A BITTER factional feud within Canberra's Islamic community has erupted into violence with a leading member being punched repeatedly in the grounds of the mosque at Yarralumla.
Secretary of the ACT Islamic Society Kurt Kennedy said he was set upon shortly after announcing the appointment of a new imam to replace the controversial Mohammed Swaiti.
He was assaulted while waiting on the mosque grounds for a lift home after announcing Mr Swaiti had been dumped and naming the new imam as Yahya Atay.
Mr Kennedy told the Canberra Sunday Times he was unsure exactly how many people attacked him but he received up to five punches in the head.
"There were eight to nine in the group that was following me," he said.
"I think there were four of them in the front line. One person I was engaged in fighting, defending myself ... when I covered myself I don't know how many were hitting me."
Mr Kennedy was treated in Canberra Hospital for bruising, abrasions and a laceration above his eye.
ACT police said yesterday that they were still investigating the incident, which involved two males, and no charges had been laid.
Vice-president of the ACT Islamic Society Mohammed Berjaoui witnessed an earlier confrontation inside the mosque when MrKennedy was jostled by a section of the congregation.
"When our secretary Kurt Kennedy announced ... the new imam will deliver the [Friday speech] before prayer, two people jumped up and grabbed Kurt and pushed him around," he told the Canberra Sunday Times.
"They pushed him and wanted to throw him out of the mosque.
"Then the imam [Mr Swaiti] started screaming in the middle of the mosque, 'I am the imam of this mosque! I am the imam who will service you people! I will never step down! No one can force me to step down! I will be here until the day I die!"'
Mr Berjaoui said Mr Swaiti's speech had an incendiary effect on his supporters.
"These young ones got so excited, they were boiling when the imam gave his speech. That's what happens in the Middle East - when the imam gives fiery speech everyone walks out of the mosque and there will be demonstrations ... he used the same tactic."
Mr Swaiti became a divisive figure in the Canberra Islamic community after reports of his firebrand anti-western sermons and for his financial dealings.
Last month The Australian reported that Mr Swaiti regularly used his sermons to praise the Mujahideen in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine and that he was also being investigated by the Australian Tax Office for allegedly failing to declare allowances paid by the Saudi Government of up to $36,000.
However, Mr Kennedy said the decision to replace Mr Swaiti stemmed from a desire to appoint a full-time imam. Mr Swaiti, who has been preaching at the mosque for 13 years, worked part time.
Mr Berjaoui said Friday's confrontation would not alter the decision to replace Mr Swaiti.
"We don't want him as an imam ... he went too far. He is promoting violence in the community."
Mr Swaiti did not return calls yesterday.
The Canberra Mosque was unattended yesterday when the Canberra Sunday Times visited.
ACT police Detective Sergeant Frank Jamieson said it was regrettable that an argument between two men had degenerated into violence at a place of worship.
ACT Policing is urging anyone with information about the mosque assault to call Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.