AN anti-Islamic group that wants to “reclaim” Adelaide from minorities will stage a public rally in the city, prompting fear among local Muslims it will incite a racist backlash.

Almost 600 people have indicated on Reclaim Australia Rally’s Facebook page they will attend the Adelaide rally on April 4.

Thousands of people across the country have also said they will attend similar rallies in other cities.

Premier Jay Weatherill condemned the rally but stopped short of calling for it to be banned.

“It is utterly inconsistent with the South Australia we want to live in,” he said.

“Facebook pages and rallies of this nature are not welcome and just show a complete lack of understanding of Australia’s culture.”

Adelaide’s Islamic community has expressed concerns it may become a target of the rally.

Islamic Society of South Australia president Dr Waleed Alkhazrajy said he was worried the rally could incite racism towards local Muslims.

“It is very sad to see, in Australia, people invest heavily in their effort to build up and promote intolerance rather than reach out to all sections of the beautiful fabric of our society,” he said.

“Without a leadership approach from the media, the government and the community to address these issues, we are afraid we might soon lose more people to the ignorant camp.”

The group’s Facebook page says people should gather in Elder Park to sign petitions, discuss the group’s “points of interest” and distribute “a handout with some chants that we will be using”.

A police spokesman said officers were aware of the rally and would closely monitor it to ensure public safety.

“Eastern Adelaide Local Service Area police are aware of the rally and will plan ahead to ensure both the safety of the wider community and that it is conducted in a legal and appropriate manner,” he said.

The planned rally comes after Salisbury councillors were threatened by another anti-Islamic group because the council approved a development application for a mosque last month.

Dr Alkhazrajy said the local Islamic community must not be intimidated by the kind of racism expected to be on display at the rally.

“We can’t tell people to change the way they go about their lives because that’s what this type of intolerance is trying to do,” he said.

Despite the rally planning to start in Elder Park, Adelaide City Council said it was powerless to stop it.

“Council has no jurisdiction to halt a rally that is gathering in a public space,” council spokesman David Hill said.

The Advertiser attempted to contact the rally organisers but there was no response.