By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
A MULTI faith chant meant to unite has left its audience cold after it breached the strict protocols of a Casey council meeting.
The multi-faith statement, which is read after a Christian prayer at every City of Casey council meeting, was followed by a chant sung by Casey Multi-faith Network member Jamel Kaur on Tuesday 1 November.
The chant, which includes messages from numerous religions, raised eyebrows on the night and saw councillor Rosalie Crestani march out of the chamber in disgust.
“I left because I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. I was deeply offended,” Cr Crestani said.
“I stood outside of the chamber praying in the spirit realms against those last two prayers because I don’t want Islamic and Hindu spirits released into the council chambers.
“She made a mockery of what is allowed and what’s convention.”
Casey Mayor Sam Aziz said the current set up is one of fairness and that Ms Kaur’s extension of the multi-faith statement was “inappropriate”.
“We respect all faith and cultures and the multi faith statement is designed to be one of unity about common values of humanity.
“It’s not designed to be a platform for individual faith to get up there and deliver part of their faith,” he said.
“I wasn’t offended by what she did but I was disappointed that a protocol had been breached.
“I don’t think it was appropriate to extend the statement in the manner that she did.”
Councillors Louise Berkelmans, Mick Morland and Rafal Kaplon all echoed the mayor’s sentiment.
“I thought it was very inappropriate. They are allowed to give the multi-faith statement and nothing else,” Cr Morland said.
But Ms Kaur, who has been a Casey Multi-faith member for more than a year, said she was advised to chant.
“It was my first time reading the multi-faith statement at council and I asked the officer or councillor who booked me if I should sing the chant and they said yes,” Ms Kaur told Star News.
“I was not aware it was against protocol and I’m sorry if I offended anyone.”
Cr Aziz said he did not step in at the time because he did not want to escalate the matter.
“I could have easily reminded the reader that this was not the protocol but I don’t think it would have been good leadership because it could have offended her,” he said.
He said he has arranged for the relevant governance officers to advise Ms Kaur of the correct procedures for next time.
