Fed: Measures to ban race-hate DVDs could be in place in weeks

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2007
Fed: Measures to ban race-hate DVDs could be in place in weeks

SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - Censorship laws could be widened within three weeks to include
a ban on pro-terrorism films, federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says.

Mr Ruddock has instructed officials to seek agreement from the states as soon as possible
to change the censorship laws so that hate films praising terrorists could be banned.

The move follows revelations that children can gain access to a race hate DVD which
urges them to martyr themselves.

The film, contained in a package of DVDs prepared by exiled Australian-born Islamic
cleric Sheik Feiz Mohammed, also calls for the murder of "infidels" and describes Jews
as "pigs".

It received a PG rating from the Office of Film and Literature Classification, making
it suitable for viewing by children.

Mr Ruddock said today the states had previously delayed the censorship matter until
July but agreed on Friday to deal with it.

"In my view we've got to deal with this urgently," Mr Ruddock told Macquarie Radio.

"The officials could meet this week, we could go through the consultation that's necessary
and we could endorse this within three weeks and have the code in place, if they're prepared
to co-operate."

He said he had spoken to some of the censors, who were required to work within the
law, about why they had given the film a PG classification.

"I asked them why they came to this view and they said `we've looked at the these (Sheik
Feiz Mohammed's) sermons and we thought they were just ranting'," Mr Ruddock said.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff has called for a review of
the film and literature classification system.

"One has to ask serious questions about classification guidelines which deem it acceptable
for such grotesque material to be brought into our country and made publicly available,"

he said today.

"Even if this particular issue is resolved and the material is proscribed, there is
a glaring need for a review of the film and literature classification system."

NSW Christian Democrats MP Fred Nile says he has introduced a bill into state parliament
calling for the censorship of material which incites terrorism.

"Any public distribution of this offensive material has the potential for immense harm,
including loss of life," he said in a statement today.

AAP krc/wjf/jt/mn

KEYWORD: FEIZ

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