Anti-Islam Group Disrupts Sunday Service in Australian Church
Members of the group, Party for Freedom, were dressed in mock Islamic garb when they barged into the Gosford Anglican Church on the New South Wales Central Coast on Sunday.
They pretended to pray while playing Muslim prayers on a loudspeaker and criticized Islam before walking out.
Father Rod Bower, who was running the service, said the group were Pauline Hanson supporters.
Father Bower told the ABC he was shocked when the group entered his church halfway through his sermon.
"It was … just out of the blue, some of the congregation were quite upset," he said.
"I recognized one of the participants and clearly they weren't Muslims — it was mock attire.
"I took a minute or so but I worked out who they were. I quietened the congregation down; they were a bit distressed."
The chairman of the Party for Freedom, Nick Folkes, rejected claims that the behavior was inappropriate but said police had spoken to him about the incident.
"I don't have to apologize because we didn't hurt anybody, it was only words and it was a protest sort of thing, it's very different to going with the intention of physically hurting somebody," Mr Folkes said.
Mr Folkes also revealed people inside the church were sending him text messages.
"It was a difficult sort of thing — having a protest in a difficult location and we didn't interrupt communion, we had people actually inside waiting for the signal."
The group posted photos of their stunt on social media, claiming it was a protest against Father Bower's support for Islamic leaders and multiculturalism.
The Anglican church's billboard has its own social media presence and often displays pro-immigration messages.
Father Bower said one of the participants had been targeting him on social media previously.
"He calls me Fatherless Rod and disagrees on my stand, he is a keen supporter of Pauline Hanson on social media," he said.
Father Bower said the stunt violated the sanctity of his church.
"I accept and even support their right to have a peaceful assembly in a park — across the road even," he said.
Father Bower said there had been a general rise in racist attacks on social media since the election of Senator Pauline Hanson.
Police are reportedly investigating the incident.
Party for Freedom's slogan is "Make Australia Great Again", echoing Donald Trump's mantra at his political rallies.
The group recently held a "Trump Patriots BBQ" and has also held demonstrations against aspects of Islam, including halal certification.
In its constitution, the organization calls for a "halt to Muslim and third world immigration", and the abolition of "state sponsored multiculturalism".
There are many images and photos of Pauline Hanson splashed on its website and Facebook pages.
A One Nation spokesman said the party had no control over who used a photo of Senator Hanson on their website.
"A church is a sacred place to many people, so perhaps the Party for Freedom could have a different approach to making their statement," the spokesman said.
Sydney Muslim cleric Imam Afroz Ali has condemned yesterday's incident, describing it as very troubling.
"It seemed very intimidating. I am sure the congregation was affected by that," he said.
"I am sure that they saw it later as quite silly and stupid, but at the time it must have been very disturbing.
"Australia has always been known as a multicultural society. It is not only a multicultural society but a society that accepts multiculturalism, which is two different things.
"The fact that most Australians are law abiding, decent people — the very fact that these people go and claim to be representing Australian values is quite bigoted and quite un-Australian," he added.
The cleric said the impact would be twofold.
"A lot more Australians will become more active in making sure this country remains a democratic, multicultural and accepting society. But unfortunately there will be a minority that will express these views," he said.
Source: ABC
