Singing national anthem is 'forced assimilation' says Hizb ut-Tahrir
Radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir have accused the federal government of criminalising the Muslim community through its anti-terror laws and have cited singing the national anthem as forced assimilation.
The controversial group held a conference in Sydney's south-west titled Innocent Until Proven Muslim, with numerous speakers and testimonies from people who say they have been affected by government intervention.
A key issue raised at the conference by the group was Muslim children being required to sing the Australian national anthem at school.
The controversial group labeling the involvement as “forced assimilation”, the spokesperson from radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir said.
“The Australian anthem is based upon a particular view in history, it is a reading of history, and it is a statement which conforms to particular values. Now, if one does not share those values, why would they express it?” Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman, Hamzah Quereshi, told The Daily Telegraph.
“If I was to ask you to declare a praise of God and you did not believe in God you would naturally not do so, because that is not an expression of your values.”
Uthman Badar, speaking at an Innocent Until Proven Muslim forum, made the statement to hundreds of supporters in Bankstown.
He denounced deradicalisation programs during the conference, saying they were based on “exaggerated fears of a security threat."
“All talk of national security and terrorism is wholly exaggerated, is blown entirely out of proportion and is essentially used as a smoke screen that deflects attention from the real and serious issues that this country does face, issues of domestic violence, where up until September this year 63 women had been killed by current or ex-partners,” he said.
“What is occurring is that a booger man is being created about terrorism, where it has been inflated such that it obscures attention on other issues and Australians should be deeply offended that politicians are pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes.”
