Swinburne University Closes Prayer Room, Sparking Outcry Among Muslim Students
The decision has caused frustration among nearly 400 members of the Swinburne Islamic Society, who view it as part of a broader pattern restricting their religious freedoms.
Muslim students, unable to use the prayer room, gathered in protest last Friday, praying in the campus atrium, ABC News reported on Wednesday.
President of the Swinburne Islamic Society, Tabish Rather, said the decision has aggravated longstanding tensions over access to the Multi Faith Centre. “It felt like we were being surveilled for the past year,” Rather said, referencing new security measures, such as swipe card access and alarms installed in one of the prayer rooms.
Swinburne University justified the closure by citing "multiple breaches" of the centre’s guidelines, which occurred on Friday, October 11. According to a university spokesperson, some members of the Swinburne Islamic Society refused to allow the university-appointed Muslim chaplain to lead prayers, a role introduced earlier this year. In addition, the spokesperson alleged there were instances of non-student attendees, including friends and local residents, participating in the prayer services.
“Swinburne is investigating an incident involving multiple breaches of the Multi Faith Centre’s guidelines,” the spokesperson said. “In response to these breaches, we made the decision to close the centre on Fridays until discussions are held with the Swinburne Islamic Society.”
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The Multi Faith Centre remains open to other faith groups on weekdays, with access limited to staff and students.
The appointment of the Muslim chaplain earlier this year has been a significant point of contention. For the past 14 years, the Swinburne Islamic Society has managed its own Friday prayers. Many students, including Rather, see the chaplain's involvement as unnecessary. "As a Muslim community, it’s our right to nominate our imam," Rather said. “We want a fellow student who understands our struggles.”
Fatima, a health science master’s student, emphasized the importance of the prayer room as a space of peace. "It's a chill safe space, especially for us as hijabi women because it's that one place where you feel like your modesty is being guarded," she said.
However, she also expressed concerns over the updated security guidelines, which she believes infringe on student autonomy and create an unwelcoming atmosphere.
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Adel Salman, president of the Islamic Council of Victoria, voiced his support for the students, calling for the university to respect their autonomy in leading Friday prayers. He noted the isolation faced by many international Muslim students, for whom the prayer room also serves as a community hub.
The Multi Faith Centre will remain closed on Fridays until the university and the Swinburne Islamic Society resolve their differences. However, students have expressed reluctance to engage in discussions unless they are given guarantees for an open dialogue with no restrictions on participation.
Source: Agencies
