Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Medicare) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to incorporate the petition.

Leave granted.

The document read as follows—

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives:

This petition of certain citizens of Australia draws the attention of the House to trade-exposed plight of converts from other religions especially from Islam.

We therefore ask the House:

1. to fulfil its obligations under article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) to protect the rights of all Australian residents who have converted from other religions Including Islam

2. to promote and protect UDHR article 18 through Australia's UN engagement and foreign aid policies, to ensure no one shall be subject to coercion which would impair their freedom of religion or belief

3. to give priority status to asylum applications from those at risk In their own countries because they have converted, and to fully recognise the complementary protection provisions and non-refoulement obligations under international human rights law

4. to give consideration to religiously persecuted minorities, especially converts from other religions whose lives are at risk due to their religious laws or local culture, and to grant protection visas under Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian programme

from 1 citizen

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