By CASEY NEILL
THERE is no reason to cancel a controversial Islamic group’s two-year-old standing booking at a Keysborough leisure centre.
This was the City of Greater Dandenong’s response last week to concerns about Al-Furqan meeting each Friday at the Springers facility.
Community services director Mark Doubleday said the group was charged the standard room hire fees and had used the space for prayers.
“Provided the use and conduct is consistent with council’s policies for public use and hire and is not disruptive or inappropriate in terms of others or the community, then the group’s booking is appropriate,” he said.
“There is no reason for council to have any concerns.”
Al-Furqan said it closed its Springvale South shopfront headquarters on 22 April due to “harassment, pressure and false accusations”.
Reports linked the group to five men arrested on 18 April over a plan to attack Anzac Day services and to Numan Haider, who last year stabbed police and was shot dead in Endeavour Hills.
The centre has described the claims as “unfounded and misleading”.
