Councillor asked to explain mosque tweet

A Victorian councillor will face a conduct panel after she sent an “abhorrent and inexcusable” social media image to the supporter of a controversial mosque development.

After receiving a tweet last week from the supporter saying she hoped the Bendigo mosque would be built soon, Elise Chapman responded with an image showing five babies with bloody genital mutilation wounds.

On Friday, after she met briefly with her fellow Bendigo councillors, the incident was referred to the Municipal Association of Victoria.

“As a group, we believe the sending of such a tweet on February 22 was abhorrent and inexcusable,” Bendigo mayor Peter Cox said in a statement, adding Ms Chapman would face a councillor conduct panel.

Ms Chapman was one of two councillors who voted against approving the $3 million mosque development in the city, and the project has been the subject of vocal protests and a social media campaign from opponents.

The planning approval has been appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

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