Queensland: Self-styled Baptist pastor to be deported after ‘harassing’ worshippers

A self-styled Christian Baptist pastor from New Zealand accused of harassing worshippers at two Brisbane mosques earlier this week has had his visa cancelled and is facing deportation.

New Zealand national Logan Robertson, 31, and two others were charged on Friday after allegedly abusing community members at the Kuraby and Darra mosques on Wednesday and Thursday.


 

Mr Robertson is the self-proclaimed pastor of the Pillar Baptist Church which originated in New Zealand.

On Wednesday a group of up to six men including Mr Robertson were accused of entering the Kuraby mosque and harassing worshippers, including teenage boys, in the lead-up to 1:00pm prayers.

A teenage boy was allegedly verbally abused and called a terrorist.

The following day, there were heated scenes outside the Darra mosque, when activists from the Pillar Baptist Church confronted Islamic leaders.

When the activists were denied access into the mosque, a heated argument broke out between Mr Robertson and Ali Kadri from the Islamic Council of Queensland.

Mr Kadri asked: “I’m trying to talk to you in a nice manner, why are you responding in such an aggressive manner?”

Mr Robertson replied: “Because I hate the religion of Islam. I don’t hate Muslims, I hate the religion.”

Police intervened and forced the group to leave the property.

Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Peter Dutton said he was “disturbed” by the allegations.

“I’m completely against people being vilified because of their religious belief,” he said.

“I want to make it very clear to people who come to our country, that our country obviously embraces free speech but we don’t tolerate hate speech and we don’t tolerate people who are going to harass those people going about their business at a place of worship.”

Mr Dutton said Mr Robertson had been counselled about his behaviour prior to entering Australia.

“He was warned before he came into the country that he needed to abide by his conditions of the visa and that if he conducted himself outside of the conditions of the visa then he would be subject to cancellation,” he said.

 

PHOTO: Police confiscated Mr Robertson’s camera after the confrontation at Darra mosque. (ABC News)

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