DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: THE MOSLEM HATFIELDS & MCCOY'S DOWN UNDER IN AUSTRALIA

Feuding Muslims ordered to sort it out

Feuding factions within Canberra's Muslim community have been told to sort out their differences or face further court hearings.

One group, the ACT Islamic Society, took legal action on Monday, calling for the Canberra Magistrates Court to impose a restraining order on long-time imam Mohammed Swaiti for his role in allegedly inciting violence at a Canberra mosque earlier this month.

But magistrate Beth Campbell said she did not even know if she had the power to invoke an AVO against someone who had not committed an act of violence.

Ms Campbell told the ACT Islamic Society and Mr Swaiti's group to return to court on June 4 for further mediation.

She said the issue was "subtle and sophisticated" and suggested a court was an "inappropriate" place for a decision to be made.

Meanwhile, Mr Swaiti's role as imam is in doubt with the ACT Islamic Society saying it had sacked the cleric because of his radical theology.

But Mr Swaiti's legal representative, Rebecca Cullen, said the society had no power to sack him.

Mr Swaiti entered the court flanked by several male minders who arrived in a black BMW.

After the hearing, one of Mr Swaiti's minders, who is also his nephew, told reporters all the allegations against the imam were denied.

The man, who identified himself only as Al, agreed the court case and subsequent media attention was hurting Canberra's "ummah", or Islamic community.

"It would hurt any community, Muslim or Christian, Jewish, it doesn't matter, it would hurt any community and the image," he said.



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