Submission #1931 [Word doc] at the Australian Human Rights Commission is a proposal by the Australian branch of Scientology that aims to eliminate anonymity on the internet and the removal of critical websites.
The main focus of the proposal is the group, Anonymous, whom Scientology believes are out to destroy them. Again and again, the proposal lists Anonymous as the target in unmasking their identities. The summary of recommendations in the proposal are as follows;
Recommendation 1: The implementation of Criminal and Civil Restrictions on Religious Vilification.
Recommendation 2: Restriction on Anonymity on acts of Religious Vilification: 2.1 Websites created with primary purpose of inciting religious vilification shall be removed or their access to the Australian public restricted. 2.2 Creators of websites whose primary purpose is the incitement of religious vilification shall be prevented from concealing their identity.
Recommendation 3: Restriction on Religious Misinformation and Misrepresentation known or reasonably known to be untruthful in the Media
Recommendation 4: Include a form of Bill or Charter of Rights into the Australian Constitution, which prevents the Commonwealth from making any law, which ‘directly, indirectly or incidentally’ prohibits the free exercise of religion to the extent of such prohibition.”
While anyone can submit proposals it should be noted that the Church of Scientology is a group that relies heavily on peer pressure and has vast amounts of money to use against anyone who would consider speaking out against said group. The proposal is the Church of Scientology’s desire to strip anonymity in order to more readily silence dissent. This would eliminate the task of going through the courts to find out a person’s identity.
Scientology is not amused that people can criticize their beliefs and is asking the Australian government to do their job for them. If Scientology wants to find out who is criticizing them, they should go through the already established legal channels to do so. They should not expect governments to participate in helping a “religion” find dissenters.
