Protest at court as United Patriots Front defends right to 'freedom of expression'

Three members of the United Patriots Front have briefly appeared in court on charges under Victoria's ‘Racial and Religious Tolerance Act’ after they allegedly made a video of a mock beheading.

Anti-racism protesters outside Melbourne Magistrates Court ahead of the United Patriots Front leader's appearance. Source: SBS

A noisy group of protestors greeted passers-by outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court, gathered to rally against members of the United Patriots Front (UPF). 

The UPF’s leader, Blair Cottrell, and his two co-accused, Christopher Shortis and Neil Erikson, are facing charges under the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act’, related to a video posted in 2015 depicting the beheading of an effigy outside Bendigo Council.

It was one of several right-wing, anti-Islam, UPF protests against the building of a mosque in the regional Victorian city, which has been approved by the council.

The protesters - a familiar sight at UPF events - didn't deter Mr Cottrell, who claims the charges are a bid to "silence" their political voice.

“It's ridiculous, basically the first step towards blasphemy laws, implemented in this country. Trying to invent a 'hate speech' standard. It's ridiculous. We're going to fight it until the end, and we will win,” he said outside court.

Christopher Shortis agreed, and defended the group's actions.

“It was a dramatic, dramatised, political statement, showing the very practices that exist in Islamic countries today.”

“Am I saying that every Muslim is capable of this sort of thing? No. I'm merely attacking the theology of Islam.”

 

But their opponents have described their actions as “hate speech”.

Debbie Brennan, from the Campaign against Racism and Fascism (CARF), said the UPF group was spreading fear.

“It's a very divisive, it's a very dangerous kind of nationalism,” she said.

The three men represented themselves and sought an adjournment in court, which was granted.

Despite the great interest, the magistrate locked the courtroom once all 30 seats were taken, barring others from entering.

Almost as many police officers as protesters were deployed to prevent any clashes, forming a human chain outside the Magistrates Court. Several were inside court too.

Though there was commotion, largely the gathering was peaceful and the brief mention was even parodied, both by supporters of UPF and their opponents.

The men are due back in court in May.