Anti-extreme Islam group Reclaim Australia hope recent events in France will help them reach 500 supporters at a rally in Cairns on Sunday.
Described by local organiser Bill Schutz as “a peaceful rally for Australians concerned about the Islamisation of Australia”, the event will coincide with similar protests at major towns and cities around the country.
Cairns Muslims have voiced their concern ahead of the event, and community leader Aboo Auckbur described Reclaim Australia members as “bullies”.
“What terrorists want is for everyone to hate each other, and if we support this then we’re working towards their agenda and we don’t want that to happen,” he said.
“We would like everyone to respect us in a multicultural society – that’s how we should be.
“We are very peaceful – they want to express something, that’s fine, we do respect their opinion but ... hate is not good for anyone.”
Mr Schutz said while there were “some good Muslims”, he believed Islam wasn’t compatible with Western society.
“We have no problem with Muslims, we have a problem with Islam,” he said.
“It is a totalitarian ideology – it has its own politics ... own sexist views ... it’s not compatible with Australian culture.”
Mr Schutz said a minute’s silence would be held for the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris at the rally.
Member for Cairns Rob Pyne, who demonstrated against a Cairns Reclaim Australia rally in July, said he wouldn’t be doing so this time because it would “only give a minority fringe group more attention than they deserve”.
However, he said he was “determined to stand up for an inclusive and tolerant community” by attending multi-cultural events such as yesterday’s Cultural Briefing Roadshow in Cairns.
The event was held to raise awareness about the Indian, Islamic and Somali cultures.
“The Muslim community in Cairns is as much a part of this community as anyone else,” Mr Pyne said.
The rally will begin at 10am at Fogarty Park, Cairns.