Hammoud, 28, Majed Raad, 23, and Amer Haddara, 28.
Documents glorified Sept 11: court told
http://news.smh.com.au/documents-glorified-sept-11-court-told/20080214-1s87.html
Documents seized from some of the 12 Melbourne men on trial on terrorism charges glorified the September 11 attacks on the United States, a court has been told.
Crown prosecutor Richard Maidment told the Victorian Supreme Court material seized during ASIO raids on the homes of the men in 2005 included videos of Osama bin Laden and bomb making manuals.
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