Magistrate Peter Reardon sent terror case hate mail

A MELBOURNE magistrate prevailing over the cases of five men accused of planning a terrorist attack on the Holsworthy army base has received hate mail from a purported Sydney Muslim cleric, labelling him and the courts an oppressor of Islam.

A MELBOURNE magistrate prevailing over the cases of five men accused of planning a terrorist attack on the Holsworthy army base has received hate mail from a purported Sydney Muslim cleric, labelling him and the courts an oppressor of Islam.

Peter Reardon yesterday read in open court parts of the letter sent to him by a person calling himself Sheik Haron and revealed he had also received emails from people quoting the Koran.

The hate mail came after Mr Reardon expressed frustration when two of the accused men refused to stand up for him during a court hearing earlier this month, saying their religion prohibited them standing for anyone but God.

Supporters of three of the men who are applying for bail at the Melbourne Magistrates Court have also not stood on request, although the accused have. Mr Reardon yesterday declared anyone in the public gallery who did not stand would be removed from court.

"In my view, the Muslim religion is being used as a guise to help make a political demonstration," he said.

"There is no problem for Muslim people to stand up for a non-Muslim ... It's intended to make a political statement against the government, and by extension, the court system.

"In future, members of the public will be expected to stand upon my entry and leaving the court. They will be requested to leave the court immediately if they refuse to do so."

Mr Reardon said he had received several emails since the filing hearings and a letter sent from a "Sheik Haron", postmarked at the southwestern Sydney suburb of Liverpool on August 4.

He said the same letter was also sent to the Chief Magistrate, Kevin Rudd, Malcolm Turnbull, ASIO and the Australian Federal Police. It has been reported that members of the Australian Muslim community do not believe Sheik Haron is a real cleric and they are concerned he is stirring up anti-Islamic sentiment. His website talks of joining the jihad against Islam oppression.

Mr Reardon said the letter commented on his own conduct and stated that the Australian government oppressed other nations and that no Muslim should "stand for the oppressors".

Counsel for Nayef El Sayed, who had refused to stand for the magistrate at earlier hearings, said his client had taken advice from a cleric at Preston Mosque and was now able to stand.

"At no time was he wanting to make a political statement," lawyer Julian McMahon said of Mr Sayed, who faces one charge of conspiring to plan a terrorist attack.

The bail hearings earlier heard that the AFP was concerned that one of the accused men, Saney Edow Aweys, would commit criminal offences if granted bail.

"A common theme throughout the investigation is hatred of Australia and anyone who doesn't follow Islam," federal agent David Kinton told the court. He said Mr Aweys -- who is charged with conspiring to prepare for a terrorist act, preparing to go to engage in conflict in Somalia and helping another man travel to Somalia to fight -- had a "willingness" to be violent against non-Muslims.

Bail hearings continue today.