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Umbrella organisation . . . Elaine White, centre, of the Annangrove Progress Association, leaves court after telling of a jihad threat. Photo: Edwina Pickles |
Posted on 05/18/2003 11:03:07 PM PDT by miltonim
Jihad declared on residents opposed to prayer centre, court told
Baulkham Hills may be an unlikely setting for a holy war. But residents opposed to a Muslim prayer centre in the shire believe they have become the targets of a religious battle.
Elaine White, secretary of the Annangrove Progress Association Inc, told the Land and Environment Court yesterday that a jihad had been declared on local residents after the council rejected the controversial development in December.
"There has been jihad put on the Annangrove residents that has been widely reported in the press," Mrs White told the developer's solicitor, Jeremy Bingham.
Abbas Aly, the developer, is appealing against the council's refusal of the prayer centre.
Council and local residents say the proposal will change the village's character and therefore breaches planning laws.
The threat, published on the internet and reported to police, would cause residents of the village to fear for their their safety if the development is allowed to go ahead, Mrs White said.
Mrs White said she was unaware of the origin of those putting forward the centre and did not know they were of Australian-Indian background.
"I can't comment on how that's formed . . . all I can say is that a jihad has been placed on Annangrove . . . and that creates some fear."
Outside the court, Mr Aly said he found the comments offensive and said he was opposed to any type of threatening activity.
"This is starting to be borderline . . . not only a personal attack but an attack on my community," he said.
Earlier, Mrs White told the association's barrister, Peter McEwen, SC, her primary concern was that the development would change the character of the unique semi-rural area, because the number of people would increase by 20 per cent.
Also yesterday, a report from a social planner, Meredith Martin, said the council had not been consistent with the organisation's social plan and access and equity policy, "which promotes social justice and community harmony".
A survey of almost 300 residents in the municipality and 19 potential members of the congregation found that 31.8 per cent agreed with the proposal while 39.7 per cent disagreed, he said.
The case continues.
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Umbrella organisation . . . Elaine White, centre, of the Annangrove Progress Association, leaves court after telling of a jihad threat. Photo: Edwina Pickles |
Of course this is from the "Super-Secret Rules Book of the FR Illunimatti". Were you issued a decoder ring when you came in the door?
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