Sharon Keogan: Exposes double standards after Salika death
Sharon Keogan addresses public and media reactions following the tragic death of Yves Salika, questioning inconsistent standards in how threats and prayer are treated. She cites footage of religious rituals outside Arnott's, safety concerns for staff and customers, and contrasts this with laws criminalising prayer near abortion clinics.
Main claim
Sharon Keogan raises concerns about consistency and fairness in public discourse. She highlights footage showing African religious rituals outside Arnott's after Salika's death, where an officiant is seen telling the camera he is cursing death on those who enter the premises.
Legal context and contradiction
Keogan points out an apparent contradiction between how that conduct has been dismissed publicly and existing law that can criminalise a person quietly praying within 100 metres of an abortion facility. She argues that these divergent treatments demand acknowledgement and debate.
Safety and reputational risk
She says staff and customers of Arnott's have reported fear for their safety and warns against rushed public accusations that could jeopardise ongoing investigations. Keogan notes recent statements calling security guards murderers risk defamation if they are found innocent.
Call for consistent standards
Keogan asks which standards are being applied: free speech or caution. She urges consistent application of standards and says exposing double standards is about defending fairness, a foundation for peace and harmony.
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I want to address carefully some of the public and media reactions following the tragic death of Eve Salika because I believe it raises serious concerns about consistency and fairness in how we discuss these issues. In recent days, footage emerged of African religious rituals being conducted outside Arnott's in response to Salika's death, where the officiate tells the camera he is cursing death on all who enter the premises. That conduct has not been treated with the seriousness. In fact, it has been dismissed or trivialised. Yet, at the same time, we have laws in this country where a person praying quietly within 100 metres of an abortion facility can face criminal sanctions. That is a contradiction that needs to be acknowledged. I have also heard from staff and customers of Arnott's who are now worried about their safety. That concern should not be dismissed out of hand. More broadly, I am troubled by the tone adopted by many in public discourse, including members of this House who have referred to security guards involved as murderers. That is outrageous. It is jeopardisation of an ongoing investigation, and if those men are found innocent, it will be defamation. Meanwhile, we saw the murder of Alex Coughlin in the last week again. In that case, there were calls for restraint and, in fact, people were expressly urged not to share the horrific footage. So the question I ask is simple. Which standards are we applying? Either we speak freely or with caution. Both have pros and cons. But we should be consistent and not switch for selective reasons based, dare I say, on the ethnicity of the victim and the accused. I and others have been accused of sowing hatred and division. I do not. Upholding double standards is what creates division. Pointing them out is about defending fairness, and fairness is the foundation of peace and harmony.
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