Mostafa Rachwani, reporter at the Guardian, said 'the Lakemba Ramadan Markets are more about gentrification than anything else'. Non-Muslims appreciating our community after years of harmful stereotypes,' they wrote.īut the imam is not the only one critical of what the markets have become. One TikTok user said there was 'good' in the markets. Not every viewer agreed with him, however. The video is captioned: ‘Not halal or haram? But are you doing more good than bad by being there?’ Muslims spend the day fasting from sunrise before having their first meal, known as Iftar, at sunset 'Do you think the non-Muslims are coming because wallah they’re learning about Allah? And we’re fooled.' 'So the night life – and brother, even the non-Muslims are in,' he says.

The imam then goes on to criticise the attendance of non-Muslims at the markets. He then mocks people who wait stand in line for '45 minutes to eat a donkey in a burger'. The Imam grows increasingly animated as he beats his chest he adds: 'But I am asking you, is that what Allah wants?'

Is it haram to be there? Wallahi it’s not haram.'

No, now we’ve got the new King’s Cross and it’s called Lakemba. 'You know in the 90s and in the 80s in the 70s… Where do you go to party?,' he said. In the video the imam explained what he meant by Lakemba becoming the new King's Cross.

However, there has been growing criticism of the festival's popularity. 'We're thrilled that the State Government have acknowledged the significance of this event, which means so much to not only our community, but to the abundance of tourists who are drawn from all over Australia,' Mr Asfour said. A street chef works up a storm behind the stove set up on Haldon Street in Lakemba, south-west SydneyĬity of Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour pointed out it was more than the numbers expected at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

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