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20th December 2003
Hate case judge refuses pro-Muslim submissions
Date: December 20 2003

By Barney Zwartz
Religious Affairs Writer

Two churches and a Muslim group have been refused permission to make
submissions to the tribunal hearing Victoria's first religious hate case.

They sought to support the Islamic Council of Victoria's case that
Christian group Catch the Fire Ministries, pastor Danny Nalliah and speaker
Daniel Scot vilified Muslims at a seminar last year.

Judge Michael Higgins said he would not allow the Catholic Church, the
Uniting Church and the Board of Imams to intervene in a case both sides had
conducted "in a truly adversarial way".

He said their intervention "would not either lead to a perception of
balance or indeed probably achieve that result".

He said he would determine the case - the first brought under Victoria's
Racial and Religious Tolerance Act - from the material before him,
including witness statements and cross-examination.

The Catholic and Uniting churches applied to the Victorian Civil and
Administrative Tribunal when the case began in October. The Board of Imams
applied last week.

Judge Higgins said that each group generally sought to enhance harmony and
tolerance in religious debate. He said the Uniting Church wished to
intervene on the principle that people should not be vilified over
religious belief or activities.

The Catholic Church wished to acknowledge and encourage the Muslim faith
and did not want to see Catch the Fire's attitude become an acceptable part
of the Australian scene.

Catch the Fire barrister David Perkins described the churches as "officious
bystanders who want to grandstand".

The case was adjourned until February 12.