For years Muslim Community Radio has broadcast religious programs to listeners in Sydney, bringing news and daily talk-back shows in Arabic as well as making community announcements.
The Imams council is often the body delivering major community announcements, fielding calls from the media or making statements on political or religious issues. And the council believes its centrality makes it an ideal holder of the licence, which it has unsuccessfully tried to take over in the past.
The council said the licence was renewed without giving fair consideration to competing applicants.
Judge Jayne Jagot adjourned the case on Wednesday afternoon and a decision is due in the coming months.
The Imams council and Muslim Community Radio declined to comment on the case when contacted by Guardian Australia.
