Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel questioned Islam before Wakeley terror attack
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel has expressed support for Palestinians in Gaza, even visiting the hotspot, but he also raised a ‘question mark with Islam’, as authorities investigate the motive for his stabbing, triggering a riot in Sydney’s west.
The high-profile Assyrian Christian orthodox leader stabbed during a live stream of his service has in the past vocally proclaimed support for Palestinian civilians and criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza, but has also said he had a “question mark with Islam”, as authorities scramble to investigate the motive for Monday’s terror attack.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel has questioned the validity of other faiths, including and particularly Islam, but said that he has “love and respect for Muslims”.
His views, religious leaders explained, were a conservative orthodox reading of Christianity – that only Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the way to heaven – which, alongside all different faith views, “should be tolerated and accepted in Australia”.
He has, however, taken aim at the Islamic faith. The identity, ethnicity or religion of the alleged attacker has not been confirmed by authorities.
“This is a very controversial topic, but the truth must be said,” the bishop said in a recent sermon, uploaded in March.
“... With all my love and respect (for Muslims), I don’t have a problem with the Muslim people.
“But I’ve got a question mark with the faith of the Islamic world.”
A 16-year-old boy was arrested by NSW Police after allegedly stabbing Bishop Mar Mari at Wakeley’s Christ The Good Shepherd Church, with reports that one of his fingers was severed in the aftermath and footage appearing to show him – in Arabic – allegedly saying “if he (the bishop) didn’t swear at my prophet I would be here”.
The bishop has reserved criticism to Islam itself, not the faith’s followers, saying he would “always love my Muslim brothers and sisters”.
“I pray for you and I will always continue to pray for you whether you like me, hate me, accept me or reject me,” he said in a March video.
In others, either delivered from the pulpit or in interviews with a conservative American podcast channel, he appears to say that no other religion can be or was true.
“When you go to heaven, I can assure you…Muhammad will not greet you, Buddha will not greet you, Krishna will not greet you, because they will not,” he said in December.
“It will be the only one who is the way and the truth and the life, it will be Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
“We cannot claim something that is not truthful, I know truth hurts, I’m not offending people I’m speaking the truth, and if it offends you... I’m not sorry for that.”
Bishop Mar Mari also appeared to make quips at prophet Muhammad, who had “rotted in a grave” and was dead.
“Has the prophet taken the role of God, has God gone on vacation,” he asked.
The bishop, however, has been vocal about his support for Palestine, visiting the Gaza Strip before the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.
“I wanted to meet this Muslim Palestinian girl (on his trip),” he said.
“A little angel... stop killing these little angels (Palestinian children).
“I went into the bus, collected some money, gave whatever we could give (to Gazan civilians), and then they started saying ‘God bless you, thank you so much for coming and visiting us, please tell everyone the way we are living here, we are starving to death’.’
“A lot of Palestinians have nothing to do with what is happening there, they just want to live in peace. And I’m sure on the Israeli side, as well.”
The Australian understands from sources in both the Muslim and wider religious community that to definitively label the bishop’s views and speeches, often all televised live, would be “fraught with complexity”.
One religious source said the bishop’s stance on Palestine was supported by the wider southwest Sydney community outside of his congregation, and that he had good relationships with the leading Islamic leaders.
His hard orthodox view on faith but support for Palestine led religious leaders to urge caution on speculating on what comments or positions may have motivated the attack.
The state’s leading Islamic organisations – the Australian National Imams Council and the Lebanese Muslim Association – have condemned the attack and urged community calm, as have leaders from all faiths.
Dr Jamal Rifi, a high-profile Muslim community figure, pointed to the misidentification of Bondi attacker Joel Cauchi’s faith, saying no conclusions should be jumped to.
“We don’t know who this person is, his background – don’t make assumptions,” he said.
“The finger should be pointed at the attacker and no one else... (but) he is also a child. The agencies will investigate his background and his motivation.”
Dr Rifi noted that while a rise in anti-Semitism was real, so was Islamophobia, which “very few people have mentioned”.
“(The incident, subsequent rumours) just reflect the tensions that exist in our society,” he said.
“The Muslim community has not been listened to (on Islamophobia, Gaza), we feel alienated.”
The Australian understands that in some Muslim community chats rumours are spreading about the attacker and possible motivation.
One video, seen by The Australian, shows a man defecating on Auburn’s Gallipoli Mosque, and the publication understands some members of the community have suggested it could be linked to that. This publication does not suggest that.
Faith NSW CEO Murray Norman – the organisation is a coalition of the state’s denominations – explained that the bishop had an orthodox reading of Christianity, something that should be accepted in Australia, as it should for all varying beliefs.
“We have here religious freedom, different faiths with different views – violence is not acceptable in any way,” he said.
“Believing that Jesus is the only way to heaven, millions of Christian Australians believe that.
“Other faiths believe that there’s other ways to heaven – it’s legitimate to hold all of those beliefs in Australia, and that should be accepted and celebrated.
“Violence has no place in Australia, freedom of belief does.”
On Tuesday, Police Commissioner Karen Webb declared the incident a terror attack, establishing Strike Force Petrina to investigate.
Mr Minns criticised those who rioted, with a number of police officers injured, saying no one should “take the law” into their own hands.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it a “disturbing incident”, warning there was “no place for violent extremism” in Australia. ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said the attacked “appeared to be religiously motivated”.