By JONATHON HOWARD
NOOSA MP and Multicultural Affairs Minister Glen Elmes has defended a move from the Sunshine Coast Muslim community to develop a mosque in Maroochydore.
The site is located on Church Street and was formerly owned by the Uniting Church and was purchased at auction on September 4.
The Muslim Organisation of the Sunshine Coast has since posted a request on its website for assistance with the additional $480,000 to develop the coast’s first mosque.
While the neighbours of the Church Street property and other church groups, from different faiths, have welcome the move, a tirade of racial discrimination is taking place through social media.
Many of the comments are unsuitable for printing and would only give oxygen to those spreading the hate; they range from “we don’t want that here” and outlandish comparisons with terrorist organisations such as IS or ISIL.
Mr Elmes said the comparisons circulating through media comment pages and social media “needed to stop.”
“The whole thing is being driven by, on the one hand, peace loving Muslim people who want a mosque and the joining of the people to ISIL – the two should not be joined,” he said.
Mr Elmes acknowledged there could be Australian-born nationals wanting or currently fighting on the side of terrorism in Iraq or Syria.
“They are to be condemned, however there are an overwhelming number of Muslim people who are hardworking peaceful people who want to go to work and have a place to practice their religion,” he said.
“Everyone needs to separate the two issues, ISIL is a terror network that has nothing to do with the Muslim faith – they (the Muslim faith) have a right to a lifestyle.”
Mr Elmes also called on media outlets to avoid comparing local Muslim groups with terrorists.
“They’re exactly the same as any other church – peaceful and positive leaders who guide their followers with good advice,” he said.
“What is needed at the moment is for people to bring the Muslim community closer not push them away.”
The Muslim Organisation of the Sunshine Coast was contacted by Noosa Today for comment, but was unable to respond before the print deadline.
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