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23rd October 2003
QC tells of anti-Muslim hate seminar
By Barney Zwartz
Religious Affairs Writer
October 23, 2003
source: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/10/22/1066631500341.html

A Christian seminar had incited hatred of Muslims by saying they were terrorists and liars who planned to make Australia an Islamic country, a tribunal was told yesterday.

Brind Woinarski, QC, said Daniel Scot had told the seminar that Muslims were trying to take over Australia by a high birth rate and conversion to Islam.

In his opening address in the first case under Victoria's hate laws, Mr Woinarski said Mr Scot taught that Islam glorified violence and killing, and sanctioned the abuse of women and lies and deceit in dealing with non-Muslims.

The Islamic Council of Victoria has complained that the Christian group Catch the Fire, speaker Daniel Scot and pastor Danny Nalliah vilified Muslims at the seminar last year and on the group's website.

Mr Woinarski told the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal that the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act aimed at stopping such stereotyping. "Pastor Scot told his audience that what he taught, and only what he taught, was the true teaching and belief of Islam."

But that teaching, in the Wahhabist tradition, was held at best by only a small minority of Muslims, of whom only a few had come to Australia.

The hearing was listed for three days, but the first three were used in legal argument. It continues today before Judge Michael Higgins.