Atheists slam group for Islam protest

Australian atheists don't support religious beliefs and they've now clashed with Christian groups planning a rally over the long weekend.

Screenshot of the Reclaim Australia website.

Screenshot of the Reclaim Australia website.

Atheists have attacked Christian groups planning an anti-Islam protest over the Easter weekend.

Reclaim Australia will rally against "halal tax, sharia law and Islamisation".

The Atheists Foundation says the protest is co-ordinated by Christian groups known for offensive and extreme claims.

While it doesn't endorse religious beliefs, the foundation says it's also against ignorance, bigotry, jingoism, racism, or xenophobia.

"It is fear mongering to even make the suggestion, or imply, that all Australians will one day live under Islamic religious rule," it said in a statement.

Victorian police will be monitoring Melbourne's Federation Square on Saturday, when Rally Against Racism participants plan to occupy the space Reclaim Australia intends to use for its protest.

Rally organiser John Oliver, of Newcastle, denied Reclaim Australia was racist, saying the protesters only have a problem with Islamic extremists who want to live by what is written in the Koran.

Mass immigration from Islamic regions meant too many people who would refuse to integrate into Australia's democratic freedoms, he said.

The protesters' website says they want to keep Australia's rights and freedom of speech - but ban sharia law, halal certification, teaching Islam in government schools and the burqa or similar face-covering garments.


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Source: AAP


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