AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC PRIEST DEFENDS MUSLIM RIGHTS

Queensland, 11 Dhulqo’dah 1436/26 August 2015 (MINA) – A Catholic priest in Maroochydore urban centre on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, has slammed new restrictions imposed by planning court to restrict hours of worship and visitor number to the city’s mosque, OnIslam reported.

“I support the Muslims in their appeal against restricted hours of worship and limits being placed on the number of visitors accessing the mosque,” Priest Joe Duffy told Sunshine Coast Daily on Tuesday (25/8), International Islamic News Agency (IINA) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The appeal of father Duffy followed a decision by Sunshine Coast Council to restrict the Muslim organization of the Sunshine Coast (MoSC) to 25 people for weekly worship services on Friday.

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The Muslim community appealed the decision, demanding an attendance of 40 members twice-yearly for holiday and festival services with no amplification of music or sound.

Father Duffy said the region’s Muslims were entitled to the same level of access to their mosque as the Catholics next door, the Anglican church across the road, and the Shell service station being built opposite on the Church St corner.

Meanwhile, the MoSC has declined to make comment while the matter is before the court. (T/Imt/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)