An Australian political party has urged the government to review the Muslim Brotherhood and determine if it can be criminalised in Australia.
Family First made the call on September 18 by calling for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and relevant agencies to review the Brotherhood and any other groups allegedly associated with it by the Australian Government. The remarks, by British historian Lord Andrew Roberts to the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, prompted the statement.
Roberts demanded an investigation into the Brotherhood’s multimedia enterprise and invited them to investigate their corporate portfolio of companies, charities and non-government organisations. Family First claimed the government should “ look at networks, affiliates and influence in Australia and seek ways existing law could further limit or prohibit” them.
Legal and Security Questions
Any strictures on an institution would be in line with the legal definition and evidence which Government and security agencies would evaluate and not simply based on a political comment. There are legal frameworks in place at a statutory level for Australia to follow that allow organisations to be listed when meeting the appropriate legal requirements.
A separate assessment would need to be conducted as to whether the Muslim Brotherhood or Australian groups connected to the Muslim Brotherhood are subject to any thresholds. A call for investigation does not in itself mean that the organisation meets those criteria or that there is a legal basis for banning.
Claims About Networks and Influence
Family First’s declaration has sparked a series of questions about the relationship to alleged Brotherhood connections with charities, companies, NGOs, the media and others in Australia. These claims should be differentiated from organisational or financial or operational relationships which could be established independently from the start.
Family First and Roberts have been linking their worries to the issues of Islamist extremism and antisemitism. Affiliation and influence should be judged on evidence of certain organisations, statements, activities, conduct and not by assumptions based on religious identity.
Australia’s Wider Policy Debate
The call coincides with Australia’s general turning inwards in relation to extremism, antisemitism and networking. The national policy debate continues on issues relating to the identification and regulation of organisations alleged to raise security or social issues.
For the moment, Family First’s Sept 7 statement is a political call for an investigation and perhaps a ban on the Muslim Brotherhood in Australia, rather than a decision by the government. The future action would be based on the results of the Australian authorities and the relevant legal criteria.
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