Victorian Islamic body tried to put a company out of business

Islamic council 'defamed halal firm for market monopoly'
Posted Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:17pm AEDT
Updated Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:16pm AEDT

A court has heard a Victorian Islamic body tried to put a company out of business so it could monopolise the certification of meat for consumption by Muslims.

The court heard the Islamic Co-ordinating Council of Victoria wanted a monopoly on certifying halal meat, an industry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

A statement of claim filed with the court shows the council sent letters to a dozen abattoirs defaming a business called Aus-Halal that it believed was its competition.

It states the letter wrongly claimed that Aus-Halal was not certifying meat properly and was threatening exports to Muslim countries.

Abdul Ayan from Aus-Halal claims he was brought into hatred, contempt and ridicule because of the letters and his business suffered.

The hearing continues.