NEWS DESK
Three injured in mosque attack Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au THE leader of a mosque at Langwarrin believes a vendetta is being waged against his congregation. Imam Syed Wadood Janud said three men were attacked at the mosque by intruders at about 9pm on Friday 4 September, leaving one victim with a broken nose and the others with facial injuries. The Bait-ul-Salam Mosque in Leisureland Drive is the Victorian headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, an Islamic movement whose members are persecuted by Muslims in some other countries, particularly Pakistan. Members of the community were said to be in shock at the cowardly attack and security at the mosque is to be increased with the addition of CCTV caneras and higher fences. Imam Janud said three men who abused and assaulted members of the group had “probably been here before”. “[Racism has] been an ongoing issue and we have had people come in four times in the past three months,” Imam Janud said. “But this is the first time they have confronted and assaulted our members physically and that’s why the police became involved.” Senior Sergeant Ron Barbury, of Carrum Downs police, is appealing for witnesses to the incident in which two Muslim men in their 60s and a 45-yearold man were assaulted. A 61-year-old
Increased security: Imam Syed Wadood Janud does not want to lay charges over assaults at the Bait-ul-Salam Mosque, Langwarrin, although changes will be made to improve security. Picture: Yanni
Cranbourne man had his nose broken and the others sustained facial injuries. Senior Sergeant Barbury said the assault was “obviously prearranged”. “The mosque is out of the way and does not attract attention,” he said. “You would have to know it’s there to go there. It’s not like it’s on a main highway. “It was certainly a targeted attack.”
Iman Janud said a man in his 20s entered the Muslim community centre about 9pm and began “racially abusing and using indecent language and cursing” its members. “He was asked to leave and our members followed him out but there they were met by two others and the trouble began.” The offenders had jumped the fence
to gain entry to the mosque premises. “They are the same fellows; they are targeting us. It is sad that these few people in the community are against us. “We endeavour to reach out to the community so that people know what we stand for.” Despite the violence the centre will not be seeking criminal charges.
“We will ask the police to have them come and visit the mosque so that they can see who we are and to discuss any issues they may have,” Imam Janud said. “We want to be part of the community in Langwarrin and, hopefully, after talking with them we may change their minds.” Senior Sergeant Barbury said he was planning to visit the centre this week “to reassure members” of police support. A pressing topic of discussion will be a 10 October rally by far-right fringe groups – perhaps United Patriots Front or Reclaim Australia – protesting against mosques and their teachings generally. “We have been advised a call to protest has gone out and – in the event it goes ahead – we will have a police presence there,” he said. “We are not sure how organised these people [the protesters] are so we will be preparing just in case.” Senior Sergeant Barbury added: “What drives people to do these kinds of acts I don’t know. Whether they like it or not, we have a lot of different religions and races in our community and we have to live harmoniously. Targeting a particular group of people for whatever reason is pointless and wrong.’’ He said the three offenders were in their early 20s, Caucasian and wearing hooded jumpers.
Baseball’s big hitter aims high CHELTENHAM Baseball Club has a handy pitcher and big hitter in 13-year-old Shelby Roberts. He has only been playing for two years at the club in Farm Rd, Cheltenham, but has achieved a lot in that time and currently plays at the highest level possible for his age. Dad Daniel said: “Shelby loves his baseball and is working hard towards playing for Victoria and Australia in the next few years. “His longer term goals are to attend college in the US to ‘play ball’ and, maybe, one day get signed to the majors.” Shelby’s commitment is obvious: He has been an integral part of the Southern Mariners baseball team, which was state champion in this year’s Little League, Cheltenham Baseball Club (state league premiers summer 2014/15 Little League,) and Cheltenham Baseball Club (2014 under 13 premiers, Dandenong Baseball Association/winter). Shelby, who lives at Aspendale Gardens, recently received a $500 local sporting champions’ grant from
federal Isaacs Labor MP Mark Dreyfus in recognition of his achievements and dedication. Asked about his love of baseball, Shelby was circumspect: “It’s hard to say,” he said. “I like the competition; it’s intense and not boring.” Each year Baseball Victoria holds Little League championships with the top three charter teams in the state progressing to the Australian Little League championships. In Australia, 320 chartered baseball teams field 4500 players. The top teams at the state championships progress to the Australian Little League nationals, with the winner going on to compete as “Australia” at the Little League world championships in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, US – a high profile event telecast live by ESPN. Shelby plays for the Southern Mariners, one of the baseball clubs in the south-east making up Victoria’s charter teams. Playing in the Little League state championships at Waverley Softball Complex in April, the
Southern Mariners took out the Victorian championship undefeated over six games in three days. The highlight for Shelby was hitting a massive three run home run to help his team come from behind to win the fifth game. “That was the highlight of my career, so far. Hitting a home run to get us into the nationals last April,” he said. “It was a big ask for Shelby as he was called up as the designated hitter from the bench while icing his thigh after being felled earlier from a wild ball off his opponent’s bat when pitching against the Eastern Rays,” Mr Roberts said. After winning the state Little League championships, the Mariners went to Lismore in June to compete against 19 other All Star Teams in the Australian Little League championships and ended up coming eighth. The $500 grant helped cover the costs of attending the event. And the future: “I’d like to get a scholarship to play college baseball in the US. It’s a long road but I am going to keep trying,” he said. Stephen Taylor
Pitching in: MP Mark Dreyfus with baseballer Shelby Roberts. Pic: Yanni
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 16 September 2015