Racial discrimination act 18C and the case against hate preacher Wissam Haddad
'I do not think 18C should exist, I think it is a handbrake on free speech and it has, on many occasions, been weaponised against genuine debate in this country, just as it was against our colleague here at Sky News, Andrew Bolt, 14 years ago,' Mr Bond said.
'My point is, that it is not the law's job to stop people from being racist and it never will stop people from being racist, because even if they stop saying stuff openly, they will still say it privately and their garbage will simply go underground.
'I want to make it clear, I have always been opposed to 18C, I still am opposed to 18C and that does not change because in this case I am more sympathetic to those who took on an Islamic preacher.'
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The Advertiser
29 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Prophets cartoon a vile provocation: Turkish president
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has condemned as a "vile provocation" a cartoon in a satirical magazine that appeared to depict prophets Mohammad and Moses, amplifying an outcry by religious conservatives after the arrest of four cartoonists. The cartoon, published a few days after the end of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, appears to show Mohammad, Islam's chief prophet, and Moses, one of Judaism's most important prophets, shaking hands in the sky while missiles fly below in a wartime scene. It was criticised by religious conservatives and Erdogan's ruling party, which called it an "Islamophobic hate crime," even as the magazine Leman apologised to readers who felt offended and said it had been misunderstood. "We will not allow anyone to speak against our sacred values," Erdogan said in televised remarks, adding that authorities would closely follow the legal process. "Those who show disrespect to our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law," he said. The four Leman cartoonists were detained late on Monday over the drawing. Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted AK Party regularly criticise what they call Islamophobic acts in broadly secular Turkey and across Europe. Devout Muslims regard depictions of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous. In a statement on X, Leman said "the work does not refer to the Prophet Mohammad in any way". The cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, had sought to highlight "the suffering of a Muslim man killed in Israeli attacks," it said, adding there was no intent to insult Islam or its prophet. The magazine urged authorities to counter what it called a smear campaign, and to protect freedom of expression. Several civil society groups condemned the detentions as a violation of freedom of thought and expression. Turkey's freedom of expression ranking is low due to restrictions on media and public discourse. Reporters Without Borders ranked it 158th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index. More than 200 people rallied against Leman in central Istanbul on Tuesday, despite a ban on gatherings and a heavy police presence. One protester, public servant Muhammed Emin Necipsoy, said the magazine's defence seemed insincere. "There is a subtle emphasis there on both the Prophet (Mohammad) and the Prophet Moses," he said. Late on Monday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared a video on X showing police officers detaining Pehlevan, the cartoonist, with his hands cuffed behind his back as he was dragged up a stairwell. He also shared videos of three other men being removed from their homes and dragged into vans, one of them barefoot. "The individual who drew this vile image, DP, has been apprehended and taken into custody. These shameless people will be held accountable before the law," Yerlikaya wrote. The government said an inquiry was launched under a penal code article that criminalises incitement to hatred and enmity. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has condemned as a "vile provocation" a cartoon in a satirical magazine that appeared to depict prophets Mohammad and Moses, amplifying an outcry by religious conservatives after the arrest of four cartoonists. The cartoon, published a few days after the end of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, appears to show Mohammad, Islam's chief prophet, and Moses, one of Judaism's most important prophets, shaking hands in the sky while missiles fly below in a wartime scene. It was criticised by religious conservatives and Erdogan's ruling party, which called it an "Islamophobic hate crime," even as the magazine Leman apologised to readers who felt offended and said it had been misunderstood. "We will not allow anyone to speak against our sacred values," Erdogan said in televised remarks, adding that authorities would closely follow the legal process. "Those who show disrespect to our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law," he said. The four Leman cartoonists were detained late on Monday over the drawing. Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted AK Party regularly criticise what they call Islamophobic acts in broadly secular Turkey and across Europe. Devout Muslims regard depictions of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous. In a statement on X, Leman said "the work does not refer to the Prophet Mohammad in any way". The cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, had sought to highlight "the suffering of a Muslim man killed in Israeli attacks," it said, adding there was no intent to insult Islam or its prophet. The magazine urged authorities to counter what it called a smear campaign, and to protect freedom of expression. Several civil society groups condemned the detentions as a violation of freedom of thought and expression. Turkey's freedom of expression ranking is low due to restrictions on media and public discourse. Reporters Without Borders ranked it 158th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index. More than 200 people rallied against Leman in central Istanbul on Tuesday, despite a ban on gatherings and a heavy police presence. One protester, public servant Muhammed Emin Necipsoy, said the magazine's defence seemed insincere. "There is a subtle emphasis there on both the Prophet (Mohammad) and the Prophet Moses," he said. Late on Monday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared a video on X showing police officers detaining Pehlevan, the cartoonist, with his hands cuffed behind his back as he was dragged up a stairwell. He also shared videos of three other men being removed from their homes and dragged into vans, one of them barefoot. "The individual who drew this vile image, DP, has been apprehended and taken into custody. These shameless people will be held accountable before the law," Yerlikaya wrote. The government said an inquiry was launched under a penal code article that criminalises incitement to hatred and enmity. