(ABC-Australia) Two men who claimed their Islamic-influenced group was not subject to Australian law because it was a “basic religious charity” have been found to have illegally cleared a rural property north-west of Sydney by the NSW Land and Environment Court.
The Hawkesbury City Council launched civil action against Dr Mustapha Kara-Ali and Diaa Kara-Ali for clearing trees and developing a block of land at Colo, without seeking development approvals.
The two men did not attend the hearing.
Justice Terence Sheahan handed down his judgement on the case in the New South Wales Land and Environment Court on Monday afternoon, where he found the land clearing, and associated development, was carried out illegally.
