Frank Gaffney raises a number of issues and examples where in both the US and in Denmark the law is taking the direction of subjecting itself to "fear" rather than justice.
He cited an appeals court in Denmark that – "convicted one of Western civilization's most courageous defenders – Lars Hedegaard, president of the International Free Press Society. His crime? He gave offence to Muslims. Yes, that's right, a Danish judicial panel effectively enforced shariah blasphemy law. In the process, the court violated one of the most cardinal pillars of freedom: the right to free speech."
Gaffney writes: "If allowed to stand, the ruling in the Hedegaard case will be used to abridge fundamental civil rights throughout Europe, and possibly far beyond. Yet, there has been remarkably little outcry about the defendant's plight – most especially from journalists who have as much to lose as anybody. (www.israelunitycoalition.org)
Frank Gaffney described such aims as bringing 'shariah' through such mechanisms and I quote: "Such behaviour is exceedingly dangerous." He says, "We need to stand up against shariah, not submit to it – at home or abroad. We must demonstrate that we are, to use bin Laden's term, the "stronger horse," by touting our victories and power, and not convey the opposite impression by obscuring or apologising for them.
Recently, Australia's Attorney General made it clear that any form of shariah would not get a guernsey in Australia. (news.com.au)
Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson says there has been a lot written in Australia on whether our laws protect our free speech and freedom of worship. Christians need to be ever politically vigilant in such matters, particularly in any area that could be twisted in such a way so as to curtail Christian worship, practice and evangelism.
Mark Tronson says, Australia has been succeeding in this through the courts, however a very smart lawyer and an unsuspecting court could all too easily send the majority down a very unsuspecting and disturbing road. There have been situations where things got tricky.
The well known case of Catch the Fire Ministry in Victoria raised this concern when the Islamic Council of Victoria took action legal action against their Christian literature and also comments at a Christian meeting. The details are cited in this link)
After this Victorian incident, legislators are now much more circumspect as there was so much criticism over similar proposed legislation on vilification for New South Wales. It was explained that someone could object 'as offensive' to the Bible reading of the day, in a church worship service. In the end, it was never put forward to the NSW Parliament in that form. (www.ourcivilisation.com)
Mark Tronson says there is fear associated with these issues, particularly where the idea of tolerance can be misused to endanger our historical freedoms, and moreover, Christians must forever be politically alert to such scenarios.
Christians need 'political nous'.
Perhaps Christians should be singing and praying the second stanza of - 'God Save The Queen'. (Wikipedia)
O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.