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has condemned as a "vile provocation" a cartoon in a satirical magazine that appeared to depict prophets Mohammad and Moses, amplifying an outcry by religious conservatives after the arrest of four cartoonists. The cartoon, published a few days after the end of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, appears to show Mohammad, Islam's chief prophet, and Moses, one of Judaism's most important prophets, shaking hands in the sky while missiles fly below in a wartime scene. It was criticised by religious conservatives and Erdogan's ruling party, which called it an "Islamophobic hate crime," even as the magazine Leman apologised to readers who felt offended and said it had been misunderstood. "We will not allow anyone to speak against our sacred values," Erdogan said in televised remarks, adding that authorities would closely follow the legal process. "Those who show disrespect to our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law," he said. The four Leman cartoonists were detained late on Monday over the drawing. Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted AK Party regularly criticise what they call Islamophobic acts in broadly secular Turkey and across Europe. Devout Muslims regard depictions of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous. In a statement on X, Leman said "the work does not refer to the Prophet Mohammad in any way". The cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, had sought to highlight "the suffering of a Muslim man killed in Israeli attacks," it said, adding there was no intent to insult Islam or its prophet. The magazine urged authorities to counter what it called a smear campaign, and to protect freedom of expression. Several civil society groups condemned the detentions as a violation of freedom of thought and expression. Turkey's freedom of expression ranking is low due to restrictions on media and public discourse. Reporters Without Borders ranked it 158th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index. More than 200 people rallied against Leman in central Istanbul on Tuesday, despite a ban on gatherings and a heavy police presence. One protester, public servant Muhammed Emin Necipsoy, said the magazine's defence seemed insincere. "There is a subtle emphasis there on both the Prophet (Mohammad) and the Prophet Moses," he said. Late on Monday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared a video on X showing police officers detaining Pehlevan, the cartoonist, with his hands cuffed behind his back as he was dragged up a stairwell. He also shared videos of three other men being removed from their homes and dragged into vans, one of them barefoot. "The individual who drew this vile image, DP, has been apprehended and taken into custody. These shameless people will be held accountable before the law," Yerlikaya wrote. The government said an inquiry was launched under a penal code article that criminalises incitement to hatred and enmity. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has condemned as a "vile provocation" a cartoon in a satirical magazine that appeared to depict prophets Mohammad and Moses, amplifying an outcry by religious conservatives after the arrest of four cartoonists. The cartoon, published a few days after the end of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, appears to show Mohammad, Islam's chief prophet, and Moses, one of Judaism's most important prophets, shaking hands in the sky while missiles fly below in a wartime scene. It was criticised by religious conservatives and Erdogan's ruling party, which called it an "Islamophobic hate crime," even as the magazine Leman apologised to readers who felt offended and said it had been misunderstood. "We will not allow anyone to speak against our sacred values," Erdogan said in televised remarks, adding that authorities would closely follow the legal process. "Those who show disrespect to our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law," he said. The four Leman cartoonists were detained late on Monday over the drawing. Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted AK Party regularly criticise what they call Islamophobic acts in broadly secular Turkey and across Europe. Devout Muslims regard depictions of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous. In a statement on X, Leman said "the work does not refer to the Prophet Mohammad in any way". The cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, had sought to highlight "the suffering of a Muslim man killed in Israeli attacks," it said, adding there was no intent to insult Islam or its prophet. The magazine urged authorities to counter what it called a smear campaign, and to protect freedom of expression. Several civil society groups condemned the detentions as a violation of freedom of thought and expression. Turkey's freedom of expression ranking is low due to restrictions on media and public discourse. Reporters Without Borders ranked it 158th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index. More than 200 people rallied against Leman in central Istanbul on Tuesday, despite a ban on gatherings and a heavy police presence. One protester, public servant Muhammed Emin Necipsoy, said the magazine's defence seemed insincere. "There is a subtle emphasis there on both the Prophet (Mohammad) and the Prophet Moses," he said. Late on Monday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared a video on X showing police officers detaining Pehlevan, the cartoonist, with his hands cuffed behind his back as he was dragged up a stairwell. He also shared videos of three other men being removed from their homes and dragged into vans, one of them barefoot. "The individual who drew this vile image, DP, has been apprehended and taken into custody. These shameless people will be held accountable before the law," Yerlikaya wrote. The government said an inquiry was launched under a penal code article that criminalises incitement to hatred and enmity.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Young, socialist, Muslim NY mayoral candidate is the start of a revolution
