Historic Win In Religious Hatred Case

In 2002, Pastor Danny Nalliah and speaker Daniel Scot vilified Muslims at a seminar and in a newsletter. Mr Scot made fun of muslims beliefs and practices. When Muslims found about this, the matter was taken to court in 2003 by Yasser Soliman, the president of the Islamic Council of Victoria. Imams in mosques encouraged muslims to attend court hearings for support.

A decision was reached in favour of the muslims last month by Judge Michael Higgins. He ruled that "Mr Scot's conduct was not reasonable and in good faith for any genuinely religious purpose or in the public interest". Higgins said the newsletter by Mr Nalliah sought to create fear of Muslims and was likely to incite hatred.

Daniel Scot said he was disappointed but not surprised by the decision. "There was no mention of freedom of speech there".

Afterwards, outside the court Nalliah said "We may have lost the battle, but the war is not over. The law has to be removed, there is no question".

Although the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act provides for prison sentences, Judge Higgins said earlier in the case that jail was not an option. Mr Soliman said he would not seek a big fine. "As far as the Muslim community is concerned, it's not about the money," he said.

The case has divided Christian churches, with the Catholic and Uniting churches supporting the Islamic Council and Pentecostal and evangelical groups saying the law inhibits free speech.

Conservative Christians said they would repeal the vilification law.

You can read the entire story in The Age.