In a lavishly produced 11-minute YouTube video – his first public statement since he was stabbed multiple times on April 15 while delivering a livestreamed sermon – Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel commented on eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant’s.
The bishop stabbed at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Sydney on April 15 says he does not want people to use the attack to serve their own interests to control free speech.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton told Ray Hadley on Sydney’s 2GB radio on Thursday that platforms such as X had to abide by Australian law and remove the video,but the government cannot be the “internet police of the world” in demanding the removal of the footage globally.
Billionaire Elon Musk,owner of social media platform X,is citing Emmanuel’s defence of free speech in his Federal Court battle,after he defied the eSafety commissioner’s order to remove the footage from the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Australia won a to hide videos of the stabbing,which was extended until the final hearing on May 10.
Ahead of the May hearing,Emmanuel provided X with an affidavit in support of the images remaining on the platform and used his YouTube video,uploaded on Wednesday night,to condemn those using the attack on him for political purposes.
Elon Musk,owner of social media platform X.AP
“I do acknowledge the Australian government’s desire to have the videos removed because of their graphic nature;I do not condone any acts of terrorism or violence,” Emmanuel said in a voice-over accompanying footage of him walking the processional route of Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.
“However,noting our God-given right of freedom of speech and freedom of religion,I’m not opposed to the videos remaining on social media. I would be of great concern if people use the attack on me to serve their own political interests to control free speech.”
Dutton said he had no interest in curbing free speech but believed publishers and social media platforms had a responsibility to abide by Australian law.
“We can’t be the internet police of the world … but if we have a situation where you’ve got a cleric being stabbed and that’s inciting violence,then the laws are very clear about the ability to take that down,” he told 2GB.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was attacked during a service on April 15.Supplied
“I don’t think the law,as I say,extends to other countries,nor should it.”
On Sunday,Dutton told ABCInsiders host David Speers that there was bipartisan support for tougher measures to rein in social media,and that while he was sure Australian law could not be applied overseas,he thought X and Meta were worried about “the flow on to other markets if Australia’s laws are upheld”.
“That’s all the more reason,I think,for us to take a stance – it’s important for us – but for other democracies as well,” Dutton said.
The bishop’s new video does not contain any footage of the attack and does not directly mention Musk.
One of the teenagers arrested in Wednesday’s counter-terror operation.NSW Police
Instead,it features extensive footage of him making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem,walking the Via Dolorosa with members of his community,and lighting candles at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the heart of the Old City.
Emmanuel has developed a for his conservative positions on COVID measures,trans rights and geopolitics.
The 16-year-old who allegedly stabbed the bishop was. In addition,more than 400 officers from the Joint Counter-terrorism Team.
Five of the seven young people arrested were with a range of terrorism and extremism offences in connection with the 16-year-old who allegedly stabbed Emmanuel.
Five teens have been charged as part of a joint counter terror operation following raids in Sydney yesterday.
The bishop used his YouTube video to forgive “whoever was behind this”.
“My prayer goes for the person who has done this act,” he said. “I will always love this person … He’s my son and he will always be my son,he’ll always be in my heart and in my prayers and in my thoughts.”
He also said he was praying for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,Israel and Palestine.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news,views and expert analysis..