Hizb ut-Tahrir Attacks Democracy, Freedom in Australia

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
www.realcourage.org/2010/07/hizb-ut-tahrir-attacks-democracy-in-australia/

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports the unqualified, universal human rights for all people everywhere, including freedom of religion, freedom of worship, freedom of conscience, and freedom of expression. We view democracy and religious pluralism not as western values, but as rights and dignities for all human beings. We challenge the views of Hizb ut-Tahrir which opposes democracy and such universal human rights.

The anti-democracy supremacist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT) held a conference in Australia on July 4, 2010 at the Grand Westella reception center, 12 Bridge Street, Lidcombe, in New South Wales, Australia, which frequently holds wedding receptions.  The HT conference was “The Struggle for Islam in the West.”   Hizb ut-Tahrir rejects democracy, rejects the women’s equality movement, and calls for the “death penalty” for those who leave Islam.  On June 22, 2010, the Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia group was publicly demonstrating for the stoning of individuals. (See also additional R.E.A.L. postings on Hizb ut-Tahrir.)

At the event, Hizb ut-Tahrir promoted its views of seeking the creation of a global Islamic caliphate and denouncing democracy.   UK Hizb ut-Tahrir leader Burhan Hanif told Lidcombe, Australia conference participants that that democracy was “haram” (forbidden) and that “We must adhere to Islam and Islam alone.”  Buhan Hanif stated that “We should not be conned or succumb to the disingenuous and flawed narrative that the only way to engage politically is through the secular democratic process. It is prohibited and haram.”  He rejected Muslim political involvement that is based on “secular and erroneous concepts such as democracy and freedom.”

Australian Hizb ut-Tahrir official Wassim Dourehi also told conference attendees that Muslims must reject “any kafir political party”, and challenged  “this godforsaken country,” referring to Australia.  Wassim Dourehi stated that “We need to reject this new secular version of Islam… It is a perverted concoction of Western governments. It is a perversion that seeks to wipe away the political aspects of Islam and localise our concerns. We must reject it and challenge the proponents of this aberration of Islam.”

Australian Hizb ut-Tahrir speaker Reem Allouche stated that women’s rights and equality should not be based on “secular liberalism.”  The Australian reported that “A female HT delegate, Reem Allouche, said Australian women should be at the forefront of the struggle by insisting on their right to wear the head-to-toe covering known as the niqab, in the face of legislation proposed by NSW Christian Democratic MP Fred Nile to ban it.”

According to Nine News, “More than 500 participants at a Hizb Ut-Tahrir conference in Western Sydney heard on Sunday that Australia was a ‘god-forsaken country’ and that moderate Islam was a ‘perverted concoction of western governments’.”  The Australian newspaper reported on the conference “Muslims told to shun democracy,” and “Islamist leader Burhan Hanif tells Aussie Muslims to ‘shun democracy’.”

Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia representative Uthman Badar told the media that democracy “is more of an illusion,” and that democracy has “short-sold the people.”

Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia’s Uthman Badar was interviewed by A Current Affair’s Tracy Grimshaw about its rejection of democracy.  ACA’s Grimshaw stated to Uthman Badar “So you are against democracy but enjoy its privileges to say what you like – against democracy.”  A Current Affair also challenged Hizb ut-Tahrir on its recent videos.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports the unqualified, universal human rights for all people everywhere, including freedom of religion, freedom of worship, freedom of conscience, and freedom of expression.  We support democracy and democratic values not as “Western values,” but as values that are the right for every human being of every identity group and every religion around the world.