Australia

Vilification Trial Resumes for Pastors

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 Daniel Scot Danny Nalliah
Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah
The trial for Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah, accused of "vilifying Muslims" resumed on December 11. The charges come from a seminar held on March 9, 2002, informing local Christians about Islam and the meaning of Jihad (for more information on the case, see https://www.vomcanada.com/au-2003-10-07.htm). If convicted, the two face substantial fines under Victoria State's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act.

When the trial resumed, the Board of Imams, the Uniting Church of Australia, and the Catholic Church in Melbourne all sought the right to intervene in the case, supporting the Islamic Council and their accusations against Scot and Nalliah. In a positive development, on December 15, the judge rejected the applications to intervene. It is expected that the last witness for the Islamic Council will testify within the next few days.

Pray that the judge will rule that they have not proven their case of "vilification." Pray that, as a result of this case, the policies regarding tolerance and freedom of speech will be clarified in Victoria State's laws. Pray for a positive resolution to this case.

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  • Vilification Case Settled in Australia
    VCAT Media Release
    VCAT Media Release
    Click here to view the entire document

    The five-year vilification case between Pastors Daniel Nalliah and Daniel Scot of Catch The Fire Ministry and the Islamic Council of Victoria (click here for more) was settled in seven hours of mediation between the two parties in the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) on June 22. Some of the terms of the agreement are confidential but both parties agreed to make a joint statement in which they recognized the right to "robustly debate religion" within the limits of the law, "including the right to criticize the religious belief of another in a free, open and democratic society." The case was the first to be heard by the VCAT under Victoria's 2001 Racial and Religious Tolerance Act.

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  • Pastors Win Appeal
    Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah
    Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah

    Australian pastors Danny Nalliah and Daniel Scott, who were charged with "vilifying Muslims" in March 2002 (click here for more details), have won their appeal. Their case will now be sent back to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to be heard by a different judge. The court also suspended the orders for the pastors to publicly apologize for their comments. Their accuser, the Islamic Court of Victoria, has been ordered to pay half of the appeal costs. The costs of the original hearing will be decided by the judge who rehears their case. The two pastors reportedly hail the decision as "a victory for free speech."

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  • Update on Vilification Case
    Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah
    Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah

    In June 2005, Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah were found guilty of vilifying Muslims by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in Victoria State, Australia. They were ordered to publicly apologize for statements they made in a conference and to not repeat the statements. The ruling was appealed.

    On August 21-22, the appeal court heard their arguments. The three justices have reserved their decision. It could take up to three months for the decision to be announced. Pray for Justice Geoffrey Nettle, Justice David Ashley and Justice Marcia Neave as they consider this important case.

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