Muslims protesting in Sydney city on Saturday. Picture: James Brickwood
The chairman of Parramatta Mosque has condemned the violent protests against a film depicting the prophet Muhammad which stormed through Sydney streets on the weekend.
Following a peaceful march from Sydney Town Hall to Martin Place, a group of Muslim protesters clashed with police outside the US Consulate on Saturday.
Protesters, including children, carried signs that called for the beheading of anti-Islamists.
Police said six officers and 17 other people were injured when protesters threw projectiles, including glass bottles and punched officers.
Parramatta Mosque chairman, Neil El-Kadomi, said he had been sent a text message prior to the protest inviting people to take part.
But Mr El-Kadomi said worshippers at Parramatta Mosque were not told to go to the protest.
‘‘We did not tell people to go to the protests because we didn’t know who the organisers were,’’ he said.
‘‘We are angry at what happened; we don’t support any of that behaviour.
‘‘We have the right to protest but we should protest within the rules.
‘‘We are very upset about it, we [at Parramatta Mosque] practise good behaviour so people accept our rights.’’
The protesters gathered in Sydney to demonstrate against a film made by an Egyptian-American Coptic Christian that depicted Muhammad in lewd acts.
The film, which was shown on YouTube, sparked violent protests around the world, including in Libya where the US ambassador and three consulate staff were killed.
Mr El-Kadomi said he had not seen the film and had not spoken about it to worshippers at Parramatta Mosque.
But he said what he had heard about the film had been very insulting.
‘‘When you talk about a religion, this is the hardest thing,’’ he said.
‘‘Really you should be seen in a good way, not try to humiliate people.’’
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said he was outraged to see children holding signs that said ‘‘Behead all those who insult the prophet’’.
He said police were continuing their investigations into the violence.
In response to the violence, representatives from 25 Muslim organisations met on Monday night.
Samir Dandan, president of the Lebanese Muslim Association, said the violent protesters were young people who moved between groups and were not tied to any mosque or particular organisation.
‘‘We want to engage with them; we want to try to understand what drove them to this mentality,’’ he said.
The 25 Muslim leaders decided to break ranks with Islamic leaders around the world by declaring the protests against the YouTube video unacceptable.