Radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir no longer allowed to segregate women after tribunal ruling

RADICAL Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir will not be allowed to segregate women at its events after a NSW tribunal ruled in favour of a female journalist.

RADICAL Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir will not be allowed to segregate women at its events after a NSW tribunal ruled in favour of a female journalist.

Former News Limited journalist Alison Bevege sued the group and five members for sexual discrimination after she was forced to sit in the women and children’s section at a public lecture she reported on in 2014.

The freelancer called her win “a victory for secular law over theocratic fascism.”

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Ms Bevege was treated unfavourably on the grounds of her sex in contravention of section 33 of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act.

However she was not awarded $100,000 in compensation she initially claimed.

The court ruled that group spokesman Ismail al-Wahwah was personally liable for the discrimination.

It also ruled that for all future public events, Hizb ut-Tahrir must clearly state “at venues and ... in all promotional materials” that segregated seating is not compulsory.