On December 17, Australian Judge Michael Higgins ruled that Pastors Danny Nalliah and Daniel Scot had breached section 8 of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act of Victoria State which states that a person cannot engage in conduct that "incites hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule of, that other person or class of persons." Though the law outlines exceptions for religious purposes, Judge Higgins ruled that these exceptions did not apply, since the actions of Nalliah and Scot were not "reasonable and in good faith." In the five-page summary of his decision, Higgins stated that Pastor Scot had "failed to differentiate between Muslims throughout the world, that he preached a literal translation of the Quran and of Muslims’ religious practices which were not mainstream." Interestingly, the statements of Scot ruled to be most offensive were direct quotes from the Quran.
This ruling came as a result of a seminar held by Catch the Fire Ministries to educate Christians on the beliefs of Islam. Three Muslims in attendance took offense at what had been said and instigated action against Nalliah and Scot. For more information on this case, click here. The penalty is to be announced in later January, after both parties have had time to evaluate the decision. Previously, the Islamic Council asked for an apology, compensation and costs, which could amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Pray for Nalliah and Scot, as they face the consequences of this ruling. Pray for groups attempting to have the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act revoked in Australia's Victoria State.
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.
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."
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.
