 The Sydney leader of a controversial Islamic group under investigation over the London bombings says it preaches non-violence. It has been reported that the group Hizb ut-Tahrir is being investigated by the British Home Office for having links to one of the bombers.
| Al-Muhajiroun is Hezb ut-Tahrir without the mask... |
Spokesman Wassim Doureihi says the British arm of the Islamic group denies having anything to do with the bombing.
Mr Doureihi says the group would like to see the world convert to Islam but only works to achieve this politically and intellectually. "I'm describing the reality - the Hizb condemns violence as a means to achieve its aim, I state that unequivocally," he said. "This has been known for over 50 years, and we only work for intellectual and political means and I said in the outset that acts within the terms of working to achieve its aim."
| "Y'want to get violent, well, we can fix you up with some people who do that sort of thing. We just don't do it ourselves..." |
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils says it has no knowledge of the group.
Federation president Dr Ameer Ali says if his organisation gains any knowledge of any radical groups, the police are informed. "Whenever we come across any groups like this, who are openly, blatantly advocating violence, we bring them to the notice of the law enforcing authorities," he said. "What more can we do, we can't knock on the doors and find out who the terrorists are, because that's not our duty, we are not a policing force in this country."
Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison says the Australian community needs to take action against radical Islamic comment. Senator Ellison has told Channel Seven terror laws need might to be changed so that action can be taken against people who inflame and incite violence. "That's something which I think the Australian community has to make a very clear statement on, particularly those people who are close to those people who are making those comments," he said. "They should really say to them 'this is not on, this is un-Australian, we live in a free society, which doesn't advocate violence', and they should make it very clear to them that this is just not on. If those comments transgress the law, then of course they'll be prosecuted." |