Ahmadiyya in City of Casey president Javed Choudhary and member Nasir Ahmed say their proposal to build a mosque in Clyde will be a positive addition to the community.By Alison Noonan
THE local Muslim community has defended its right to build a controversial mosque in Clyde, claiming the development will bring only “peace and love”.
Councillors at last week’s Casey Council meeting voted to grant a planning permit to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Australia to build a place of worship on Manks Road.
The decision sparked a major outcry among residents, who have vowed to fight the ruling at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
However, Ahmadiyya in City of Casey president Javed Choudhary this week moved to allay residents’ fears by promising the development would have minimal impact on the surrounding area.
Mr Choudhary said his people lived by a “love for all, hatred for none” policy and would make a positive contribution to the local community.
“No matter where, a place of worship is likely to generate public interest and apprehensions,” he said in a written statement to the News.
“This is particularly so for a Muslim-like place of worship in the existing social and political climate.
“A track record of our positive contribution and humanitarian efforts in the City of Casey should be our silent petition to assure everyone of our peace loving and cordial nature,” Mr Choudhary said.
He said his members were a small group who were scattered and well assimilated throughout Casey.
“Ahmadiyya worship is a low impact activity for a small number of people for short periods of time, confined to a very small area of the overall block of land.
“No matter where we live in the world we wish to be known as promoters of healthy and positive activities in the community we live in and we work very hard to achieve this,” he said.
Mr Choudhary acknowledged the land was in a rural area and would co-operate with council to ensure suitable farming activities continued.
“Existing and historical land use at Manks Road is harvesting of grass for use as fodder or agistment,” he said.
“We are in a unique position to contribute to projects that are of long term rural benefit but may not bring apparent economic returns in the short term.
“For example, we can extend co-operation to reputable organisations by providing site access for research and training on topics such as climate change and sustainable farm land management strategies,” he said.
He said he was happy to meet with concerned residents to answer any questions about the development.
“We are very willing to speak to people to alleviate any concerns and apprehensions about our proposed place of worship,” Mr Choudhary said.
Resident Leanne Ross slammed the group’s claims it would bring peace to the community, claiming the proposal had brought nothing but “turmoil, rage and upset”.
“For them to say they will bring peace and love is so condescending and totally disrespectful,” Ms Ross said. “They know no one wants it. They know where they sit in this community.
“We are already a close community and we don’t need a segregated outside bunch to preach to us,” she said.
Ms Ross said residents were preparing for the fight of their lives and had already contacted television program A Current Affair to expose the “morally corrupt” councillors who approved the development.
“We had people leaving last week’s council meeting in tears. That’s how devastating it is.
“I want to let everyone know what these councillors are doing to us.
“We don’t want them (the Ahmadiyya community) and we will never accept them,” she said.
