An Assyrian Christian bishop who was allegedly stabbed returned emotionally to his pulpit to deliver a fiery sermon defending free speech while criticizing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was allegedly attacked by a 16-year-old boy during a live broadcast of his sermon at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, south-west Sydney, on April 15 in horrific scenes that shocked Australia and to the world.
Less than a fortnight later, he received a standing ovation from parishioners when he returned to the altar on Sunday night to deliver a sermon for Palm Sunday, which is part of Orthodox Easter.
Wearing a white patch over his right eye and carrying a gold cross, Bishop Emmanuel stood at the same spot where he was allegedly stabbed and began his service in Arabic.
Several days after expressing his wish that images of his alleged attack remain online, the bishop criticized Albanese in an impassioned defense of freedom of speech and religion.
Bishop Emmanuel said he cannot “understand” how freedom of expression cannot be possible in a democratic country like Australia.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel (pictured Sunday evening) made an emotional return to Christ the Good Shepherd Church, less than a fortnight after he was rushed to hospital.
On April 15, Bishop Emmanuel was allegedly stabbed by a 16-year-old boy. The attack caused riots in the streets surrounding the church.
“I say to our dear Australian Government and to our dear Prime Minister, the honorable Mr Albanese, that I believe in one thing and that is the integrity and identity of the human being,” he said.
‘This human identity, this human integrity, is a gift given by God, no one else.
“Every human being has the right to freedom of expression and freedom of religion… I do not have to worry about my life being threatened or having my life taken.”
He noted that Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and atheists had the right to express their beliefs.
“Christians also have the right to express their beliefs, and for us to say that freedom of expression is dangerous, that freedom of expression cannot be possible in a democratic country, I still don’t understand it,” he continued.
“As civilized human beings, as intellectuals, we should be able to criticize, speak, and maybe at certain moments we can sound or appear offensive to a certain extent, but we should be able to say, ‘I shouldn’t worry about my life being exposed to threats or that take it away from me.”
‘A non-Christian can criticize my faith, he can attack my faith. I will say one thing: ‘may God forgive you and may God bless you.’
‘This is a civilized way, an intellectual way, of approaching such events.
‘For us, this freedom of expression is causing dramas and dilemmas, therefore everything should be censored, where is democracy, where is humanity, where is integrity?’
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel (pictured center) delivered the Orthodox Palm Sunday sermon on Sunday afternoon, wearing an eyepatch over his right eye. he is pictured during a standing ovation
Bishop Emmanuel had a message for his alleged attacker on Sunday night, having previously forgiven him.
“I love you and I will always pray for you,” he said.
Bishop Emmanuel was emotional as he thanked the many people who sent letters or flowers, including multi-faith leaders from Sydney and overseas, as well as thanking local council members, local organizations and the Abdallah family.
He appeared to wipe away tears as he read his long list of supporters.
“I am indebted to them for the rest of my life, forever,” he said.
The church’s priest, Father Isaac Royel, was also injured in the incident, which was later declared a terrorist attack.
Earlier in the day, Father Royel also returned to work when he joined the congregation for the Palm Sunday morning service.
Father Isaac Royel (pictured just after being released from the hospital two days after the attack) also returned to the church for the Sunday morning service.
The bishop’s secretary, Daniel Kochou, said that although Father Royel has returned, he is not sure if he will return full time. The Daily Telegraph reported.
‘People are a bit shocked, but the other thing is that most of our people were born in Iraq or Syria, so they are used to conflict. Your faith is strong,’ he stated.
The church on Thursday released an 11-minute video of Bishop Emmanuel asking that footage of his attack remain online.
This was after Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant told X and Meta to remove the images.
“I recognize the Australian Government’s desire to remove the videos due to their graphic nature,” Bishop Emmanuel said.
“It would be very worrying if people used the attack on me to serve their own political interests to control free speech.”
