Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694820066589.pdf (Australia)
Inquiry into the status of the human right to freedom of religion or belief.

1) The enjoyment of freedom of religion or belief globally, the nature and extent of violations and abuses of this right and the causes of those violations or abuses As a Christian, I believe in the Word of God and practice God’s teachings.

The bible is very clear with regard to homosexuality and marriage.

I have worked in a University for more than a quarter of a century.
It is a University which prided itself as being one of the most LGBTI-friendly University in Australia.

In recent years, I noted there was no enjoyment of freedom of religion with respect to sexuality and marriage.

Nobody talks about it, yet everyone knows the consequences (e.g.

to career prospects or threat of discipline) of speaking against homosexuality and marriage equality.

Management openly supports these, including groups such as “Ally”.
So there you have it – on the surface it appears there is “freedom of religion”.

Yet, there is an underlying cloak of threat or retribution if one expresses his/her religious views.

On the top of this, there is this constant and persistent push to redefine marriage by certain pressure groups.
For me, I am very clear on how it is going to end up once it is encapsulated in law and even now I see the following: • Indoctrination of our children on homosexuality and marriage equality under the guise of safe school education.

• Parents with religious views unable to exercise their choice on the above-mentioned education.

• Pastors being forced to marry homosexuals even though it is against their religious beliefs.
• Faith-based institutions forced by law to employ homosexuals when these individuals are opposed to the espoused faith.

• Health practitioners having to contend with issues concerning abortion • and euthanasia against their religious beliefs.

Individuals who comment against homosexual practices in according to their religious beliefs having to endure compulsory homosexual education or face jail in accordance to anti-discrimination laws.
• The under-mining and destruction of faith based institutions and practices by the above-mentioned pressure groups.

Having migrated from a Muslim country more than a quarter of century ago, I find that the oppression of Christians in this nation is worse than in that Muslim country.

Over there and, in reality, Christians practice their faith openly (except preaching to Muslims).
Over here, religious freedom is limited by the law, institutional practices and a media which favours an alternative life-style.

Merry Christmas became Happy Holidays or something along those lines.

Political correctness is practiced to the extreme.

The majority of people in this country is fed-up with this and I believe, with the success of Trump and Brexit, a wave of change will happen in Australia.
Inquiry into the status of the human right to freedom of religion or beliefSubmission 213 2) Action taken by governments, international organisations, national human rights institutions, and non-government organisations to protect the freedom of religion or belief, promote religious tolerance, and prevent violations or abuses of this right; With respect to Australia, I did not perceive any action taken by either the state or federal government to protect the freedom of religion or to prevent violations or abuses of this right.
However I commend the terms of reference of this inquiry and expect due action from its recommendations.

3) The relationship between the freedom of religion or belief and other human rights, and the implications of constraints on the freedom of religion or belief for the enjoyment of other universal human rights; Where religious belief and liberalism are diametrically opposed with respect to sexuality and marriage, there are bound to be tensions in the relationship.
However, there are ample protections in the law for the LGBTI.

The difference is this: That which is faith based is non-invasive, meaning it is left to the belief of the individual.

That which is of liberalism is invasive, meaning that the faith- based person is forced to comply because of changes or impending changes to legislation (such as the re-definition of marriage, anti-discrimination, abortion, euthanasia).
The latter compulsion is or will be in clear contravention to Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

4) Australian efforts, including those of Federal, State and Territory governments and non-government organisations, to protect and promote the freedom of religion or belief in Australia and around the world, including in the Indo-Pacific region.
With respect to Australia, I did not perceive any efforts yet to protect the freedom of religion.

Inquiry into the status of the human right to freedom of religion or beliefSubmission 213