New South Wales premier calls for ban on HT

New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma is calling on the Federal Government to ban the group Hizb-ut Tahrir, which is holding a conference in south-west Sydney today.

Hizb-ut Tahrir, which is banned in Europe and parts of the Middle East, focuses on the idea of creating an ideal Islamic state somewhere in the world.

Mr Iemma says the group should be banned from Australia.

“This is an organisation that is basically saying that it wants to declare war on Australia, our values and our people,” he said. “That’s the big difference and that’s why I believe that they are just beyond the pale.

“Enough is enough! And it’s time for the Commonwealth to review this organisation’s status and take the lead from other countries and ban them.”

ABC News, 28 January 2007