Sydney, Australia, 14th August 2010  – Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has said, whilst campaigning in Victoria, that if elected he would move to prosecute Hizb ut-Tahrir on grounds that it gives aid and comfort to terrorism, peddles hates and defames the Australian way of life.

In response to these baseless assertions we state the following:

1. This is a classic case of policy on the run from Mr. Abbott, who in an interview with Alan Jones on 2GB just last month (09 July 2010) said in response to the proposition that Hizb ut-Tahrir should be proscribed that, “The general principle in this country is that you don't punish bad thoughts. We don't even punish bad words, as long as those bad words don't amount to an incitement to break the law.” Evidently it only took one month for this ‘general principle’ to be shown the back door for the facilitation of cheap populist politics.

2. The reality is that Mr. Abbott, and the political establishment more broadly, has a problem, not with Hizb ut-Tahrir, but with Islam itself. Lacking the courage to admit this they adopt covers in the form of Islamic symbols, attire, values, rules, and organisations. It is what Hizb ut-Tahrir stands for that both the Opposition and the Government have a problem with: the removal of Western interference in the Muslim World and the rejection of integrationist policies locally.

3. The influence of the Australian Jewish Lobby is obvious in this change of attitude by Mr. Abbott. Hizb ut-Tahrir’s strong and principled stance against ‘Israel’, articulated in the last few weeks, has been predictably used by various Jewish groups to cry victimhood. Being unable to defend Israel’s indefensible oppression, they seek to silence criticism and debate. It is unbecoming of someone seeking leadership of a nation to be so partisan to a sector of society and subject to their influence.

4. Mr. Abbott’s decision to come in to bat for Australian Jewry reveals numerous double standards. When Muslims express concern for Iraq or Afghanistan their allegiances and loyalty to Australia is questioned. Yet when Jews feel insecure about criticism of ‘Israel’ the politicians come to their defense. This is in spite of the fact that Hizb ut-Tahrir’s criticism has been in the context of the illegitimate state of ‘Israel’, not Jews living in Australia.

5. Islam does not discriminate on the basis of race. We reject all claims of anti-Semitism. Jews should recall their fair treatment for centuries under the Islamic Caliphate. As for ‘Israel’, it is an illegal occupation and now lives on borrowed time. Just as millions around the world, including Jews, have understood its reality, Jews in this country too would be wise to distance themselves from it and re-think their future globally by learning the lessons of history.

6. Hizb ut-Tahrir is a non-violent political party with over half a century of political activism under some of the harshest regimes in the Muslim World. Despite facing continual persecution, torture and jail terms in the Muslim World Hizb ut-Tahrir has maintained its non-violent approach, as attested to by independent sources. Claims against Hizb ut-Tahrir of aiding terror are baseless and indeed laughable coming from those who have supported the worst terror of our times: that inflicted upon the millions of innocent men, women and children of Iraq and Afghanistan.

7. Instead of making unsubstantiated statements about what the majority of Muslims in Australia believe, we invite Mr. Abbott to visit the Muslim streets and see for himself. Ask the Muslims what they believe about the Caliphate and Shari’ah Law being established in the Muslim World, about ‘Israel’ and its ‘right’ to exist, about Western intervention in the Muslim World, and about Australian Government policy with regards to Islam and Muslims locally. Alternatively he can continue to live in the bliss of his ignorance about Muslim views on these matters.

Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia challenges Mr. Abbott, if he has the courage befitting a statesman, to debate these issues with us publically, instead of hiding behind cheap election politics and fear mongering. We are ready to debate Mr. Abbott at the place and time, and on the issues, of his choosing.