A new monument has been temporarily installed in the heart of Sydney’s central business district, and many people passed by it without realizing its importance to many Australians.
Located at the eastern end of Martin Place, near Macquarie Street, the monument is a replica of the Holy Kaaba, an important symbol of Islam that plays a central role in Muslim worship.
The replica, which has since been removed, has passages from the Koran inscribed in gold letters and was protected by a metal fence.
The Kaaba, also known as al-Ka’ba al-Musharrafa, is considered the holiest site in Islam. It is a stone structure located in the center of the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Every year, millions of Muslims make a pilgrimage to the Kaaba during the Hajj, a week-long event that takes place in the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar.
Muslims also turn towards the Kaaba in Mecca every time they pray.
A Sydney City Council spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia it was the third year the replica had been installed as part of a cultural celebration.
“Sydney is a global, multicultural city that celebrates our diverse communities,” a City of Sydney spokesperson said.
A replica of the Holy Kaaba, a stone building in the center of the Great Mosque of Mecca, considered the holiest site in Islam, was erected on Martin Place.
“This is the third year we have approved the installation of this temporary religious monument on Martin Place.”
“This event is a cultural celebration organized by a registered charity and featured a musical performance attended by families.”
The City of Sydney explained that Martin Place has hosted a variety of religious events including Christmas in the City, the annual Walk with Christ Eucharistic Procession and Hanukkah in the City.
Many Australians praised the council for including the monument in Martin Place as it demonstrated that Australia was a multicultural country with freedom of expression.
“I’m not a fan of pandering to any religion,” one person wrote. ‘That said, I am a fan of freedom and everything that can unite people.
‘As a society, show others within our society that what they believe and practice (within the laws and the framework of our agreed and accepted constitution) is okay and recommended.’
A second person added: “I know Australia is a Christian society and governed by Christian laws, but we also value the right of others to celebrate their religion in peace.”
However, some opposed the monument.
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, Senator Mark Latham urged the Sydney City Council to “maintain a separation between Church and State”.
‘I think it’s just wrong to have it here, we should have a separation of Church and State. “This is a public area managed by the council,” Mr Latham said. Michael Smith News.
The replica, which has since been removed, was erected as part of a cultural celebration.
I’ve walked around Martin Place a lot and here I’ve only seen this Muslim replica. You don’t see a replica of a Christian church, a Jewish synagogue, a Buddhist temple or anything like that.
‘The symbols and memorials at Martin Place… these are all points of national unity and national focus. Instead of just one religion.’
Latham claimed that the monument would “encourage” a subgroup of Muslims who were using Islam as a point of division, particularly in the form of “illegal protests”.
“It’s better for Australia to stay out of all this and not have this kind of Islamic symbol right in the middle of Martin Place,” Mr Latham said.
