Non-Muslims 'not welcome' at mosque funeral for former policeman
"All of his friends were not Muslim, so they had to leave - it was a big shock. It upset a lot of people."
Yoni Bashan
The Sunday Telegraph
April 07, 2013 12:00AM
MOURNERS were told they were "not welcome" by a cleric at a former policeman's funeral because they were non-Muslims.
The family of Erdinc Ozen, a former police officer and member of the navy reserves, are demanding an apology following the incident at Sydney's Auburn Gallipoli Mosque last month.
Mr Ozen, a Turkish-born Australian who served as a policeman until 2011, died from a brain aneurysm last month.
His brother Tunc said a number of senior police and friends from his fishing club at the Seven Hills-Toongabbie RSL left the service after the unexpected directive from acting president Dr Abdurrahman Asaroglu. Others attending included an 87-year-old World War II veteran and former NSW premier Nathan Rees.
"He told everyone it's a Muslim prayer service, all women and non-Muslims were not welcome and they had to leave the mosque area," Tunc Ozen said.
"All of his friends were not Muslim, so they had to leave - it was a big shock. It upset a lot of people."
Most hurtful for his family was that when it came time to move Erdinc's coffin, his closest friends were not allowed to take part in the proceedings.
"These complete strangers were grabbing my brother's coffin, not his mates, as a result of what this bloke had said," Mr Ozen said.
Mr Ozen has written to the mosque and Turkish consulate demanding an apology.
"He didn't raise any of this with us. There were plenty of opportunities," he said.
"I've spent as much time thanking people for coming as I have apologising to them over what happened."
Islamic Friendship Association president Keysar Trad said: "What was done does not run consistently with our traditions. Our religion teaches us to be compassionate towards people grieving."
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