Hizb ut-Tahrir extremists ‘are a terrorist group’
The opposition demands Labor list Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terror organisation as its now-deleted praise for the October 7 attacks is revealed.
The federal opposition has demanded Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus list Islamic extremism group Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation, after it emerged the Australian arm of the group applauded the killing of Jews in the October 7 Hamas attack.
Designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK, its Australian branch resurfaced in recent months, most notably as part of fronts spearheading pro-Palestine encampments at universities.
The discovery of a since-deleted press release – which praised Hamas’s October 7 attacks and urged neighbouring Muslim countries to attack and eliminate Israel – has also bolstered calls for the government to act urgently.
“The government should again consider listing Hizb ut-Tahrir … an organisation that here in Australia, the day after October 7, organised a gathering in Lakemba that called it a ‘day of pride’,” Liberal MP Julian Leeser said.
“The UK listing (of Hizb ut-Tahrir in January) is something we have to take note of.”
Mr Leeser said he was a member of the joint security committee that listed Hamas and the entirety of Hezbollah as terrorist organisations, which was in part influenced by its British counterpart doing the same.
“Given it’s our oldest ally, with a similar listing system, we need to take notice of that,” he said.
On Sunday, Jewish and political leaders slammed a “capitulation” by the University of Sydney in making concessions to the pro-Palestine encampment to usher in its closure.
Hizb ut-Tahrir has since been revealed to have a constant and influential presence at that encampment, and an organisational presence in the shape of a front group, Stand for Palestine, that some of its members run.
That the organisation now could “run a ruler” over the university’s partnerships was “very concerning”, Mr Leeser said.
“It’s a terrible capitulation … it undermines one of Australia’s great institutions,” he said, adding millions of dollars could be at risk from defence organisations that could “run a mile”. “And it’s a signal to everyone the more intimidatory your conduct, the better outcome you get.”
The statement of support for Hamas and October 7 from the Australian branch was made a day after the attacks on Israel but was later pulled from the group’s website and social media.
An English version asked “where are the Muslim armies”, praised the attackers for their “bravery”, called for the “complete reversal of occupation”, and applauded the “killing of dozens and capturing of more”.
An Arabic version called for Israel’s “demise” and praised “the Mujahideen” for “their killing of Jewish soldiers and settlers”. The statement, and its disappearance, is significant in that the British government banned Hizb ut-Tahrir in January citing that it had praised Hamas’s attacks, and “actively promoted and encouraged terrorism”.
The government also noted how Hizb ut-Tahrir praised the killing of Jewish tourists as an “example of what should be done towards Jews”.
Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said the group knew it had “crossed a line”, urging the government to consider proscribing Hizb ut-Tahrir.
“They issued a press release that directly praised Hamas’s terrorist attack, and after being banned in the United Kingdom for doing the same thing, this document has now disappeared from their website,” he said.
“There is only one reason Hizb ut-Tahrir deleted this document – to hide that their conduct so clearly provides a basis under Australian law for their proscription as a terrorist organisation.”
Opposition Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson urged the government to “urgently investigate” whether the statement and the group’s other comments met the proscription legal fold, listing it “without delay” if it did.
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