Pressure from the United Patriots Front Stops Mosque Plan
Pressure from the United Patriots Front appears to have killed off a mosque development in Narre Warren North.
The City of Casey council now looks likely to withhold planning approval for the development in a special meeting set for Tuesday night.
A council report, to be considered by councillors on Tuesday, recommends that the approval be blocked.
The mosque opponents’ cause has been helped by councillor Rosalie Crestani – who is also a deputy leader of anti-Islamic party Rise Up Australia.
The mosque’s backers, the Saarban Islamic Trust, say they had a negotiated agreement with the council, and are shocked by the report.
A change.org petition in a similar vein has attracted more than 4000 signatures.
“This has come on the back of an active racist campaign in the local area against the mosque,” the spokeswoman said.
“This campaign has been driven by the far-right, Christian fundamentalist organisation Rise Up Australia and has been supported by the fascist United Patriots Front.
“Rise Up Australia has a council member who has been actively campaigning against the mosque.”
