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| Down Under |
| Plan to install prayer rooms at all Aussie football grounds stirs controversy |
| 2012-04-20 |
| Ex-Hawthorn president and former premier Jeff Kennett has lashed out at the Australian Football League (AFL) for ruling that all grounds must install prayer rooms. It comes after Richmond's Bachar Houli said the requirement for Muslims to pray five times a day was preventing many from attending AFL games. Houli said many had to pray in carparks or stairwells at AFL grounds. But Kennett called the AFL's mandate "ridiculous". He said, "To put prayer rooms into sporting venues is not part of the Australian lexicon. I think it is an over-reaction. It's not practical, it's stupid, it's political correctness gone mad." Kennett said the move would also destroy the culture of football and make unnecessary change. He said, "In the old days when you went to a football ground there were very few stands, there was mud on the ground that was real football." Houli, an observant Muslim who works for the AFL one day a week as a multicultural ambassador, asked the league chief to provide prayer rooms at all grounds. Prayer rooms, for all denominations, have been recently introduced at three major stadiums. But the AFL is now requiring prayer rooms at all other interstate venues. Houli said few fans knew of the existing prayer rooms and Mr Demetriou said prayer rooms were long overdue. League chief Andrew Demetriou said, "It was a request from Bachar in his role as a multicultural ambassador and, to be honest, I was genuinely surprised it wasn't thought of before. We will be speaking to all our venues about providing a prayer room, which is, of course, for any denomination. It's again a demonstration of our inclusiveness." Houli, who prays five times a day,including five minutes before and after games, said many Muslims weren't going to the footy because of a lack of prayer rooms. He said all Muslims would need to pray once while at games, with women in an enclosed area. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #10 Love that, works one day a week. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2012-04-20 18:37 |
| #9 Why not just stop the game at prayer times and give them the whole field to pray on? |
| Posted by: gorb 2012-04-20 12:12 |
| #8 It comes after Richmond's Bachar Houli said the requirement for Muslims to pray five times a day was preventing many from attending AFL games. That's a feature, not a bug. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2012-04-20 12:02 |
| #7 Stupid idiots. |
| Posted by: newc 2012-04-20 11:39 |
| #6 Praying for the 'Bafana Bafana' (The Boys) is encouraged. I'm an 'All Blacks' fan myself. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-04-20 10:26 |
#5 He said all Muslims would need to pray once while at games, with women in an enclosed area. So, basically, build a mosque at every football ground? Cheeky bastards, aren't they? |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2012-04-20 10:14 |
| #4 I thought Aussie Rules Football was a religion |
| Posted by: Classer 2012-04-20 04:08 |
| #3 Besides, they can be used for alcohol concessions for Friday games. |
| Posted by: gorb 2012-04-20 03:49 |
| #2 Its a business and they are making a business decision. Whether right or wrong doesn't greatly concern me. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2012-04-20 03:21 |
| #1 Can't see what the problem is as long as they provide a squad of 72 virgins for any wanna be suicide bomber who wants to attend the game as well. Why should shahids be discriminated against? |
| Posted by: tipper 2012-04-20 00:52 |