Plan B Forum

Islamist Group Hizb ut-Tahrir in Australia Calls For Army To Replace Government With 'Islamic Caliphate'

By Reissa Su on January 20 2015 1:39 PM

A radical Islamist group is calling for a Muslim army to impose Sharia law in Australia. Hizb ut-Tahrir announced that it is raising an army of followers in public at a community centre in Lakemba, western Sydney.

An estimated 250 people, including women and children, attended the public rally organised by the extremist group. Bilal Merhi, one of the group's members, told the crowd gathered at the centre that the Islamic Caliphate ruled by Sharia Law must take the place of Australia's democratic government, Seven News reported.

The Hizb ut-Tahrir told those in attendance to "come forward" to join an army "ready to defend the honour of Allah and his Messenger." Merhi also declared that Australians exploit the freedom of speech to mock Islam.

The radical Islamist organisation had previously called the Charlie Hebdo killings in Paris the "cure" in an event discussing the desire of the West to confront the "Islamist threat." Earlier reports in October had indicated that police investigated Merhi in connection with videos showing children as young as six years old being taught to chant extremist slogans.

Meanwhile, Attorney General George Brandis said people who were found to be encouraging terrorism or engaging in its advocacy will be arrested and taken off the streets. Terrorism experts believe Hizb ut-Tahrir may be crossing a fine legal line if the group continues with its activities. Professor Greg Barton, executive director of the Global Terrorism Research Centre at the Monash University said the group may see a degree of legal opposition and prosecution, leading to some key people being charged.

The terror alert level for possible attacks on police has been raised to "high" after new intelligence obtained by authorities. According to a statement released by the Australian Federal Police, the threat level for members of the police force has been changed in line with the rest of the country's terror alert.

The statement said the assessment was based on intelligence information and discussions with partners, SMH reported. Despite the active and combined efforts of state and federal police to disrupt the activities of terror networks, the dangers prompting the high terror alert last September 2014 still remains. The Australian Federal Police reminds the public of the recent terror attacks in France, Canada and the siege in Martin Place.

Talk is cheap. And protected.

18 U.S. Code § 2385 - Advocating overthrow of Government


Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or

Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or

Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes thereof—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.

If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
As used in this section, the terms “organizes” and “organize”, with respect to any society, group, or assembly of persons, include the recruiting of new members, the forming of new units, and the regrouping or expansion of existing clubs, classes, and other units of such society, group, or assembly of persons.

I doubt it would withstand Constitutional scrutiny.

Big RR wrote:Otherwise Jim, how would you ever have constitutional oversight over the laws passed by the legislature? Congress may well pass a law that could be exercised in an unconstitutional manner, but the courts will reign that in.

Big RR wrote:Gee, and the spell check didn't even recognize it.

An estimated 250 people, including women and children, attended the public rally...

Guinevere wrote:Thanks Sue -- I was skimming quickly and looking to pull out only the SCOTUS cases. I don't recall seeing Brandenburg in the annotations I perused but I remember it now, from Con Law.

Gob wrote:Good news that. The morer these idiots parade their idiocy, the more public and political will there will be to crush them.

Is Australia the next Islamic state?

Gob wrote:Good news that. The morer these idiots parade their idiocy, the more public and political will there will be to crush them.