DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: A MOSQUE & VIOLENCE TO GAIN CONTROL OVER IT

Canberra mosque battle moves to the courts

Sydney - The battle for control of the biggest mosque in Australia's capital city moved to a Canberra magistrates court after a bloody brawl inside the building last week. Fighting broke out Friday when the committee that runs the mosque sacked the imam, Sheik Mohammed Swaiti, for allegedly preaching violent jihad.

"This imam, he creates the violence," Sabre Poskovic, president of the Canberra Islamic Society, said after taking out a restraining order against Swaiti. "We don't want the violence. We want him to step down. He has to go."

Poskovic claimed thugs acting for Swaiti had beaten up those leading the push to have him replaced.

"I have a right to protect my staff from violence in the mosque," Poskovic told the national broadcaster ABC. "These people, they don't come here to pray. They come here for violence."



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