Just like the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church after Sunday service. Not really.
Dramatic footage has emerged of a fight outside a Preston mosque.
The Sunday Herald Sun understands the dispute was sparked over the banning of Sheik Abdou Eid.
The footage showed a large crowd of men pushing and shoving outside the mosque on Friday.
Sheik Eid has stood down from his role but did not return the Sunday Herald Sun’s calls.
Vicious infighting threatens to tear apart the congregation of one of Melbourne’s largest mosques, amid claims that millions of dollars of donations have disappeared and accusations that a sheikh had behaved inappropriately with women.
The conflict came to a head last week when Sheikh Mohamad Abou Eid – who had been banned from Preston Mosque – told hundreds of worshippers on the street outside that he feared management of the mosque had misappropriated donations, and fees paid for burial and school services.
The Islamic Society of Victoria, which manages the mosque, reported allegations of inappropriate behaviour by the sheikh to the Board of Imams.
He was suspended, and, despite later being told the claims could not be proven, resigned from his position on Friday…
On Friday, the sheikh had been escorted into the mosque – despite being banned – by worshippers, who remain angry at his treatment.