Queensland, NU Online
Local authorities in the north-eastern Australian state of Queensland have approved the building of a Muslim school, ending a year-long dispute and pleasing the local Muslim community.
"…our planners conclude this proposal complies with our Planning Scheme," John Wayne, acting chairman of the south-eastern Gold Coast City Council's planning committee, said in a statement issued on Tuesday, February 3.<>
In a 72-page report, the committee detailed its approval of the building of the Australian International Islamic College in the southernmost town of Carrara.
The committee set 54 conditions for the school construction, including changing the design to widen the car parking area.
It also asked the school board to increase payments for water and sewerage maintenance.
The decision, which will be rubber-stamped by councilors next Monday, ends a year-long dispute between locals and the school officials.
Last November, hundreds of protesters stormed the city's council chambers to protest the school, which would be open to 60 children of all faiths.
Mayor Ron Clarke insisted it was important to cater for the needs of minority groups, accusing some protesters of using terrorism in arguing against the project.
Christians groups and locals said they would accept the committee's decision, ruling out further protests.
"From our point of view, we will just get on with doing what we do," said Rod Gilchrist, the pastor of the neighboring Dream Centre.
"We're not their enemy and we will try to get along with them in harmony."
Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.5 percent of its 20-million population.
Islam is the country's second largest religion after Christianity.
Welcome
The Muslim community and the school officials were delighted by the committee's decision.
"We always had confidence that it would not be an emotional decision," Islamic College spokesman and Muslim community leader Keysar Trad told the Courier Mail.
"We are very pleased that they have come up with a rational and logical decision based on the planning guidelines and not misguided hysteria."
Proposals for Muslim schools have been met with fierce opposition in recent months.
The small town of Camden, located on the outskirts of Sydney, voted in 2008 to block the building of an Islamic school that would have served nearly 1200 students.
In post 9/11 Australia, Muslims have been haunted with suspicion and have had their patriotism questioned.
A 2007 poll taken by the Issues Deliberation Australia (IDA) think-tank found that Australians basically see Islam as a threat to their way of life.
A recent governmental report revealed that Muslims are facing deep-seated Islamophobia and race-based treatment like never before. (ion/dar)
Local authorities in the north-eastern Australian state of Queensland have approved the building of a Muslim school, ending a year-long dispute and pleasing the local Muslim community.
"…our planners conclude this proposal complies with our Planning Scheme," John Wayne, acting chairman of the south-eastern Gold Coast City Council's planning committee, said in a statement issued on Tuesday, February 3.<>
In a 72-page report, the committee detailed its approval of the building of the Australian International Islamic College in the southernmost town of Carrara.
The committee set 54 conditions for the school construction, including changing the design to widen the car parking area.
It also asked the school board to increase payments for water and sewerage maintenance.
The decision, which will be rubber-stamped by councilors next Monday, ends a year-long dispute between locals and the school officials.
Last November, hundreds of protesters stormed the city's council chambers to protest the school, which would be open to 60 children of all faiths.
Mayor Ron Clarke insisted it was important to cater for the needs of minority groups, accusing some protesters of using terrorism in arguing against the project.
Christians groups and locals said they would accept the committee's decision, ruling out further protests.
"From our point of view, we will just get on with doing what we do," said Rod Gilchrist, the pastor of the neighboring Dream Centre.
"We're not their enemy and we will try to get along with them in harmony."
Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.5 percent of its 20-million population.
Islam is the country's second largest religion after Christianity.
Welcome
The Muslim community and the school officials were delighted by the committee's decision.
"We always had confidence that it would not be an emotional decision," Islamic College spokesman and Muslim community leader Keysar Trad told the Courier Mail.
"We are very pleased that they have come up with a rational and logical decision based on the planning guidelines and not misguided hysteria."
Proposals for Muslim schools have been met with fierce opposition in recent months.
The small town of Camden, located on the outskirts of Sydney, voted in 2008 to block the building of an Islamic school that would have served nearly 1200 students.
In post 9/11 Australia, Muslims have been haunted with suspicion and have had their patriotism questioned.
A 2007 poll taken by the Issues Deliberation Australia (IDA) think-tank found that Australians basically see Islam as a threat to their way of life.
A recent governmental report revealed that Muslims are facing deep-seated Islamophobia and race-based treatment like never before. (ion/dar)
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