Religion has no place in Australian courts
Freedom of religion is something I respect. The right for a person to choose what religion they belong to (so long as it’s not some crazy cult running around touching up children), without persecution is an important thread woven into the fabric of our society.
Which religion you belong to shouldn’t matter, it can be one of the small ones nobody’s ever heard of or one of the larger usual suspect religions. What’s important is you’re free to belong to a religion of your choice, or none at all.
Something that does need to be addressed however is the belief amongst certain circles that religion is a law unto itself. That devotion can somehow be measured on a scale of contempt against the legal system of the country you reside in.
Anything more then swearing on the bible, the Quran or your left testicle should you so desire, is the beginning of a very slippery slope.
Earlier this month there was a bit of a huboo when federal police conducted raids across Melbourne over an alleged terrorist plot to go on a shooting spree at an army base.
Now I’m not arguing anybody’s guilt or innocence or perpetuating the islamic terrorist stereotype, that’s for the courts to decide. What has got my back up however is the contempt the three accused seem to openly show for Australia’s legal system.
At the end of his hearing, Mr Fattal refused to stand on the order of Mr Reardon.
His lawyer, Grace Morgan, said while he did not mean to offend the court, his religious beliefs stated he stand for no man, but only for God.
Well that’s nice but where do we draw the line? Does Fattal only obey the road speed limits for god? What about paying for things, only in the mosque? It’s a very nice sentimental gesture but the harsh reality is it is the Australian legal system that will be used to determine whether or not Fattal is guilty.
Not respecting this inescapable fact due to religious belief isn’t a great start.
That was back in early August, yet again today the same behaviour was repeated. Worst still members of the public gallery, supporters of Fattal and co. this time also refused to acknowledge and respect the Australian courts.
The magistrate presiding over the case, Peter Reardon, today shared his thoughts on the behaviour;
In my view, the Muslim religion is being used as a guise to help make a political demonstration.
Personally I can’t help but be slightly more cynical. What we’re seeing here has nothing to do with politics but is simply the beginnings of creating the illusion that a guilty verdict against the men is a guilty verdict against Islam.
What better way then to stir up religious extremists in Australia as the case plays out.
These beginnings (which I’m sure will get more ‘controversial’ as the case continues) are not only the beginnings of a religious defense in court but also a test of the tolerance Australian courts have towards religion.
‘I won’t stand up because I answer only to god’ is only a short hop, skip and jump from ‘You can’t convict me I answer only to god’. Thankfully thus far our magistrates are having none of it and Reardon has stated those that don’t respect the Australian courts will be forcibly removed.
Good on him. As much as I disagree with half the bullshit sentences that pour out of courts I at least have the decency to respect that the legal process that has concluded to arrive at such conclusions.
With the courts being such an integral part of the legal system and the legal system comprising of the laws which govern this country I can’t help but take disrespect of the legal system as disrespect of Australia’s laws.
Do we really want to follow the road this path leads and see where it ends? Guilty or not guilty there should be zero tolerance for behaviour like this. Deny bail and leave them in their jail cells for the entire duration of the court case.
If you can’t respect Australia’s legal system then you have no right to take part in it.
August 26th, 2009 at 12:03 am Vince(Quote)
Right on! It had nothing to do with religion, it was just a cop-out. Well done to the court for not tolerating that crap.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:19 am Citizen-D(Quote)
A well written post and I agree with it completely. It is a slippery slope we are on. On one hand we still have the ‘be alert, not alarmed – even though we tell you that Australia will be the target of real terrorism any day now’ mindset from the early naughties, but we also have the state Labor government’s anti-racial discrimination/’we’re a multicultural melting pot and we love it – honestly’ laws and views. We now have to try and convict these supposed would-be terrorists who were going to commit their alleged crimes in the name of their religion without bringing that religion into it.
August 26th, 2009 at 3:19 pm Pentarou(Quote)
Why dont we reintroduce ‘transport’ as a sentence?