Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been decisive in issuing a decree to fast-track the proscription of militant Islamist organisations. The move was targeted at the controversial global group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is also active in Australia. Mr Widodo needed to act. Mass demonstrations by Muslim militants during the recent trial of Jakarta’s Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, on controversial blasphemy charges revealed a worrying level of Islamist extremism and hatred towards minorities. The Islamic Defenders Front, whose influence rose during Ahok’s case, also should be targeted. In the interests of regional security, responsible judges in Indonesia should ensure the failure of court appeals against the decree.
…
As with Islamic State, its goal is the establishment of a transnational Muslim caliphate ruled by sharia law. Hizb ut-Tahrir has promoted racism and anti-Semitism, encouraged young Muslims to join Islamic State, denied Israel’s right to exist and rejected democracy
Read the article in The Australian.