MohammedAmin.comSerious writing for
serious readers
I support hate speech legislation in principle, but it needs to be well drafted. It must cover religious hatred, not just racial hatred.
Summary
Posted 4 February 2026. Transmitted 19 January 2026.
The World Today News is an independent media organisation in Australia that transmits via YouTube and other internet channels.
Their show “The Protagonists” hosted by Mike Ryan “is a panel of three or four, which presents hot-topic discussions on politics, business, newsmakers, global trends, present-day conflicts, and dangers and challenges facing our world.”
After the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, the Australian Government had introduced the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026. If legislated, the Bill would implement two main things:
Goal (2) apparently has wide support in Australia.
However, goal (1) is controversial. It could restrict freedom of speech and religion. Also, while drafted to counter racial hatred (which of course includes antisemitism) the Bill does not address promoting religious hatred, for example hatred of Muslims.
Indeed, these parts of the Bill were so controversial that on the day of the programme the Australian Prime Minister announced that the Bill would be split, with the firearms component proceeding towards being legislated, while the hate crime aspects would be the subject of further national dialogue.
The show lasted 62 minutes. The protagonists were described as follows:
Robert Barwick is a longtime executive member of the Australian Citizens Party (formerly Citizens Electoral Council). He is the party's media spokesman, National Research Director, Editor of the "Australian Alert Service", and presenter of the weekly show, "The Citizens Report".
Mohammed Amin MBE, Muslim Co-Chair of the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester. Mohammed retired after a successful career in finance and tax with Price Waterhouse/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and was the first Muslim to be admitted to the partnership in the UK. He now spends his time making Britain a better place. On several occasions he has been listed as one of the hundred most influential Muslims in the UK. @Mohammed_Amin
Shane Shmuel is a Committee Member of the Australian Jewish Association. The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) was created to fill a void and provide a strong, principled voice for the Jewish community in Australia.
You can watch the video below. I recommend spending the time, because the issues discussed are relevant not just to Australia, but to almost all countries.
