Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson says that it was with some interest that the ABC television show Q&A hosted by political commentator Tony Jones often has such issues discussed where panellists are free to express their views, whether the subject is political, religious, ideological, sociological or whatever.
In the 19 September 2011 program the nature of discussing religion in Australia was raised and it was noted that Islam in Australia is not given the same introspection and tough and fearless investigation as is, say, Christianity. Panellist Graham Henderson surmised it was because there were so few Muslims in Australia (1.5% in the 2006 Census).
However a Dutch politician ended up in court for precisely doing this, and what was more, he won. 'Free speech' won in Holland.
Dutch member of parliament Geert Wilders was acquitted of all charges in his hate speech trial in Amsterdam. Judges found the populist politician's comments fell within the scope of protected free speech. He's out-there and loud, make no mistake!
The acquittal in effect makes Wilders' critical words about religious-political issues more mainstream in a country that for decades was viewed as one of the most liberal and tolerant in the world. (www.voanews.com)
The Sydney Morning Herald stated that Geert Wilders comments always fell within the bounds of legitimate political debate. It explained that Judge Marcel van Oosten stated in his ruling that Mr Wilders's comments must be seen in a wider context of debate over immigration policy. (www.smh.com.au)
As John Tyler stated above, this "decision is huge". There had been genuine fear that political debate could not include any realistic criticism of the politics of all religious-political groups in the Netherlands. Moreover, you could hardly miss the European drama of political-religious violence associated with the Jyllands-Posten cartoons. People died in the riots. (en.wikipedia.org)
European legislators are trying to find a way whereby every citizen has equal rights with freedom of expression in religious-political public debate including criticism of policies, yet all within an environment of peace within their democratic systems. Now there's an interesting challenge!
As an Australian observer, this court decision from The Netherlands, according to these Dutch commentators, has freed up the inhibitions that many have felt, and in many cases, in threat of their very lives.
Mark Tronson said he couldn't imagine a journalist writing an article in Australia on a "legitimate religious-political situation" and then having a mob attack their home. It's just so un-Australian. He said he's not heard of a Q&A panellist having their home fire-bombed or attacked.
Australia allows political debate from all persuasions. Recently the Sydney Morning Herald reported on a radical religious-political conference that promoted a resistance to democracy and a caliphate stretching from the Middle East to Indonesia. (www.smh.com.au)
If, as the Dutch commentators claim, this Dutch court's decision's ramifications are significant for all of Europe, it may be, as Winston Churchill so eloquently put it in 1942 (although it took many more years to actually win victory): "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. " (www.quotationspage.com)
Mark Tronson says: "Yes, to free speech, even if the discussion is about Christianity in a manner in which I personally feel is derogative, very nasty and under-the-belt. It's a whole lot better, than not being able to say it, and moreover, I too have the right to make legitimate Comment. Imagine an Australia where the Bible could not be read in public and commented upon."
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
