AN interest-free housing project aimed at the Muslim community and boasting 100 per cent halal housing has sparked a major row, with critics labelling it a discriminatory plan that could lead to a Muslim enclave.

Qartaba Homes' plan offers "100 per cent Halal housing to the growing Muslim community of Australia" in the heart of the northwestern Sydney suburb of Riverstone.
While the company has insisted people from all religious backgrounds are free to take up the offer, it advises that the loans are "100 per cent Halal" and a "chance to escape Riba (interest)" because interest is a sin under Islamic law.
Qartaba Homes director Khurram Jawaid said it was the real estate deal of a lifetime, open to Australians of all faiths and backgrounds, but the state MP for Hawkesbury Ray Williams said the project was divisive.
"I can only imagine the repercussions if a developer were to advertise a new Judeo-Christian housing estate; they would be hung, drawn and quartered," Mr Williams said.



AUSTRALIA'S multicultural society is an example of how people from diverse backgrounds can combine to build a peaceful, strong nation.

"I hardly think the advertisement for a 100 per cent halal Muslim housing community is inclusive; it's very divisive and I'm sure it will be viewed that way by the majority of fair-minded Australians."Blacktown councillor Alan Pendleton said the community was concerned it could turn into an enclave.
"There's great concern about ... what they consider could be an enclave. (There's a belief) you have to be a Muslim, otherwise they won't sell you a site," Mr Pendleton said.
Muslim housing



The proposed development is on land bordered by
Riverstone Rd, McCulloch St and Cranbourne St with the company planning to subdivide the land, along with a smaller parcel in Gordon St, Schofields."Our philosophy is interest-free, pay as you own," Mr Jawaid said.
"You don't have to go to a bank or a financial institution.
"It's open to everyone.
"From the business point of view, we can't do it that way (Muslims only)."
While subdivision plans have yet to be presented to Blacktown Council, the company has already "booked out" virtually all of the proposed 150 lots in Riverstone and 30 in Schofields.
Land parcels range from 400sq m to 800sq m and are being offered at $85,000 plus charges, including a booking deposit of 30-35 per cent and a 24-30 month interest-free payment plan.
Blacktown Council is investigating the deal, with the mayor Len Robinson saying there is no application before council for a subdivision, but pre-lodgment plans have been given to council.
The company has bought the land from various owners, but Mr Jawaid said Muslim take-up of the offer was "not that overwhelming".
The aim is for work to be finished by 2014, but go-ahead is needed from Blacktown Council and Sydney Water, which has yet to connect the land to the water network.
A spokesperson for Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts said

Will it be a gated community?

http://www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/are-gated-estates-dividing-...

Bobby. wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 10:57am:


Gated communities are for whites. They're a symptom of "white flight" to the suburbs. You move out to the "nice" suburbs, but before long, the nig-nogs follow you out there so you need to find a nice big estate to fence off and keep them all out. Problem solved.

Andrei Hicks says he lives in a gated community.

Robert Paulson would live in one, but his suburb is exclusively white anyway.

Karnal wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 11:07am:



The real estate is cheaper in Muselmania.

Karnal wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 11:03am:



Are there any gated communities in Melbourne with no darkies allowed?

Bobby. wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 11:10am:


I don't think there are any in the whole of Australia. If there were, Honkie would be living there for sure.

But that's the difference between Australia and South Effrika. Our "gates" are more subtle than theirs.

Karnal wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 11:28am:



On one side of a main road that I live near there are no c00ns.  On the other, they're everyhwere.  It's quite uncanny how the road acts as a barrier like a rabbit proof fence, but I fear that one day they'll figure out how to cross the road, and my property value will plummet.

Big Dave wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 12:24pm:



If this is true, would it even be legal in Australia ?

Wouldn't that be an instance of active discrimination [against non-moslem Australians], on the basis of a persons religious beliefs ?