A chance to redress an outrage in Australia. One of the more ridiculous episodes in the first trial is recounted here.
“Church wins hate case retrial,” from AAP, with thanks to all who sent this in:
AN appeal court has ruled that Victoria’s first racial vilification case, involving a church accusing Muslims of training to take over Australia, must be heard again by a tribunal.
The Victorian Court of Appeal today ruled in favour of the evangelical Catch the Fire Ministries and two of its pastors who were ordered last year by the Victorian Civil and and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to correct and apologise for statements they made about Muslims.
In a unanimous decision today, three appeal court judges ruled that the orders made by VCAT be set aside and the case return to the tribunal to decided again, without the re-hearing of evidence.
The case centred on comments made by pastor Daniel Scot during a seminar, as well as by the church on its website and by pastor Daniel Nalliah in a newsletter.
Pastor Scot’s comments included that Australia’s Muslim population was growing rapidly “because they control the immigration department”.
Comments also said Muslims were demons, the Koran promoted violence and killing, Muslims derived money from drugs and intended to take over Australia and declare it an Islamic nation.
Much of this is not what was actually said — for instance, the pastors never said Muslims were demons. Here is one correction.
The tribunal agreed with the Islamic Council of Victoria that the church’s conduct incited hatred against the Islamic faith.
In the Court of Appeal, the church argued that VCAT erred in its interpretation of the law.
The church said the Islamic council should have had to prove that people were actually incited to hatred, rather than show the comments were likely to incite hatred.