00:00Police are investigating after a second threatening letter was sent to Lakemba Mosque.
00:06The letter depicts Muslims inside a mosque that's on fire, the words burn them out, and
00:11other comments that are derogatory.
00:13That letter was a threat.
00:14Now, either it was a threat in trying to intimidate people, or it was a threat that they intend
00:21to act upon.
00:23Either way, to me, that's the very definition of terrorism, because it's having the effect
00:27of people calling the association, saying, look, we're scared to go out now.
00:32Our neighbour who we used to talk to all of a sudden gives us a cold shoulder now.
00:37It's the second threatening letter sent to the mosque within a fortnight.
00:40A 70-year-old man has been charged over the first letter and remains before the courts.
00:46Every person of Islamic faith deserves to be able to worship safely, and the government
00:51is very clear on that.
00:52There is no role for hate.
00:54There is no role for anonymous hate.
00:56There's no role for hand-delivered hate in the form that has been experienced by the
01:01worshippers at the Lakemba Mosque.
01:03The Lebanese Muslim Association says there's been an increase in hostility directed towards
01:08them since the Bondi terror attack.
01:10It comes as the holy month of Ramadan starts in two weeks, drawing tens of thousands to the
01:16mosque.
01:16While the Lakemba night markets during Ramadan are expected to attract more than a million
01:21people.
01:22Right now I'm pleading with government we do need support in the form of security guards
01:28and an increased police presence.
01:31We have stood up Operation Shelter and have our New South Wales police force, who are doing
01:37a terrific job, step up to protect all faith-based institutions, mosques, churches, synagogues,
01:45manders, as they should.
01:46Muslims will start observing Ramadan on February 18.
01:50The New South Wales Premier Chris Minns contacted Lakemba Mosque after it received its second threatening
01:55letter.
01:56The Lebanese Muslim Association says although it appreciates his words of support, it would
02:01value his actions more.
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