"Absolutely livid": Mayor furious as 400 allowed to gather at Sydney mosque
<p>A decision made by NSW Health has been slammed by local officials who claim that they weren't told about the latest exemptions as 400 worshippers gathered at a mosque to celebrate EID.</p>
<p>Current COVID-19 social distancing restrictions in NSW prevent more than 100 people from gathering in places of worship, but NSW Health gave permission for four times that number to attend the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque in western Sydney on Friday for Eid al-Adha prayers, which is a major religious event.</p>
<p>The worshippers that attended wore masks but Cumberland City Council Mayor Steve Christou said that he was "absolutely livid" about the government's decision to allow the event.</p>
<p>"This kind of behaviour from the state is inexcusable and I am absolutely livid that they would potentially jeopardise the health and wellbeing of our residents and the health of greater Sydney residents," he told<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/coronavirus-nsw-auburn-mosque-cumberland-mayor-slams-decision-to-allow-400-worshippers/news-story/611f46da61d8f68c51138cb71d11fbe5" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink"> The Daily Telegraph</a>.</p>
<p>"We either have a pandemic, which we acknowledge and adhere to the relevant health directives for one and all, or we don’t."</p>
<p>Attendees had to sign in and were split into four zones, which included two levels of the mosque, a function hall and a car park.</p>
<p>Up to 100 people were allowed inside and attendees also wore stickers to designate the zone to which they'd been assigned. </p>
<p>Mayor Christou claimed he found out about the decision through media and said that he would have opposed the exemption had he known about it.</p>
<p>"I don’t understand how NSW Health can pick and choose who is at risk and who warrants an exemption," he said.</p>
<p>NSW Health said in a statement that the mosque developed a "comprehensive safety plan" and that the government body was on site on the day to ensure procedures were being followed.</p>
<p>The mosque's president Abdurrahman Asaroglu had said previously the venue had implemented appropriate measures to reduce the risk of a coronavirus outbreak.</p>
<p>"Our community is really understanding and they are OK to follow these measures — no shaking hands, no hugging — making sure that they just pray," Dr Asaroglu told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-31/auburn-mosque-granted-coronavirus-exemption-for-eid-al-adha/12508358" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">ABC</a>.</p>
<p>"If everyone does the right thing I don't think there will be any issues."</p>
