Closed court on religion: extraordinary secrecy decree over accused activist

A Victorian magistrate has made an extraordinary suppression order dealing with the identity, religion and ethnicity of an activist charged over an alleged kidnapping.

The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court has imposed a wide suppression order on the case of a woman facing kidnapping and torture-related charges. Above, magistrate Carolyn Howe.

An extraordinary suppression order has been rushed through the courts to keep secret the identity, religion and ethnicity of a Melbourne-based activist charged over an alleged ­kidnapping.

The woman, who is active in Middle East affairs, is known to politicians and close to arts ­industry figure Clementine Ford, but her identity and cultural affiliations have been suppressed in a highly unusual move by Victorian magistrate Carolyn Howe.

Police allege the woman – who has attended meetings with several MPs – was involved in the ­abduction and torture this month of a man in his 30s, and is one of two people charged with a series of high-level offences.

A spokesperson for a leading religious organisation said the group was “very concerned” at the nature of the secrecy decree, which has muzzled reporting of the case.

Author Clementine Ford. Picture: supplied

Lawyers were on Wednesday reluctant to comment on the ­nature of the suppression order amid speculation over why it was imposed.

The magistrate has issued two suppression orders, the second much wider than the first, in ­secret court hearings. The second suppression order bans: publication of the accused’s photo; anything that might point to where the activist lives; her name being published; and anything being published about a ­specific part of her community, or the ­religion of any party to the ­proceedings.

The charges have rocked the accused woman’s circle of ­associates.

The alleged incident occurred in Melbourne’s west.

“It’s alleged a man was pulled from a car,’’ police said in a statement released.

“He was then allegedly placed in another car and ­assaulted and robbed before being released.”

The woman and a man are both facing a series of kidnap and assault charges and will appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 31.

One of the MPs known to the accused declined to comment.

“It would be inappropriate to comment as this relates to a matter that may soon be before a court,’’ the MP said.

It is understood police have not alleged in court that the victim was singled out because of the religion of his employer.

The accused has an association with Ford, a feminist ­author and outspoken commentator on a multitude of issues.

Ford is well-known in the arts community, conducts writing classes and has written several books. She is Melbourne-based and is on a national tour.

Ford has attracted significant controversy, particularly among political opponents from the Right. She resigned as a Sydney Morning Herald and The Age columnist in January 2019, ­alleging she had been disciplined over a tweet she had made in ­regard to the then prime minister, Scott Morrison.

Ford has been prolific on ­social media in more recent times and has been a critic of Israel’s role in the Middle East, particularly over its response to the Hamas attacks.