Rita Panahi: Israel Folau-bashing just a clumsy tackle on free speech

Have we become so supersensitive and censorious as a community that what is in the Bible is now regarded as “hate speech”? As an atheist, who Israel Folau declared on social media is hell-bound, I disapprove of what he shared but I will defend his right to share it, writes Rita Panahi.

As an atheist, who Israel Folau has declared is hell-bound, I disapprove of what he shared on social media but I will defend his right to share it.

Defending free speech shouldn’t just apply to speech you agree with.

Rugby Australia’s shameful persecution of Folau, reportedly at the behest of major sponsor Qantas, would set a dangerous precedent for free speech in this country. An employer’s social media policy cannot infringe their employee’s legislated protections including religious freedom, which last time I checked was protected by a thing called the Constitution.

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In any case, there is not a specific social media clause in Folau’s contract that prohibits him from sharing his beliefs on his personal accounts, perhaps because such a clause would breach the Collective Bargaining Agreement RA struck with the Rugby Union Players’ Association.

Israel Folau is merely stating an opinion and has broken no laws to warrant Rugby Australia’s harsh response. Picture: Getty Images

It is clear that Folau’s views on sinners, hell and redemption are rooted firmly in his devout Christian beliefs. Have we become so supersensitive and censorious as a community that what is in the Bible is now regarded as “hate speech”? For some, it is not enough to simply criticise or mock Folau for his beliefs, they want to punish him financially and deny one of the best in the game the opportunity to represent his country.

RA intends to terminate the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs star’s $4 million contract for posting this to his Instagram feed: “Warning. Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators. Hell awaits you. Repent! Only Jesus saves.” But Folau will fight the RA ruling which will see the matter go to a code of conduct hearing, to be heard by a three-member panel, in the next month. It is unlikely the matter will end there.

There are legal avenues open to Folau and a number of learned legal eagles in recent days have indicated his chances of success are high. At the end of this saga, it may be RA boss Raelene Castle who is out of a job, not Folau.

It’s interesting that Folau’s post has been widely characterised as “homophobic” when so many other groups are also listed as sinners needing to repent. One can understand why homosexuals would be upset about being listed among thieves, liars and drunks but atheists and fornicators (a person who has sex with someone who they are not married to) are just as entitled to feel aggrieved. There are more atheists and certainly a lot more fornicators in Australia than there are homosexuals and yet we have one group who RA have deemed need to be protected from hurt feelings.

Social justice activist and rugby star David Pocock copped nothing more than a warning when he was arrested and charged in late 2014 for chaining himself to equipment in a coal mine protest.

Let’s not forget that atheists and fornicators, just like homosexuals, are doing nothing wrong or harmful to society and both groups, like homosexuals, have been victimised in the past. Indeed, to this day, there are countries, predominately in the Middle East, where fornication and atheism, just like homosexuality, could see you imprisoned or even killed.

If Folau was advocating for any form of violence against “sinners”, then I’d be the first to say he had overstepped a line and should be punished. But he is merely stating an opinion and has broken no laws to warrant RA’s harsh response.

Social justice activist and rugby star David Pocock copped nothing more than a warning when he was arrested and charged in late 2014 for chaining himself to equipment in a coal mine protest. Indeed, he received much adulation from certain media types for his actions.

Plenty of sports stars share highly divisive social media posts on politics and controversial issues without facing any punitive measures. It seems there is a double standard when it comes to sports stars’ use of social media.

Israel and Maria Folau. Picture: Hollie Adams

They can post any “progressive’ position, no matter how polarising, and will be held up as heroes by the media but if they hold devout, religious positions, then they are expected to keep it to themselves or face being sacked.

There are a number of devout Christians in the Wallaby side and Folau’s post was liked by teammates Samu Kerevi and Allan Alaalatoa and other rugby players.

Incredibly, there are media reports that Folau’s wife, elite netballer Maria Folau, “could feel implications from netball over his anti-gay posts” with Netball New Zealand and the Adelaide Thunderbirds being asked to state a position on the saga. One report stated “while Maria has never expressed the same extreme views as Israel, she hasn’t distanced herself from them either”. So now we have a sportswoman guilty of wrongthink by association.

Meanwhile, the AFL has said that there will be no action against Gary Ablett and Matthew Kennedy for liking Folau’s post after they “removed their ‘likes’ of the post.” Thank God for that. It would be truly absurd if two Christian players were sanctioned for liking a religious post when we have players in the AFL who are habitual illicit drug users — who regularly commit a criminal act in obtaining and using banned substances — but dodge any consequences by capitalising on the loopholes in the league’s illicit drug code.

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Rita Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist

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@ritapanahi