Legal victory for Australian Muslims

The New South Wales state Land and Environment Court overturned a ruling by a  Sydney council, that had earlier shot down their proposal to construct a  house of worship on grounds of ‘incompatibility’ with the immediate environment.

The higher Australian court disagreed with the Sydney council and effectively told it that it must allow the mosque to be built whether its residents wanted it or not.

The court passed its order on the basis of an appeal made by a Muslim businessman Abbas Aly against the Sydney council ruling.

Aly was jubilant at the ruling and said it was a fair decision.

“I strong believe that this country supports fair play and this was a fair result,” he said.

The Muslims’ proposal to construct a house of prayer had been rejected by the Baulkham Hills Council on the grounds that it would cause social unrest and anti-social behaviour, besides affecting the rural-residential character of the area.

Several local residents were also ranged against the mosque and had sent 5000-odd petitions opposing its construction.

Buoyed by the latest court ruling, Aly insisted the Muslim community had sought to ensure the development did not interfere with the lives of the other people.

“We don’t want to get in the way there and its not going to be used very heavily at all,” he said.

However, not everyone in the local community agreed and at least one told a local radio station that they would appeal against the court ruling.