Select a year:

28th February 2004
Muslim 'pulled no punches' at seminar
By Barney Zwartz
February 28, 2004
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/27/1077676960837.html

A Christian seminar Muslims say vilified them was just typical of religious debate in which Islamic thinkers also pull no punches, a tribunal heard yesterday.

Barrister David Perkins said a Muslim speaker at a seminar in Brisbane said "the most atrocious things about Christianity".

Arguing that the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal should watch a video of that seminar, Mr Perkins said it showed the Christian seminar could not be seen in isolation.

The Islamic Council of Victoria has complained that Catch the Fire Ministries, pastor Danny Nalliah and speaker Daniel Scot vilified Muslims at the Christian seminar in Melbourne in March 2002.

Mr Perkins said: "It shows Islamic thinkers are out there taking part in the debate, pulling no punches, commenting on the Bible in caustic ways.

"The debate was on the boil and had been for years. That's what in this country, if not this state, we call free speech."

Judge Michael Higgins reserved his decision on the video.

Pastor Scot, asked by Islamic Council barrister Debbie Mortimer whether he would change his message at his next seminar, said he would not.

"I teach what the Koran says, and if Muslims find these topics offensive, that's something they have to deal with - it's not the fault of the teacher."

Asked to clarify his comment at his seminar that Islam did not value women, Pastor Scot said the Koran and Hadith taught that a woman had less intellectual capacity, was a toy, was like a field to be ploughed, and the husband's desire should be met at any cost.

Ms Mortimer complained that he was using the hearing, under cover of privilege, to further vilify her clients.