Australia

Trial Resumes for Pastors

 Daniel Scot Danny Nalliah
Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah
Hearings resumed in the court case against Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah, accusing the two of "vilifying Muslims" in a seminar on March 9, 2002. The Islamic Council of Victoria contends that the seminar violated Victoria State's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act.

Last week, defense attorneys sought a two-week delay to prepare their defense, when the judge allowed the case to be expanded beyond the original charges (for more details, click here).

However, the judge denied that request. During the trial, the two accused will not be allowed to argue whether or not their statements from the Koran and other Islamic sources are true; but only whether or not they "incited hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule" of Muslims. VOM Spokesman, Glenn Penner commented, "This legislation was bound to be misused. It is vaguely written without clear legal definitions of what 'vilification' really is. It desperately needs to be withdrawn and either rejected or redrafted to prevent the kind of injustice we see Scot and Nalliah being subjected to." To view this legislation, go to https://www.vomcanada.com/download/rrta.pdf.

Continue to pray for this trial. Pray that all charges against these two men will be dismissed shortly.

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Australia News

  • 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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