Flag of Hizb ut-Tahrir (Creative Commons)
Published: 17 June 2024Last updated: 17 June 2024
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) has called for the banning of Hizb ut-Tahrir following a news investigation which shows the terrorist group is gaining strength in Australia.
Nine media published an investigation last weekend which identified widespread Hizb ut-Tahrir in the Australian pro-Palestine movement.
Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international Islamic fundamentalist political organisation which believes in the establishment of an international Islamic caliphate, imposing Muslim law across the world.
It has been banned as a terrorist organisation in dozens of countries including the UK, Germany, Indonesia, Turkey and most Arab countries.
British Home Secretary James Cleverly banned the group in January, describing it as an “antisemitic organisation that actively promotes and encourages terrorism, including praising and celebrating the appalling 7 October attacks”.
The Nine investigation found Hizb ut-Tahrir has infiltrated university encampments and pro-Palestine demonstrations in Australia, notably the group Stand for Palestine, where multimedia organiser Al-Aksha Bhuiyan regularly posts Hizb ut-Tahrir content.
Activists have also initiated boycotts of Jewish-owned businesses, including Spotlight, Anaconda and Kogan, and incited violent protests in Caulfield.
Members of the group celebrated the Hamas massacre at an “emergency gathering for Palestine” at Lakemba in Sydney’s south-west on October 8. Supporter Ibrahim Dadoun addressed the crowd declaring “I’m elated. It’s a day of courage”.
The group has also become more active in Australian mosques and Muslim youth groups since October 7.
The investigation also found that a charity with links to Hizb ut-Tahrir called Al Rashidun Limited was registered as a not-for-profit by the Australian Tax Office in September, enabling it to raise more money in Australia. Al Rashidun lists its aim as distributing aid abroad, including food relief in Gaza and Lebanon.
ZFA president Jeremy Leibler said the investigation had made it clear that extremists like Hizb ut-Tahrir were actively working to destroy Australia’s social cohesion.
“We should not have any doubt as to what Hizb ut-Tahrir’s key players and supporters mean when they refer to 7 October as a “day of courage,” or when they share videos of Hamas terrorists paragliding into Israel. This explosive investigation has exposed that their leaders preach that “the sharia obligation is for people who have the capability to rise and wage jihad” – they have even stood up a “secret wing” that is actively lobbying Muslim soldiers to fight together with Hamas.
“For Hizb ut-Tahrir to have so much as a foothold in Australia is dangerous. But it is frankly reckless that our authorities have let it establish a sophisticated operation.
“Where members of Hizb ut-Tahrir have broken the law, the law must be enforced. And if no laws have been broken, then our laws must be strengthened. Our authorities must be given the powers they need to stamp out this extremism and racial hatred.”
READ MORE
Hate comes to university campus but hides its face (SMH, paywall)
Australian agencies greenlight charity despite Hizb ut-Tahrir links (SMH, paywall)
ZFA calls on Government to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir (ZFA)
