A healthy civil and democratic society depends on citizens’ ability to weigh up diverse views, to re-frame issues and to consider the dangers when powerful people make claims without any obvious evidence.

NSW MP Shaoquett Moselmane has served communities, selflessly, generously and with distinction.

An atmosphere of xenophobia and Cold War tactics is being compounded by what seems to be scapegoating this MP, and by the cowardice of some members of major parties who have joined the “sack him from parliament” chorus. Their behaviour contains an obvious irony and lesson. They display the same intolerance of dissent common in Communist China.

Serious commentators, including some News Corporation newspapers, acknowledge that Shaoquett has not been accused of any wrongdoing, in which case we seek a return to openness and fairness before we are all consumed by this dangerous rush to judgement. Fair process is required and if there is any substantive evidence produced it needs to be tested.

We the undersigned call on NSW MPs to desist from their attempts to hound Shaoquett out of the NSW parliament. We still live in a democracy. The integrity of the NSW parliament should be upheld.

Adams, AO Phillip, journalist & broadcaster

Barns , Greg, SC Barrister Barrowclough, Nikki, journalist, author Paul Barratt AO, former Secretary, Department of Defence Bartlett, Andrew, former Senator Boyce, Philip, Professor of Psychiatry, Westmead Boyle, Peter, journalist Britton, Dr. Sue GP Broinowski, Alison, former Australian diplomat Broinowski, Richard, former Australian diplomat Brophy, Dr. David, historian, Univ. of Sydney Browning, Bishop George Casey, Jim, former State Secretary FBEU Connelly, Sister Susan, human rights advocate Deane, Nick, Independent and Peaceful Australia Network NSW Greenland, Hall, author and journalist Haigh, Bruce former Australian diplomat Hale, Sylvia, former NSW MLC and publisher Heywood-Smith, Paul QC Jones, Dr. Evan Univ. of Sydney Hil, Professor Richard, Ngara Institute Karkar, John QC Kazak, Ali, former Palestinian ambassador Kostakidis, Mary, journalist Levy, James, academic former UNSW Levy, Valerie, academic former UTS Macnab, Dr. Kenneth, Peace Studies, Univ. of Sydney

Manning, Dr. Peter, Journalist, Author, Prof. media Studies, UTS

Mitchell, Alex, journalist, author Murphy, Peter, Media, Entertainment, Arts Alliance Palmer, Don, Aboriginal Affairs CEO Paul, Dr. Erik, author, Peace Studies, Univ. of Sydney

Polya, Dr. Gideon, Scientist, Biochemist

Rees, AM Professor Stuart Rhiannon, Lee, former Senator Riemer, Dr. Nick, Univ. of Sydney Stilwell, Professor, Frank, Univ. of Sydney Svirsky, Dr. Marcelo, Univ. of Wollongong Shboul, AM Professor, Ahmed Slezak, Associate Professor, Peter UNSW Vlazna, Dr. Vacy, Author White, Judith, author, journalist