SW HALAL CAFE WILL NOT CLOSE: OWNERS

Canberra, 29 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/20 January 2015 (MINA) – The owners of a Bunbury business which suffered online abuse because they serve halal food are adamant they will not close their cafe.

Mot’s Cafe’s Facebook page has been inundated with hundreds of abusive comments because the family business serves halal food.

Many of the comments come from people who do not live in Western Australia but are opposed to halal food because of unsubstantiated fears the licensing fee is sent to Jihadist organisations, au.news.yahoo quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Some of the comments include: “If you wish to cater for 2 per cent of the population this is your right — hope you enjoy bankruptcy.”

“What makes you people think that any ordinary Australian wants to eat halal? I certainly do not subscribe to that religion, and as halal is part of Sharia law it isn’t exactly in line with western values.”

There are also comments from people who are opposed to halal food because they fear animals are mistreated when they are slaughtered.

Mot’s Cafe is owned and operated by the Taylor family, who are Muslims originally from the Cocos Islands, who have lived in Australia since the 1970s.

Muhaini “Mot” Taylor, 26, who was born in Bunbury, said while they would likely close their Facebook page they would not be bullied by online “haters” to close their store.

They have also been encouraged by the support from the Bunbury community who are opposed to the comments.

“We are going to keep going,” Ms Taylor said.

“It has been my dream to do this especially to incorporate halal food.

“For so long in Bunbury it has been a struggle to look for places to eat and for us and tourists around the world who eat halal.

“Why wouldn’t we want to keep that going?”(T/P009/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)