Media Release
May 1, 2011
Muslims, Hindu’s & Christians unite in the aftermath of attacks on Hindu Temple in Auburn
On the backdrop of attacks over the last decade on places of worship in the Sydney suburb of
Auburn, Affinity Intercultural Foundation is coordinating a panel with the Sri Mandir Hindu
Temple in Auburn, Auburn Gallipoli Mosque and the Auburn Uniting Church Parish to bring the
adherents of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian faiths together in showcasing that the recent
attacks on the Hindu Temple are not faith based and that these three great faiths live together in
Auburn in peace and harmony.
Affinity Intercultural Foundation, an interfaith/intercultural dialogue organisation, condemns
these attacks. This panel is organised to facilitate the community and religious leaders of the
Muslim, Christian and Hindu community to publicly denounce all attacks of all forms against
places of worship and to declare their commitment to the laws and shared values of our
beautiful country.
The event has attracted a prominent Muslim Cleric in Shk Afeefuddin Al Jailani, who has his roots
from one of Islam’s greatest Saints in 12th Century Sheikh Abdal Qadir Jailani. He will deliver the
keynote address in a panel titled “Universal Message of Love”. The event will also include
addresses from the clerics of the three places of worship in Rev Dr Mele Koloa Fakahua-Ratcliffe,
Minister of the Uniting Church Auburn parish; Mr Rajeev Kapoor, President of the Sri Mandir
Hindu Temple in Auburn and Mr Bilal Aksoy, Imam of Auburb Gallipoli Mosque.
Over the last 10 years, places of worship in Auburn have been attacked at various stages. After
Global events such as 911, Bali bombings and others, the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque became a
target. About the same time as the Cronulla riots in 2005, the Auburn Uniting Church Parish Hall
was burnt down. A series of violent attacks have also taken place against the Auburn Hindu
Temple in Sydney as recent as a few weeks ago.
Auburn Gallipoli Mosque spokesperson Mr Levent Gunaydin said, “We do not believe that the
attacks against our Mosque were faith based but are from people who are influenced by media
sensationalism in Australia and abroad.” Uniting Church Former Moderator, Mr Jim Mein said,
“Australia has matured greatly since the dark days of the Cronulla riots but has much to do to
reach the dream of a harmonious multicultural community.” The Editor of “The Indian” paper Mr
Rohit Revo said, “Intensity of attacks on Temple in the past 1.5 years has increased from egg
throwing to fire crackers to the latest one of spraying bullets…This is a sophisticated crime by
criminals.”
Mr Mehmet Saral, President of the Affinity Intercultural Foundation, says: “This panel is timely
and will address the issues that deeply concern social harmony not only in the suburb of Auburn
but our society at large as well.”
Below is the link for the panel http://affinity.org.au/os/issue-65/345.html
Media contact - Mehmet Saral on 02 9702 0789
