United Patriots Front members charged for mock beheading a dummy sends a 'strong message'
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Victoria Police have charged three men for serious religious vilification after allegedly staging a mock beheading during fierce protests against a mosque.
The men from the United Patriots Front (UPF) allegedly staged a mock beheading during the protests outside Bendigo's council office, which was captured on video and posted online.
The men, aged between 31 and 45, were charged with behaving in an offensive manner in public and serious religious vilification.
Kristen Hilton, Victoria's Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, said it was important for the public to become more aware that those laws existed.
She said the laws were there to reflect that "we don't believe racial and religious hatred have a place in our society".
"If we are committed to ideals of tolerance and inclusion and we say that racism has no place, we really need the laws to reflect that," she said.
Keysar Trad, the president of Muslims Australia, said the charges were a step in the right direction.
"It sends a very strong message to people that this type of behaviour is not going to be passively approved or supported or condoned and police are going to take it seriously," he said.
He urged the Islamic community not to get angry, but to continue educating the public.
"There needs to be more positive moves all around the country," he said.
Victoria Police would not comment further on the charges.
The maximum penalty is up to six months in prison or a $6,000 fine.
The men are due to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court in March.
Topics: crime, law-crime-and-justice, community-and-society, discrimination, islam, melbourne-3000, vic, australia
