Posted on 08/07/2005 7:32:26 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
LABOR has warned against a knee-jerk ban on Muslim groups in the wake of the London bombings and the threat of terrorism.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is investigating Hizb ut-Tahrir, which has been banned in Britain, and is expected to deliver an assessment on its activities within days.
The group has described suicide bombers as martyrs and has said Muslims have a duty to resist the occupation of Iraq.
Prime Minister John Howard is planning a meeting with Australia's Muslim leaders in the next few weeks to enlist their help in exposing extremist cells, and Hizb ut-Tahrir has said it wanted a seat at the table.
The meeting will take place ahead of an emergency security summit with state and territory leaders next month and comes as the Government considers whether to beef up counter-terrorism legislation.
Hizb ut-Tahrir could be banned if it is found to pose a security threat in Australia.
But Labor said groups and individuals should not have their right to freedom of speech fettered and has urged caution in moving to outlaw particular organisations.
"We ought to be cautious about creating a sub-set of Australians who believe that they are being the subject of improper suppression," Labor backbencher Duncan Kerr said in Canberra.
"We must be conscious of the importance of free speech, but we also have to look clearly at whatever information that ASIO brings forward that suggests there is a genuine and real risk," he said.
"A rush towards banning organisations on the basis of a knee-jerk reaction is to be rejected."
The Government and the Parliament had an obligation to consider all the facts and circumstances before making rash decisions, he said.
"We have an obligation to look at the realities. We can't do as we did in the Iraq situation of (persuading) ourselves that actions are justified on the basis of an assessment of intelligence which is flawed."
Mr Kerr is a member of the joint parliamentary committee that looks into the banning of groups and associations.
Why does the looney left insist on taking the side of terrorists?
I have often remarked that leftism in all its forms is of and from Satan.
Of course, a lot of people don't believe in Satan...
Little wonder the Australian Labor Party is in indefinite Opposition!!!
Isn't the labor party in total control of EVERY SINGLE State down under ? Why is the National labor party so soft on terror ?
That's one of the great mysteries of modern Australian politics. BTW, Labor is looking very dodgy in New South Wales. Seems our most populous state could start the tide turning for the conservatives.
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