Islamophobic flyers have been posted around the city of Penrith claiming to be from the local council.
Document is titled ‘Say no to the Burqa’ and in the footnotes claims to be from the Penrith City Council, providing an address and contact number.
‘For reasons of security no person with any form of facial covering should be allowed to enter or be served in Penrith,’ the flyer reads.
‘Save our values, save our laws.’
The council told Daily Mail Australia they were aware of the flyers and strongly denied any links.
‘It has come to Council’s attention that information titled ‘say no to the burqua in Penrith’ is being distributed in parts of the Penrith Local Government area giving Penrith City Council as the official contact for further information. Penrith Council did not produce or distribute this document,’ the council said in a statement.
‘Any person who makes a document on the authority of Council when in fact Council did not authorise the making of it may be guilty of a criminal offence. Any person identified for doing so will be brought to the attention of the Police.’
The post on a has been reacted to over 200 times with nearly 100 comments.
Reactions have been mixed, with many saying a ban would only increase racial tension.
‘Banning Burqas in any other country has never stopped anyone from committing a crime,’ a Facebook user said.
‘What rule are they breaking?’ another said.
Some believed banning Islamic clothing was too extreme, rather saying they should remove head coverings when required.
‘I don’t see a problem with the Burqa in any shape or form but I do believe they need to show their faces for law enforcement or identification,’ one person commented.