July 25, 2024
The Albanese government is not considering listing Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation despite the group having praised Hamas for the October 7 attack and revelations its leaders are calling for sharia law to be introduced across Australia.
Radical preachers and Hizb ut-Tahrir attacked democracy and The Muslim Vote campaign at sermons in southwest Sydney last week, telling attendees "we want to get to a position where Muslims have power" so sharia law could be implemented.
A spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said the government would await advice from security agencies, adding that Hizb ut-Tahrir represented "fringe views" that did not reflect those of the wider Muslim community.
FULL REPORT P2 no plans to act against 'fringe' group Hizb ut-Tahrir Extremists spared terror listing The Albanese government is not considering listing Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation despite the extremist group having praised Hamas for the October 7 attack and revelations its leaders are calling for sharia law to be introduced across Australia.
Radical preachers and Hizb ut- Tahrir attacked Australia's democracy and The Muslim Vote campaign at sermons in southwest Sydney last week, where they told attendees "we want to get to a position where Muslims have power" so that sharia law could be implemented.
The Australian revealed Abu Ousayd told a congregation "prime ministers are false gods ... (and we should) not join and not vote", while prominent Hizb ut- Tahrir member Wassim Doureihi said democracy could "not be an option" for the Muslim community. The comments follow the group expressing support for Hamas and openly backing the killing of ex-Muslims.
A spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said the government would await advice from security agencies and did not commit to listing Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terror organisation.
"Our intelligence and security agencies are constantly monitoring all threats to safety in our country and if they make a recommendation about listing a group or taking any other kind of action our government will take advice on those recommendations," the spokesman said.
Despite not moving to list the group as a terror organisation, the government spokesman said Hizb ut-Tahrir represented "fringe views" that did not reflect those of the wider Muslim community.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said Hizb ut-Tahrir should be listed as a terror group.
He said the views expressed by Hizb ut-Tahrir were dangerous and could lead to further extremism. "Democracies are fragile and can fracture, even in countries like Australia with a proud democratic history. It's critical that we channel people's legitimate aspirations for policy change through the political system," he said.
"It is dangerous to tell any part of our community that they can't be heard through the democratic process because that fosters disenfranchisement and that can lead to extremism. Political leaders should call out this toxic behaviour whenever it arises."
Hizb ut-Tahrir's criticism of democracy represented an attack not only on the government, but the teal-style movement, The Muslim Vote, which seeks to galvanise Muslim constituents behind independents who are pro- Palestinian and reflect the communities' view. "If (a Muslim) enters parliament and is sworn in ... they become apostates," Mr Ousayd said.
The Muslim Vote takes its name from the UK political movement that cost the Labour Party several seats at the election.
Mr Doureihi said politicians were "criminals in suits" and called Muslim senator Fatima Payman the "white man's Orientalist fantasy".
"(The senator's) experience has shown us that engaging in the political process is not an option for (the community)," he said.
Senator Payman resigned from the Labor Party last month after crossing the floor to vote with the Greens on a motion to recognise Palestinian statehood. It came after Senator Payman echoed the controversial chant of activists: "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free".
Just one day after the sermons by Hizb ut-Tahrir members criticising democracy, the group hosted an event at Bankstown public library where its leaders said former Muslims should be executed.
Vision from the event, first broadcast by Seven News, shows leaders questioned whether they wanted to kill ex-Muslims, to which one replied "In Islam (it is) clear that apostates do attract capital punishment, we don't shy away from that".