Zohran Mamdani just pulled off the political upset of the year in New York's Democratic mayoral primary. It was a David and Goliath moment, powered by young, working-class New Yorkers fed up with the cost of living and political neglect. Mamdani's rise signals a shift in urban politics – one that's echoing far beyond New York. In backing Mamdani, 33, a Muslim democratic socialist, voters chose representation that's both lived and loud. New Yorkers chose someone to defeat former governor Andrew Cuomo, a political heir with a history of sexual harassment allegations. They chose someone who would help them afford to live in the city they love. Someone who TikToks speaking Hindi, clipping Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, and has Emily Ratajkowski wearing a 'Hot Girls for Zohran' T-shirt. Someone who uses the term 'genocide' when discussing the Middle East. Mamdani is upending politics, and it isn't a surprise to me. I'll admit my bias. I'm a 28-year-old Indian Australian corporate lawyer with a lot of HECS debt and no real assets. I get called 'Greg' once a fortnight because my name appears 'Garg, Tushaar' in Outlook. So when Mamdani corrected Cuomo for butchering his name again, spelling it out, letter by letter, he had me dead to rights. 'The name is Mamdani', he told New York and Cuomo. Unlike the Australian dream, the American dream isn't built on owning the home you live in. But even renting is becoming untenable in many major cities. New Yorkers now spend more than 50 per cent of their income on housing. For every 100 low-income households in New York, there are just 36 affordable rentals. In an early debate, the Democratic mayoral candidates were asked what they each pay in rent. Adrienne Adams owned her home. Cuomo? $US7800 ($11,846) per month. Mamdani? $US2,300 per month. Unable to own the homes they live in or spend close to $US2000 a week on rent, many young voters identified with Mamdani. This support only grew as New York's Robin Hood unveiled plans to tax the rich and build for the poor. Mamdani plans to place an additional 2 per cent tax on those earning over $US1 million and increase corporate tax rates. He will also freeze rent for more than 2 million tenants and fast-track 200,000 new affordable homes. Loading In Sydney, the picture is just as bleak. Over the weekend of March 15-16, Anglicare found that of 13,334 private rentals advertised across Greater Sydney, only 21 were affordable for a single person on minimum wage. If you're a young professional hoping to live anywhere near Sydney city, you'll need to pile a generous premium on top of the asking price, just to be in the running for a rental. At my age, the hip-pocket nerve is the most sensitive, and it's starting to pinch. Mamdani spoke to voters who are tired of seeing their faith politicised. Unsurprisingly, he resonated with New York's large Muslim population. More significantly, he began gaining support from across the aisle, including parts of New York's Jewish community, the largest outside of Israel. This kind of cross-cultural support is rare in today's political climate, where campaigns thrive on division and xenophobic rhetoric.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Young, socialist, Muslim NY mayoral candidate is the start of a revolution
Zohran Mamdani just pulled off the political upset of the year in New York's Democratic mayoral primary. It was a David and Goliath moment, powered by young, working-class New Yorkers fed up with the cost of living and political neglect. Mamdani's rise signals a shift in urban politics – one that's echoing far beyond New York. In backing Mamdani, 33, a Muslim democratic socialist, voters chose representation that's both lived and loud. New Yorkers chose someone to defeat former governor Andrew Cuomo, a political heir with a history of sexual harassment allegations. They chose someone who would help them afford to live in the city they love. Someone who TikToks speaking Hindi, clipping Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, and has Emily Ratajkowski wearing a 'Hot Girls for Zohran' T-shirt. Someone who uses the term 'genocide' when discussing the Middle East. Mamdani is upending politics, and it isn't a surprise to me. I'll admit my bias. I'm a 28-year-old Indian Australian corporate lawyer with a lot of HECS debt and no real assets. I get called 'Greg' once a fortnight because my name appears 'Garg, Tushaar' in Outlook. So when Mamdani corrected Cuomo for butchering his name again, spelling it out, letter by letter, he had me dead to rights. 'The name is Mamdani', he told New York and Cuomo. Unlike the Australian dream, the American dream isn't built on owning the home you live in. But even renting is becoming untenable in many major cities. New Yorkers now spend more than 50 per cent of their income on housing. For every 100 low-income households in New York, there are just 36 affordable rentals. In an early debate, the Democratic mayoral candidates were asked what they each pay in rent. Adrienne Adams owned her home. Cuomo? $US7800 ($11,846) per month. Mamdani? $US2,300 per month. Unable to own the homes they live in or spend close to $US2000 a week on rent, many young voters identified with Mamdani. This support only grew as New York's Robin Hood unveiled plans to tax the rich and build for the poor. Mamdani plans to place an additional 2 per cent tax on those earning over $US1 million and increase corporate tax rates. He will also freeze rent for more than 2 million tenants and fast-track 200,000 new affordable homes. Loading In Sydney, the picture is just as bleak. Over the weekend of March 15-16, Anglicare found that of 13,334 private rentals advertised across Greater Sydney, only 21 were affordable for a single person on minimum wage. If you're a young professional hoping to live anywhere near Sydney city, you'll need to pile a generous premium on top of the asking price, just to be in the running for a rental. At my age, the hip-pocket nerve is the most sensitive, and it's starting to pinch. Mamdani spoke to voters who are tired of seeing their faith politicised. Unsurprisingly, he resonated with New York's large Muslim population. More significantly, he began gaining support from across the aisle, including parts of New York's Jewish community, the largest outside of Israel. This kind of cross-cultural support is rare in today's political climate, where campaigns thrive on division and xenophobic rhetoric.
