أستراليا: إيقاف مشروع مدرسة إسلامية لرفض المجتمع له

- خبر من مصادر إنجليزية.

تَعَرَّض مشروع بناء مدرسة إسلامية بضاحية "ميرندا" بولاية "فيكتوريا" بجنوب شرق "أستراليا" للتعثر، بعد رفض عدد من المجتمع المحلي له، وجمع التوقيعات لمعارضة موافقة رئيس المجلس المحلي على المشروع الذي يتبناه المجتمع الإسلامي ومسؤولو مركز "النبي العظيم" الإسلامي.

وقد أكد "جون فري" - رئيس المجلس - أنه تم رفض بناء مدرسة تسع 125 طالبًا بسبب المخاوف المدفوعة بالجهل بحقيقة الإسلام بالرغم من موافقة لجنة التخطيط بالمجلس.

وأعراب المجتمع الإسلامي عن أسفه لتلك الممارسة التمييزية في ظل ارتفاع وتيرة الكراهية والعداء للإسلام، طبقًا لبعض التقارير الحكومية الصادرة حديثًا. المصدر: شبكة الألوكة.

يرجى الإشارة إلى المصدر عند نقل الخبر – شبكة الألوكة.

الخبر من مصدره الأصلي:

Fear-mongering Stops Aussie Islamic School

Plans to establish a new Islamic school in Mernda, a suburb in Australia’s south-eastern state of Victoria, have received a knockout for reasons seen as resulting from the growing anti-Islam sentiments in the society.

“They were afraid there was going to be a mosque there or noise from call to prayers or whatever,” Councilor John Fry, who supported the plan, told the Herald Sun newspaper on Tuesday, March 27.

“There didn't seem to be an understanding of what the actual proposal was.”

An Islamic school was proposed to be built on a heritage site in Mernda by the Great Prophet Center, an Iraqi community group.

But residents objected the Islamic school plans, correcting 2,000 signatures to veto down the proposal.

Only 75 objections came from Mernda area, while more than 90 percent of the total objections were coordinated through a group called Friends of Mernda Heritage Site, according to a report by the council planning officers.

“The Friends group has advised planning officers that many of the objections from those not residing in the area have typically been signed by friends and family of those living in proximity to the (heritage) area ... and individuals having an interest in the heritage precinct or heritage issues more generally,” it said.

Though the council’s planning officials recommended building the school, the council rejected the proposal.

Councilor Fry confirmed that the 125-student school was barred due to anti-Muslim sentiments stirred by ignorance.

“There is an unfortunate thing that people who don't understand different cultures can react negatively,” he said.

However, councilor Pam McLeod, who voted against the Muslim school proposal, said it was all about traffic and heritage matters.

“Nothing that was put in front of me had any element of racism that I could see,” she said.

“We are one of the most multicultural communities in terms of a municipality in Victoria so how could you possibly be racist or favoring one group over another. It’s just not on.”