MELBOURNE, December 17 (IslamOnline.net) - An Australian evangelical church was Friday, December 17, found guilty of condoning and promoting racist and vilifying remarks against Islam and the Muslim community in the country, according to the ruling on an Aussie court.

Catch the Fire Ministries, its pastor Danny Nalliah and speaker Daniel Scot were found guilty by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) of vilifying Islam and Muslims during a seminar held in March 2002 and in several articles published in the church's newsletter, prompting the Islamic Council of Victoria to take the case to the court for action, the Web site News.com.au said.

Judge Michael Higgins said Catch the Fire, Pastor Nalliah and speaker Scot had breached section eight of the Religious and Racial Tolerance Act by mocking at the Muslim beliefs and conduct.

“It was done, not in the context of a serious discussion of Muslims' religious beliefs,” Judge Higgins said.

“It was presented in a way which is essentially hostile, demeaning and derogatory of all Muslim people, their God, Allah, the prophet Mohammed and in general Muslim religious beliefs and practices.”

The Religious and Racial Tolerance Act says a person must not “incite hatred against, serious contempt for or revulsion or severe ridicule of” another person or group on the basis of religious belief or activity.

Pastor Scot told a seminar in 2002 that the “Muslims' Qur'an is promoting violence, killing and looting and that Muslims were liars and demons”.

He further claimed that Muslims are drawing up a plan of violence and terror to overrun the western democracies, warning that Australia would be turned into an Islamic nation over the increasing numbers of Muslims in the European country, according to the Web site.

“I find that Pastor Scot's conduct was not engaged in reasonably and in good faith for any genuine religious purpose or any purpose that is in the public interest,” Judge Higgins said.

He added that an article in the church's newsletter, written by Pastor Nalliah, incited fear and hatred of Muslims, as did a third article by a person identified as Richard, claiming that “Islam is associated with terrorism”.

Penalties, that could include orders for an apology or financial compensations, would be decided early next year.

Aussie Muslims have been actively promoting their anti-violence stance.

The court verdict was highly welcomed by the Islamic Council of Victoria as an important step against vilification of the Muslim community in the country.

“We also had the support of the Catholic Church, the interfaith community and the Uniting Church and the Jewish community. Because it was very important that we all stood together against vilification and understand that vilification is a tool used by extremists, and we must always condemn extremism and vilification,” said the council's president Yasser Soliman.

He stressed that the court decision would grant the Muslim community the ability to integrate more easily into the society as average Australians.

“People were being demonized, (being denied) the ability to get jobs, to be friends, to be safe.

“We had to act upon it and felt it was important to have it determined by law.”

The Islamic Council of Victoria  (ICV) is the umbrella organization of Islamic societies in Victoria and their sole representative body to Australian government and Australian community at large.

It is a member of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) the umbrella organization of all Islamic Councils in Australia.

“It demonstrates where the line is drawn between legitimate public debate and behavior that incites hatred.”