AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

PRESS RELEASE 439

WHY THE OUTRAGE AT ISLAMIC SCHOOL FUNDING

of

THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF ISLAMIC COUNCILS?

In an article in The Australian August 22, 2011, at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/malek-fahd-islamic-school-fees-funding-australian-federation-of-islamic-councils/story-fn59niix-1226119264022 Leo Shanahan wrote:

THE nation's peak Muslim body is extracting millions of dollars in rent and fees from a successful Islamic school in Sydney that draws most of its funding from taxpayers.

On the basis of investigations carried out by the Australian, he claimed that the Malek Fahd Islamic School paid the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils $5.2 million in 2010 alone. This amounted to approximately one-third of direct taxpayer funding from the federal and State governments. The investigation uncovered millions of dollars in funds charged to the school including unexplained ‘management fees’.

It should be noted by those wishing to read the full Australian report, that the incestuous arrangement between the religious and educational arm of the Muslim community has come to light because there is dissension within the group.

DOGS are puzzled by the outrage expressed by the arrangements between a religious organisation and taxpayer funding of its educational institutions. From the 1960s DOGS argued that if taxpayers funded a religion’s educational institutions, they were endowing that religion.

Evidence that there was entanglement between taxpayer funding of Christian religious groups and their educational institutions was proved in the High Court case of 1981. Only Justice Murphy noted it. But others are starting to do so.

Consider the following comments on the article.

Phil of Castle Hill Posted at 8:27 AM August 22, 2011

this is why 1. we shouldn't be funding any religious schools - no matter what the flavour and 2. all religious organisations should be taxed as profit-making concerns

Comment 7 of 31

Mr Dry Teat of North of the Tweed Posted at 9:54 AM August 22, 2011

Tomorrow's Sweeping Headline - Catholic Church Garners Millions in Fees and Rent from Catholic Schools. What a non-story! There wouldn't be a religious school of any persuasion in this country, that isn't swinging from the government teat, so why the surprise? Don't Catholic schools hand their funds over to the Catholic church? Why were no other schools mentioned here; only the Muslims rate a mention. Rather odd story this one.

VS of Sydney, NSW. Posted at 10:15 AM August 22, 2011

Would you be so kind as to examine Catholic, Anglican and other schools too, please? Be fair.

Comment 15 of 31

DOGS suggest that the Islamists are only doing what other religious groups have done for years.

Either they are more blatant about it or there is now greater sensitivity about the unfortunate consequences of entanglement of religion with the state.

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