The Hurstville City Council has had plans to build a mosque in South Hurstville, but resistance by Australia’s anti-Muslim groups has often met this. The ugly row over the construction of the $ 3 million new mosques has taken a different angle, as the anti-Muslims groups have continued to incite and seek support from the residents who live outside the South of Hurstville to oppose it (Natalie, 2016, p.9).
Why the targeted Muslim community in the south of Hurstville is in "need"
The Muslim community in The South of Hurstville has and continues to be marginalized regarding expressing their freedom of worship. The Anti-Muslim groupings view them as a community that is bound to tamper with the Australian democracy as they undertake and practice their religion. The Anti-Muslims argue that the mosque should be constructed in The South of Hurstville will serve as the place where those who intend to replace the Australian Constitution with Sharia Laws will gather. From this thinking then clearly, the Muslim community is in a state of "need” which calls for help from the Hurstville City Council (O'Brien, 2016). The Muslim worshipers need the mosque to be constructed because they gather for prayers at a private home. The private home where they undertake their Friday prayers has also been facing troubles with a casing example been the temporal closure in 2012 are the result of public complaints about parking and noise. The Muslim worshippers are in need of the mosque so that they can practice their religion and enjoy the freedom of worship in their neighborhood. With the mosque been constructed south of Hurstville the Muslim community will peaceful teach the young generation Muslim teachings of the Koran and the pop culture of a family that they are to observe as they interact with the wider community.
Strategies for inclusion
The Hurstville City Council has put in place some strategies to enhance inclusion of the Muslim community south of the town. The strategies include:
Approving the construction of the mosque
Extending the public exhibition period and allowing public supporters to give their views
Allowing petition by the mosque applicant
Allowing the alterations and additional changes to be made on the proposed mosque (The City Council of Hurstville, 2016, p.10)
Approving the construction of the mosque
The council approved the construction of the mosque in the south of Hurstville, which was a good strategy on its part. The council granted the consent for the construction of the mosque that clearly indicated that as city council they see the need for the Muslim community in the area to have a place of worship.
Extending public exhibition period and allowing public supporters to give their views
Following concerns from the local community over the construction of the mosque, the council extended the public exhibition period. This gave them a chance to engage with other people who had raised issues about the mosque and the members of the mosque to discuss the proposal changes and issues of concerns that were raised by the complainants. The council too conducted studies to get a view of the issues raised in the petitions by those against the construction of the mosque (The City Council of Hurstville, 2016, p.16). The council has put in place mechanisms to allow public supporters to air their views regarding the construction of the mosque. Public supporters have been allowed to express their freedom on the construction of the mosque freely with no intimidation.
Allowed petition by the mosque applicant
Following objection from the Anti- Muslims in the area that the mosque construction should not go head, the council allowed the mosque applicant has to place a petition over the same. This gave the mosque applicants an opportunity to express themselves why the construction should go ahead (Natalie, 2016, pp.13-15). The petition period gave the council an opportunity to understand the modifications of the mosque and its importance to the Muslim community. Further, in the process of exercising their freedom of worship (The City Council of Hurstville, 2016).
Allowing the alterations and additional changes to be made on the proposed mosque
Following the high resistance from the anti-Muslim community that the mosque should not be constructed, the council gave the mosque owners an opportunity to make changes on the proposed mosques. This was a way of trying to accommodate the views of the community and ensure the mosque construction is given ago ahead (The City Council of Hurstville, 2016, p.34).
The strategies put in place by the council are effective in promoting the inclusion since they really try to address the “need” of the Muslim community in South Hurstville. The strategies are really touching on the very issue at hand that is the construction of the proposed mosque and the opposition that it faces (O'Brien, 2016). The strategies are trying to accommodate the views of the anti-Muslims in the area and the same times encourage the Muslim worshippers to exercise their religion freely.
Conclusion
Bibliography
Natalie. B 2016. Ugly row over new mosque in South Hurstville http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/south-hurstville-mosque-debate-hijacked-by-right-wing-groups-20160108-gm25pj.html
The City Council of Hurstville, 2016 ,Hurstville City council improvement proposal
O'Brien, N 2016, January 10. Ugly row over new mosque in South Hurstville. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/south-hurstville-mosque-debate-hijacked-by-right-wing-groups-20160108-gm25pj.html
