Yet, Matthews said that plans for his mosque were unanimously approved by the local council. Of Australia’s more than 340 mosques, almost half can be found in Punchbowl’s state of New South Wales.

The mosque has recently undergone heavy conservation work especially on minarets, domes, ablution area, and other portions without compromising on its architectural designs.

A plan to build the far southwest suburbs’ first mosque has sailed through the Frankfort Village Board approval process without a hint of opposition, unlike a similar Palos Heights proposal ...