Posters hung around Lithgow over the weekend are framing a clash of opposing protests at Queen Elizabeth Park this weekend as “the battle of Lithgow”.
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The Party for Freedom was in Lithgow hanging posters and promoting its meeting, which is scheduled for Sunday, July 30.
A counter protest has been announced to the Sydney-based Party for Freedom’s ‘Keep Islam out of Lithgow’ meeting. Anti-Fascist Action Sydney has posted an event ‘Lithgow-Racism Free Zone’ on its Facebook page, “on behalf of Anti-Fascists in Lithgow and the Central West.”
Both of the groups’ events are scheduled to take place after midday at Queen Elizabeth Park.
“Lithgow belongs to everyone, and the right to practice one's religion without the fear of persecution is a universal right that we must defend,” the description reads.
“Come out and tell them that Lithgow doesn't welcome racist hate speech.”
The Party for Freedom’s website said the ‘anti-Islam’ meeting has been organised in response to the ‘Demistifying Islam’ forum hosted by Lithgow resident Usman Mahmood in May, as well as the development application to use a house in Lithgow as a prayer room.
“Multiculturalism is a failed government policy built on lies and deception and an utter waste of taxpayers money creating social, cultural and racial friction,” the event description reads.
The prayer room application, with which Mr Mahmood was not associated, was withdrawn by the applicant in June.
“The information session will give locals an opportunity to learn about the dangers of Islam and why opposing the development of a mosque or Muslim school is the right thing to do,” chairman of the PfF Nick Folkes said.
Police said they would be monitoring the park.
“There will be a police presence. Police will be keeping appropriate watch of risks and coming up with an appropriate response. Everything went well last time [Demystifying Islam Forum] we’re not expecting a lot of difference.”
Mr Mahmood warned people receiving flyers and seeing posters not to take them at face value.
“It is a complete injustice to quote verses of the Holy Quran out of their context. In some instances, the verses are incomplete and portray the complete opposite meaning,” he said.
“It is important to read a paragraph before and after the quoted verse to get the context right.”