MP slams mosque remarks

CORIO MP Richard Marles has slammed vile comments left on a Facebook post celebrating the reopening of the Geelong mosque.

The Federal Labor MP posted a photo of himself alongside Muslim community leaders and Geelong councillor Anthony Aitken at the mosque’s official launch on Saturday on his official Facebook page.

“Today marks the reopening of the Geelong Mosque — after rising up out of the ashes it is truly a great day,” the post said.

The building was gutted in 2016 in a devastating deliberately-lit fire.

Multiple disturbing comments were made on Mr Marles’ post, including: “Hope it burns down again.” “How low will he go hope it burns down again.”

“Burn the f----g again.”

Mr Marles called the comments “so disappointing”.

“To receive a number of comments which urge for the mosque to be burnt down again is distressing,” he said.

“There is no place for anyone to wish violence on others in our community.”

The comments have been reported to the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network, he said.

Mr Marles said the reopening was a “positive moment for our city”.

“There is no better example of how close-knit and integrated our community is than Bishop Peter Danaher and Reverend Philip Trouse offering to host Friday prayers in the church hall at All Saints Anglican Parish in Newtown to all members of the Geelong mosque,” he said.

“I am proud to be part of a community that turned a distressing moment into a moment of unity.

“If there is a lesson from the community’s response to the burning down of the Geelong Mosque, it’s that our community is one that works together in harmony.” thing