Beach ban: Lebanese head west
Australian Lebanese Muslims say they are heading west to cool off, despite calls to return to Sydney's beaches.
"All the ethnic people have headed west to Georges River [National Park] and Cooks River," said Mohamad El-Chami, 29, president of the Australian New Muslim Association.
"The families, instead of going to do barbeques in Cronulla, they're going to these other areas."
Despite Premier Morris Iemma's claim that Cronulla is now safe after the riots, Mr El-Chami, a regular at the beach for 16 years, says he won't be going back for a long time.
"I love going to Cronulla Beach. This is my country and I can't travel to a place because of vilification."
Mr El-Chami rejects claims the riots were fuelled by young Lebanese men harassing women on Cronulla Beach.
"I'd say show us proof [of harassment]," he said. "If there is an issue we'd definitely guide these boys away from the wrong doings that they are carrying out."
The Cronulla Chamber of Commerce met yesterday to discuss ways to lure visitors back.
Vice-president and nightclub owner Stephen Fleming told smh.com.au: "It's not dangerous. We're multicultural down here.
"The majority of Shire people welcome all people of all nationalities."
Another man, Mohammad Kadan, 24, said he would continue to avoid all of Sydney's beaches.
"It's no beaches, basically, no beaches," he said.
"I used to go [to] Cronulla after prayers - it is a beautiful beach in the morning."
Mr Kadan said it was ironic the people seeking to "defend" their seaside town had instead hurt the businesses that survived on the tourist trade.
Eman Dandan, from the Lebanese Muslim Association, said: "Staying away is the safer option for everybody."
Sheik Shady Suleiman, a cleric from Lakemba Mosque, admitted that, despite his community being "very understanding", there were "some hardheads who want trouble".
"So what?" he said. "That's the case in every single community in this world, you find the good and bad.
"But, you know, [I've] been telling them to calm down," he said.
"We retaliate the proper way, that the authorities of this country accept, through legal courts, through the proper procedures that are acceptable in this country."
Mr El-Chami said most of the "hardheads" felt they had already made their point.
"Most of them are accepting of [Sheik Shady's] advice because he holds such a respectable position in the community but whether they take the advice on is something I can't say," Mr El-Chami said.
"I think they have realised that they have done wrong [last week] and hence have stopped all the violence.
"I don't think there's any intention of a repeat."
