On Facebook, nine groups are dedicated to the subject, drawing young people wanting to argue their case.

Ryan Bell of Camden started the ``NO islamic school in CAMDEN'' forum that has 235 members.

``The for and against have been debated by mainly the younger generation of people from the Camden area, who often aren't given the opportunity to voice their opinions,'' he said.

``I was surprised by how many people from other areas joined the forum and put forward their thoughts.''

Mr Bell said most posts were well-constructed arguments, but those who suggested protesters were ``racist and uneducated rednecks'' were asked for more constructive comments.

Chris from Camden asked for his last name to be withheld for fear of recrimination and online abuse.

He said he joined Facebook protest groups against the school - even though he didn't agree with them - to remind people about the democratic principles that make Australia the free

country it is today. He said in the past he would never have presented his side of the debate because he didn't have the forum to do so.

``I always had my beliefs before but I didn't put pen to paper, so to speak,'' he said. ``Maybe younger kids don't have those beliefs as such but just by [the forums on the internet] being

there makes them aware of the issues and think `I'm going to have my say' when they wouldn't even have thought of having an opinion.

``I think that's healthy.''