The vast majority of the original submissions sent to Camden Council objected to the school on religious grounds. Here are excerpts from some of them.
‘‘AUSTRALIANS don’t hate or segregate. It’s just not in our blood. Why allow a segregated school in a primarily Christian country town?’’
‘‘What is the point of a Muslim school in Camden? We hate them all and they hate us. It’s only going to give Camden a bad name and push all the good people out.’’
‘‘You can’t blame an entire race or religion for some of their members’ behaviour, but by encouraging Muslims to live in Camden you will bring trouble and increased crime to our peaceful and beautiful neighbourhood.’’
‘‘No Muslim school or anything else related to Muslims. Send them home.’’
‘‘By all means build another school, just not a Muslim one.’’
‘‘What next? A Taj Mahal?’’
‘‘Having the Islamic school here will cause the Islamic community to move here and cause problems within the community such as racism. For example Islamic backgrounds and those associated have no respect for
other cultures. We don’t want to feel like we can’t go out in Camden at night just in case there are fights at the pubs, muggings, rapes, robberies and drive-bys.’’
‘‘If Camden Council were to go ahead with this school, expect constant bashings/stabbings and murders to take place in the beloved Camden that my family have lived in
since 1975. The blood of Australian citizens that live in Camden will be on the persons’ hands that gave the go-ahead for the school.’’
‘‘After some 25 years of following Islamic issues I’m convinced that this religion and philosophy has no right to exist in a Western democracy and culture.’’
‘‘Muslims are not welcome here or anywhere else in Australia.’’
‘‘Do the Muslims come to Australia to be Australians? No. They come to Australia as forward troops of an eventual occupation.’’
‘‘Is this going to be the way ahead for Muslims in the Camden community? Firstly a Muslim school, then the mosque, followed by a Muslim hospital, a Muslim shopping
complex and not forgetting a Muslim local MP. We have no objection to a non-Muslim school being built on Burragorang Road.’’
‘‘I’m not a racist person, it just doesn’t fit into the style that Camden has to offer.’’
‘‘Let it be known that I amagainst the idea of a school for Muslims to be built at Camden. The reasons are obvious.’’