The lawyer for a Melbourne man charged with burning down a Shia mosque in Melbourne's north more than two years ago says his client did set fire to the centre but insists it was not an act of terrorism.Abdullah Chaarani, Ahmed Mohamed and Hatin Moukhaiber are on trial for engaging in an act of terrorismThe prosecution allege that two of the men had previously tried to burn down the mosqueover an attack on the Imam Ali Islamic Centre in Fawkner in December 2016.
The attack happened in the early hours of the morning when the centre was empty, causing $1.5 million in damage. Mr Chaarani's lawyer Patrick Tehan QC told the jury his client did attempt to burn down the mosque on November 25, 2016 and succeeded in burning it down on December 11, 2016.The court heard Mr Chaarani attacked the mosque in order to advance the cause of Sunni Islam and spray painted the words"Islamic State" on its walls.
"These words … are testament, real testament to the political, religious and ideological cause that he held," Mr Tehan said."His actions, these amount to criminal acts, but they are not terrorist acts," Mr Tehan said.
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A QC acknowledging in court that Islam is political as well as religious? And that is in defence of his client...
There must be thousands of artists in Melbourne but it seems the ABC cant find one!
Would you like a touch of sectarian violence with your diversity, Australia?
Here you go again ABC, continuing to stoke the fire of divide in the community ... YOU are one of the biggest the problems.
Yay.He will be the second person done with Hate crime.