The Assyrian bishop at the centre of an alleged terror stabbing says he does not want the attack to be used as a “weapon” to suppress freedom of speech, declaring that he was concerned it could be hijacked to further others’ “political interest”. Source: The Australian.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel said he was “not opposed” to the video of him being stabbed at his western Sydney church remaining live on social media platform X, because the right to freedom of speech and religion was “God given”.
Speaking directly to his supporters in an Anzac Day message, Bishop Emmanuel explained his reasoning for supporting the footage remaining live, arguing that removing it would be a threat to “human freedom and freedom of religion”.
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has launched legal action to force the social media platform, owned by Elon Musk, to hide the violent content.
Lawyers representing X (formerly Twitter) told the Federal Court on Wednesday that Bishop Emmanuel would submit an affidavit backing the tech giant’s bid to host the video.
Bishop Emmanuel said threats to free speech undermined “human identity and dignity” and he did not have the right to “cause harm” to a person who attacks his faith.
Bishop Emmanuel reaffirmed that he had forgiven the 16-year-old alleged to have attacked him, declaring that he will “always love this person”.
FULL STORY
Bishop fears Wakeley stabbing could be ‘weapon’ to suppress free speech (By Rhiannon Down, The Australian)
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