Ghost of Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 They actually passed a law mandating tolerance in speech by free citizens? We should have more of that here. We have to make sure we put the kibosh on this 'freedom' thing. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200506/s1397914.htm Pastors ordered to apologise for Muslim comments A Victorian Tribunal has ordered a Christian group to publicly apologise for vilifying Muslims at a religious conference and on the Internet. The orders are believed the first of their kind under Victoria's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act. The Islamic Council mounted legal action over comments made during a Catch The Fire Ministries Conference in 2002 and on an Internet website. Both comments included claims that the Koran promotes violence and terrorism. Last December the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found the comments constituted a serious contempt for and revulsion of Muslims. In a packed courtroom today the tribunal said an apology was appropriate and ordered the group and its pastors to publish a statement in the press acknowledging the breach of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act. The two pastors involved have also been asked to give an undertaking never to repeat the comments again. Outside the tribunal, Pastor Daniel Nalliah said he will not comply. "Right from the beginning we have stated we will not apologise - we will go to prison for standing for the truth," he said. The original finding that the pastors breached the act is the subject of a Judicial Review by the Supreme Court. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 "Racial vilification" laws have been on the books in Oz for a long time, so I'm not surprised to hear of this one. There's no free-speech amendment here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 That the difference between our Bill of Rights and a pure parliamentary system like in Britain and Australia. If Parliament says its the law, its the law. Period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 That's a really stupid law and exactly why free speech needs to be defended at all cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntotoro Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 It's a country run by the decendants of British criminals. What do you expect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosperity Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Double Plus good mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Originally posted by Predicto That the difference between our Bill of Rights and a pure parliamentary system like in Britain and Australia. If Parliament says its the law, its the law. Period. And don't forget that the governor-general (who is appointed by the queen) can, technically, disband Parliament at any time or even sack the prime minister (which has happened). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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