The case over the development of a mosque in Gunghalin is finally over. The Concerned Citizens of Canberra finally stated recently that they are not taking the case to the High Court, thus, the long in development worship place can finally be built.
As reported by The Canberra Times, the group's spokesperson, Irwin Ross said that they are not taking the case to the high court after ACT Supreme Court Master David Mossop found they did not have sufficient standing, and Justice Refshauge's findings that they did not have reasonable prospects for success.
The group was able to stall the development of the mosque in Gungahlin, which was approved by the ACT's planning authority in 2012. According to a July 2012 report of The Sydney Morning Herald, the ACT Planning and Land Authority has received more than 50 submissions.
30 of which objected on the development of the mosque, while 20 of it expressed their support of the development. Some residents suggested that its development would cause traffic congestion and some wrote about women wearing burqas who will be "perturbing" for the children. Several letters that object the development of the mosque also used template letters provided by the Concerned Citizens of Canberra.
Meanwhile, there were also letters that supported its development. One letter suggested that ''It is appropriate to the town centre, an appropriate design and the road network is designed to handle the surges in traffic", while another complained about the flyers they received from the Concerned Citizens.
According to another article by The Canberra Times, Ross previously said that they do not have problems with the Muslim community but rather with what is operating "behind it". He previously said that the events like kidnapping of 200 Nigerian schoolgirls by a vigilante group, and the Boston Marathon bombing begs for the question of what's behind all of it.
After courts have ruled against them, the Concerned Citizens of Canberra previously stated that they are considering to appeal the case to the High Court. But Ross confirmed recently that they are not pursuing the case any further.
