“Our stand has been very clear – this is a place of worship. Muslims need a place to worship and pray. We have no agenda. There are many mosques in Australia and there is no ‘Islamisation’ taking place around those mosques.”

Sheriffdeen said lawyers had been working for AIM on a pro bono basis during the appeal process and would be seeking court costs from their opponents.

A statement posted on the Facebook page of the “Stop the Mosque in Bendigo” group, however, said the mosque’s opponents would be continuing their fight.

“We will continue to support the actions of Julie Hoskins and Rights For Bendigo Residents in pursuing the only way Australians currently have to protest the Islamisation of their communities – fighting ‘planning applications’ all the way to the High Court,” the statement said.

The proposed development has become a flashpoint issue in recent months, with anti-Islam protesters and left-wing protesters squaring off in the city in October.

A number of anti-Islam political parties have sprouted across the country in recent months, including the controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilder’s recent foray into Australian politics with the Australian Liberty Alliance.

Diaa Mohamed, founder of the Australian Muslim Party, told Al Jazeera that opposition to the mosque was indicative of the need for further education on Islam in Australia.

“Around Australia and across the world, there is a lot of anti-Islam feeling right now. There are many misconceptions about Muslims that need to be addressed,” he said.

“I think it starts with education – having people understand that the Muslim community is peaceful” and not a threat, he added.

Source:Al jazeera