Sydney conference speaker demands Islamic state
A speaker at a conference in Sydney's south-west says a revolution or a civil war may be necessary in order to create an Islamic state, or caliphate.
The meeting has been organised by the controversial Muslim group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in several countries overseas.A number of politicians have called for the group to be banned here.
One of today's speakers, Ashraf Doureihi, told the audience action needs to be taken to ensure an Islamic state is created."It is important... [to move] collectively in the Muslim world to demand this change from such influential people in our lands, even if it means spilling onto the streets to create a revolution or staging a military coup," he said.
Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman Wasim Durie has told the audience a number of speakers will address the meeting today and discuss ways of establishing an Islamic super-state."As we were here today, what is at stake is not just the destiny of the Muslim world but indeed the whole of mankind," he said.
The conference runs all day.
Sydney conference speaker demands Islamic state. 28/01/2007. ABC News Online
Also from the ABC:http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1834963.htmNew 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."The Federal Opposition says the Government should have considered denying a visa to the Lakemba conference's controversial keynote speaker.Opposition immigration spokesman Tony Burke says Ismail Yusanto, from Indonesia, has expressed radical views in the past that should have been investigated by the Government."My fear is that they haven't even bothered to have a look at it," he said.Today Dr Yusanto has outlined how an Islamic state would work, and said all its members would have to be prepared for jihad, or holy war, to defend it.
ReplyDelete