|
|
|
|
|
Author: Imre Salusinszky and Natalie O'Brien
Publication: News.com.au
Date: January 30, 2007
URL: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,21138482-2,00.html?from=public_rss
While critics on the Left have denounced the curtailing of civil liberties under the federal anti-terrorism legislation, it seems the laws do not go far enough for the state Labor administrations.
Outflanking the Howard Government on the Right on national security, the NSW and West Australian governments yesterday called for the banning of radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation).
On Sunday, about 450 people at a conference convened by the group in Lakemba, in Sydney's southwest, heard speakers call on Australian Muslims to fight to create a pan-global Islamic state.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma yesterday repeated his call for the Howard Government to outlaw the group.
"This is not an organisation that is expressing a difference of opinion ... they're advocating war with Australia, on Australians," Mr Iemma said.
West Australian Attorney-General Jim McGinty said he supported Mr Iemma's call.
"From what I have heard. it is totally un-Australian, it threatens the very fabric of our community," Mr McGinty said. "Philip Ruddock needs to get his act together, get his house in order."
But in a rare alignment with some of his critics on the Left, Mr Ruddock said that while he disagreed with the group's views, there was no evidence to show it was a terrorist organisation.
"If the state Government believes it should be banned as an organisation simply because they don't like their views, I would suggest they've got the power to do it," Mr Ruddock said. "The commonwealth doesn't - and we know that from the Communist Party dissolution case and the refusal of the Australian population to pass a referendum proposal to outlaw it."
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies said the state Government should use its anti-vilification laws to prosecute Hizb ut-Tahrir, but did not recommend banning the group.
Hizb ut-Tahrir has been accused of infiltrating mosques and universities to motivate Muslims to rise up against Australian troops serving in Iraq. The group, which claims about 200 Australian members and says on its website it does not "advocate or engage in violence", has been criticised by John Howard and investigated by ASIO.
 |
|
|
