Australians condemn fire at Sydney mosque

10/11/2004 9:30:00 AM GMT

Australian Muslims as well as multicultural and political groups denounced Monday a fire at a mosque in western Sydney that police believe was deliberately lit.

The Rooty Hill Mosque on O'Brien Street was set on fire shortly after 4am (AEST) today when wooden planks at the rear entry to the premises were set alight.

Police said that a number of worshippers were inside the mosque at the time of the incident but no one was wounded.

One caretaker at the mosque noticed smoke coming from inside the building and informed emergency services, but the fire was extinguished before the firefighters arrived on the scene.

The damage was limited to a door and a carpet.

Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW chairman Stepan Kerkyasharian denounced the attack as contemptible.

"Attacks on places of worship are always contemptible because they strike at people's deepest beliefs and can leave them feeling rejected and despised," he said in a statement.

"Whether this was simply an act of hooliganism or vandalism or an expression of religious hatred, it has no place in our successful and harmonious society.

"All Australians have the right to worship in peace and to have their places of worship protected."

Mr. Kerkyasharian also said that people who had information about the incident must contact the police to help with investigations.

The vandalism attack was also condemned by Greens NSW upper house MPs Sylvia Hale and Lee Rhiannon, who urged the major parties' leaders to speak out against the violence.

"Australia's Muslim community has the right to worship free of any harassment or violence," the Greens said in a statement.

"Premier Bob Carr must show leadership on this issue, given the climate of religious intolerance and hatred.

"The fire that was lit at the mosque while people were worshipping is not an isolated incident.

"We need our public leaders to demonstrate that this behavior is completely unacceptable."