Embassy Row

Australian hate law

A Washington-based Christian human rights group is urging supporters to contact the Australian Embassy to protest the trial of two Christian pastors accused of insulting Islam.

“This case is a major affront to the basic values of Western society, such as freedom of speech and religious expression, and has the potential to impact the right to assembly peacefully and discuss other faiths,” International Christian Concern (ICC) said in an e-mail message yesterday.

The civil trial of Daniel Nalliah and Daniel Scot, which began last year, is scheduled to resume tomorrow in Melbourne, Australia. Lawyers for both sides expect the case to be concluded by March 5.

The embassy already has received hundreds of e-mails, letters and phone calls from Americans who are concerned about the case brought by the Islamic Council of the Australian state of Victoria.

“We have a very considerable amount of correspondence from people right across the United States,” embassy spokesman Matthew Francis said yesterday.

He said the embassy has explained that the case is a civil trial and that “there is no jail sentence involved.” Reports in Australia say the men could face a fine of up to $23,000.

“Australia is a country that respects the rule of law and cherishes freedom of expression and opinion,” Mr. Francis added.

He also explained that the case is not a federal matter. It was brought under Victoria’s Racial and Religious Tolerance Act of 2001.

The Islamic Council says the two pastors incited hatred toward Islam at a seminar in Victoria in March 2002 and in a newsletter published by Mr. Nalliah’s Catch the Fire Ministries. Three Muslims who attended the seminar filed the complaint before Victoria’s Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Supporters who have read the transcript of the seminar say the pastors emphasized the need for Christians to understand Islam.

Rich Braidich of the ICC, who attended the earlier hearings, said Mr. Scot spoke of the “need to love Muslims and reach out to them.”

“Not once was there a condescending remark made concerning Muslim people or Islam,” Mr. Braidich said.

Defense attorney David Perkins argued in October that the Victoria law “is in conflict with the rights and immunities we have as Australian citizens.”

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