A man accused of rioting during last year's Sydney Muslim protests has been read the 'riot act' by a magistrate.

Mohammad Issai Issaka refused to stand up in court claiming it was against his religion.

Mr Issaka appeared in court faced with charges of riot, assaulting police and resisting arrest over last year’s riots.

In a 20 minute stand off, the Lakemba man refused to stand for the Magistrate, claiming it was against his religion.

However Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge wouldn't accept that.

"You can tell me where it is in his religion that it says he cannot stand," she told the Issaka's lawyer Stephen Hopper.

"I was a Magistrate at Bankstown Court for four years, and I have never had to deal with such disrespect.

Eventually a compromise was reached, whereby Issaka would walk into the courtroom after the Magistrate and leave before her, so he didn't have to technically stand up for her.

His lawyer said outside court: "I respect that Mr Issaka has beliefs and he's stuck by his beliefs".

Sergeant Catherine Sadler told the court she copped an earful of abuse from Issaka during the riot.



"You're not a lady, you're f$#king filth," he allegedly yelled.



Issaka has denied those claims.



He told the court he'd only seen one clip of the anti-Islamic video which sparked the protest and went along thinking it would be peaceful.

The hearing continues.