Western Sydney boxing gym threatened with closure

A boxing gym that has been offering young Muslim men a positive alternative through a unique mix of sport and religion is threatened with closure as a result of action by Bankstown City Council.

The weekly Friday prayer sessions at Greenacre's Brotherhood Boxn gym were established after distrubances in Cronulla in 2005.

However, in a statement to the ABC, a Bankstown City Council spokesperson says the current site has consent for a boxing gym but not a public place of worship.

The statement explained "we have been advised by the owner he will submit a new development application for use, which will incorporate a place of public worship on Fridays.

"To date, we have not received an application."

The Council says they have received many complaints about parking in the area on Fridays which are being investigated.

Gym owner Muhummad Alyatim told the ABC he will comply with Council requirements but is reluctant to stop the weekly prayers.

Alyatim explained "I've started to take it on a new level, reach out to them (youth) ... to speak their language and give them the reality of what's going on in their life and what the religion teaches and how to behave in today's life.

"We'll keep fighting to whatever it takes to make Bankstown Council understand that we need this place here for them, especially Friday sermons."

Alyatim says if the gym ceases to offer Friday prayers or is shut down, it will be a disaster for wayward youth.

He adds "if Brotherhood Boxn wasn't here or (was) to be closed down or anything like that, then obviously these children will stay on the streets where these gangs or bikie groups are open and taking them in."

Every Friday up to 100 faithful come to Brotherhood Boxn gym for the prayer service which was set up the gym in 2005 after the Cronulla 'riots'.

He says it began as a refuge for young men of Middle Eastern backgrounds who felt angry and disenfranchised after the series of events that year.

The gym has also become a refuge for current and former criminals to box, pray and get their lives back on track.

Alyatim believes that the gym is helping to stop crime occurring, concluding "a lot of people known to police do come here, but they are slowly changing their lives."