- Member of Hizb ut-Tahrir in heated exchange with ABC reporter
- Muslim group more objectionable than 'poor old' Andrew Bolt: Abbott
What is Hizb ut-Tahrir?
Hizb ut-Tahrir is an Islamic political organisation established in Jerusalem in 1953 by Taqiuddin al-Nabhani, an Islamic jurist.
The group is estimated to have one million members with branches in Australia, Asia, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Hizb ut-Tahrir translates as "Party of Liberation" and wants an Islamic state known as a caliphate.
Why is it banned in some countries but not in Australia?
The organisation is banned in several Middle Eastern countries, and Germany and Russia but it operates freely in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Hizb ut-Tahrir says it's not anti-Semitic and does not promote violence but these public positions have been questioned.
Some critics say while it may not promote violence, it indoctrinates young Muslims who are then likely to join other groups that do engage in violence.
In 2005, efforts to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir in the UK and Australia failed.
The UK found there was insufficient evidence to justify a ban and Australia's attempt to outlaw the the group didn't proceed after the group reportedly got cleared by the Australian Security Intelligence Agency (ASIO).
In June, Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman Uthman Badar, who is highly critical of the Abbott government in his social media posts, was banned from delivering a speech in Sydney.
The speech titled 'Honour Killings Are Morally Justified' was to have been given at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas held at the Sydney Opera House but was cancelled.
Why does Tony Abbott want the group banned?
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has renewed previous calls to outlaw the group after it criticised Australia and the United States for being more barbaric than Islamic State militants.
Australian representative Wassim Doureihi says the US-led campaign in Iraq in 2003 ending up killing more than one million Iraqi civilians.
He told the ABC's Lateline program that groups like Islamic State do not exist in a vacuum.
"They exist as a reaction to Western interference in the Islamic lands and they view themselves, rightfully or wrongfully, irrespective of my opinion or otherwise, as a resistance effort to what they regard as an unjust occupation," he said.
"I come from a very clear point of view that, as Muslims, we have a fixed moral compass that says it's unequivocally, under any conditions, an aberration to kill innocent civilians.
"Tony Abbott cannot say that. John Howard dismissed the slaughter of half a million civilians as an embarrassment. Let's talk about morality here. Let's talk about who is the greatest threat to civilian life."
Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman in heated row with ABC Lateline presenter:
Mr Doureihi was not prepared to condemn young men who elect to join groups like Islamic State.
Speaking on Fairfax radio in Melbourne, Prime Minister Abbott says it's clear that Hizb ut-Tahrir's ideology justifies terrorism and is un-Islamic.
"Hizb-ut Tahrir is an organisation with an ideology which justifies terrorism and that's why I say it's un-Australian. It's also un-Islamic because no respectable Muslim should have these views," he told 3AW.
The group is organising a lecture in Sydney on Friday and the federal government has vowed to stop any international speakers from entering the country.
