Media Release
In the Name of Allah, The Gracious, The Merciful Western Governments are the Real Terrorists

 Debate on Australia's involvement in Afghanistan continues this week in the Senate. As was the case in the House of Representatives, the vast majority of contributors have backed the bi-partisan stance of the Government and Opposition in support of the war, whilst a handful of senators have dissented. Invariably however the premise of argument as to the rationale of the invasion is the same across the board: the need to combat ‘Islamist terrorism' which finds a base in Afghanistan, and the need to assist the people of Afghanistan, in particular its women, who are repressed by ‘Islamic extremism'.

 In noting the fallacious and deceptive nature of this premise, Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia states the following points:

1. Western Governments - with the US and UK at their head - have the worst records globally of oppression, exploitation and war in modern times. They are responsible for more civilian deaths than any other individual or group the world over. They are known for the instigation of unjust wars, torture, exploitation of the resources of weaker nations, support for repressive regimes when expedient, and the general disregard for human life in the pursuit of political and economic interests. Claims by such regimes of combating terrorism are only taken seriously by those who miss, or choose to ignore, the blatant hypocrisy.

 2. Worse still, Western Governments in their ‘War on Terror' are led by the American administration, whose uniform is decorated with badges from its recent exploits: Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, Baghram, torture by rendition, waterboarding, the wanton destruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, Blackwater... and the attempt to cover all this up, as is confirmed yet again through documents published by Wikileaks. With a resume this like, it is America that needs ‘regime change' more than Afghanistan.

 3. The shortcomings of the Muslim World - which is indeed a shambles - will not be corrected by the ill-intentioned intervention of those with even more shortcomings. They will rather be corrected by the ending of Western interference and imposition so that Muslims can decide their own political destiny in line with their way of life, history and values.

 4. It is not ‘Islamic extremism' that the world needs to fear but Western extremism. Humanity has nothing to fear from Islam, a centuries-old way of life that has contributed much to its intellectual and civilisational progress. Rather humanity has much to fear from secular liberalism whose contribution of material progress comes at the unacceptable expense of spiritual, moral and humanitarian values.

  For further information, questions or comments, please contact Uthman Badar, Media Representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia, on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0438 000 465. Alternatively, further information is available on our website: www.hizb-australia.org.