Mr KAVANAGH (Western Victoria) -- On 14 January I joined the march of about 6000 Coptic Christians through the city. The march was organised to mourn and protest the murder of six Coptic Christians in Egypt at the beginning of the year. Mrs Peulich and I both addressed the march on its conclusion at the front steps of the Parliament. I told the marchers that we had emphatically, if implicitly, supported a fundamental principle that people are entitled to peacefully practise any religion of their choice or no religion, without fear of being bombed, burned, bashed or murdered.
I further observed that this principle will become ever more important in the future as people of different religious traditions live together in Europe and Asia as they never have before.
Respect for the religious freedom of others is the only basis for peaceful coexistence and I call on every government, political party and individual to emphatically support and emphasise this principle at every opportunity.
I further observed that this principle will become ever more important in the future as people of different religious traditions live together in Europe and Asia as they never have before.
Respect for the religious freedom of others is the only basis for peaceful coexistence and I call on every government, political party and individual to emphatically support and emphasise this principle at every opportunity.
