‘For us to say that free speech is dangerous that free speech cannot be possible in a democratic country—I’m yet to fathom this.’
An Orthodox Christian bishop attacked during a live-streamed sermon has delivered a message to the Australian government after returning from hospital.
Assyrian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who suffered eye injuries following the attack, argued that censorship went against the principle of integrity, morality, and democracy—the values which the “Western world, more-so, have been fighting for,” he argued.
His comments come as eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant engages in a legal battle with social media platform X after her office handed down an order demanding the platform block 65 posts containing videos of the attack.
In response, Australian political leaders have continued chastising X and pushed for harsher sanctions to combat “misinformation” online.
Standing on the altar of the Christ The Good Shepherd Church on April 28—where the attack took place two weeks ago—with a bandage on his left eye, the bishop began the speech by addressing the Australian government and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Mr. Emmanuel noted he was “yet to fathom” the fact that free speech is being called “dangerous” in a democratic country.
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