Australia Moves to List Hizb ut-Tahrir as a Terror Organization

Australia is advancing the process to designate the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terror organization under its new hate laws, as confirmed by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Established in 1953 in Jerusalem, Hizb ut-Tahrir aims to establish a caliphate across the Muslim world. Although the group claims it does not engage in armed struggle and has no documented cases of carrying out terrorist attacks, it is known for its hostile rhetoric towards Jews and Israel, as well as calls for the overthrow of governments in Muslim-majority countries. The group is already banned in several countries, including Germany, Russia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Egypt.

The Jerusalem Post

Under Australian law, an organization can be classified as a terror group if it is involved in preparing, planning, or fostering terrorist acts, or if it advocates for such actions. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has assessed that Hizb ut-Tahrir meets the necessary legal threshold for a ban. The process involves multiple stages, including a formal legal and policy brief prepared by the Department of Home Affairs, which evaluates the evidence and potential legal challenges. Following this, the government must notify the opposition leader for bipartisan oversight, culminating in the attorney-general's approval to formally list the organization.

The Jerusalem Post

Critics, including ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess, have expressed concerns about Hizb ut-Tahrir's rhetoric, which they argue attracts media attention and aids recruitment while stopping short of promoting violence. Burgess has likened the group's strategy to that of the White Australia neo-Nazi group, emphasizing that its anti-Israel sentiments may be normalizing wider antisemitic narratives. In a notable instance, Ismail Al-Wahwah, the group's spiritual leader, made inflammatory statements about Jews, calling them "the most evil creatures of Allah" and urging their removal from the world.

The Jerusalem Post

Tony Burke stated, “Hizb ut-Tahrir is an organization I’ve been fighting since my first term in Parliament,” highlighting his long-standing opposition to the group. He noted that the first stage of the listing process is complete, with ASIO's advice confirming the group's eligibility for a ban. Burke's comments reflect a broader governmental concern regarding the group's influence and the potential implications of its rhetoric on Australian society.

The Jerusalem Post

As the Australian government moves forward with the listing process, the next steps will involve finalizing the legal brief and obtaining the necess

The Jerusalem Post