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Sunday, Mar 09, 2025
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Investigation Launched After Flag-Slapping Incident at Western Sydney Mosque
CCTV footage reveals theft of significant religious flag, raising concerns about community safety and rising Islamophobia.
An investigation is underway by local police following an incident at a mosque in western Sydney, where a flag bearing significant religious symbolism was stolen from outside the premises.
CCTV footage reportedly shows a man standing on a utility vehicle using a knife to cut down the flag before driving away with it.
The theft occurred on Monday at approximately 5 PM, according to a timestamp on the footage.
Sheikh Mohammad Hourani, a spokesperson for the Sefton Mosque and Ale Yassin community centre, indicated that upon discovering the flag was missing, the community reviewed the surveillance footage, leading to initial shock and fear about the security of their premises.
Hourani expressed concerns about the implications of the incident, stating, "What if someone else was there and this knife was brandished?
There is a lot of fear going into the community right now."
The flag holds particular significance for the community as it represents the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, reflecting core Shi'a Islamic values.
The mosque, according to Hourani, is dedicated to promoting harmony, peace, and respect within the community.
In light of the incident, community members have heightened their security measures, including voluntary night patrols around the mosque's vicinity.
The incident was reported to local law enforcement on March 5, but the community has expressed frustration over a lack of updates from the police regarding the investigation.
Hourani noted that the vehicle's number plate is visible in the CCTV footage provided to law enforcement.
He stated, "Unfortunately, this is the same situation that we have been facing.
It’s falling on deaf ears."
Hourani pointed to a broader issue of rising Islamophobia in the region and the resultant impact on the community.
He stated that such acts of intimidation contribute to a growing sense of fear among Muslims, discouraging them from attending communal spaces, yet also creating resolve among some to increase their presence to protect themselves and their community.
"We pray that the government does look at this, that the government does keep an eye on what is taking place because there is now a portion of the community that is in fear and doesn't know what steps to take next," Hourani stated.
Earlier this week, there were additional reports of threats made on social media against a local mosque, prompting further safety concerns among community members.
Earlier incidents include a woman being physically assaulted while at a Melbourne shopping center, and vandalism targeting an Islamic school in Adelaide, which was reported to police but not found to be racially motivated at the time.
Recent statistics from a report by the Islamophobic Register Australia indicated a staggering 540 percent increase in Islamophobic incidents since October 7, 2023, further underscoring the urgent need for community dialogue and safety measures.
CCTV footage reportedly shows a man standing on a utility vehicle using a knife to cut down the flag before driving away with it.
The theft occurred on Monday at approximately 5 PM, according to a timestamp on the footage.
Sheikh Mohammad Hourani, a spokesperson for the Sefton Mosque and Ale Yassin community centre, indicated that upon discovering the flag was missing, the community reviewed the surveillance footage, leading to initial shock and fear about the security of their premises.
Hourani expressed concerns about the implications of the incident, stating, "What if someone else was there and this knife was brandished?
There is a lot of fear going into the community right now."
The flag holds particular significance for the community as it represents the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, reflecting core Shi'a Islamic values.
The mosque, according to Hourani, is dedicated to promoting harmony, peace, and respect within the community.
In light of the incident, community members have heightened their security measures, including voluntary night patrols around the mosque's vicinity.
The incident was reported to local law enforcement on March 5, but the community has expressed frustration over a lack of updates from the police regarding the investigation.
Hourani noted that the vehicle's number plate is visible in the CCTV footage provided to law enforcement.
He stated, "Unfortunately, this is the same situation that we have been facing.
It’s falling on deaf ears."
Hourani pointed to a broader issue of rising Islamophobia in the region and the resultant impact on the community.
He stated that such acts of intimidation contribute to a growing sense of fear among Muslims, discouraging them from attending communal spaces, yet also creating resolve among some to increase their presence to protect themselves and their community.
"We pray that the government does look at this, that the government does keep an eye on what is taking place because there is now a portion of the community that is in fear and doesn't know what steps to take next," Hourani stated.
Earlier this week, there were additional reports of threats made on social media against a local mosque, prompting further safety concerns among community members.
Earlier incidents include a woman being physically assaulted while at a Melbourne shopping center, and vandalism targeting an Islamic school in Adelaide, which was reported to police but not found to be racially motivated at the time.
Recent statistics from a report by the Islamophobic Register Australia indicated a staggering 540 percent increase in Islamophobic incidents since October 7, 2023, further underscoring the urgent need for community dialogue and safety measures.
