London UK, 7th October 2009 – In his speech to the Conservative Party conference earlier today, shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said “I will immediately ban Hizb ut-Tahrir, and any other group that actively incites hatred and violence”. Not only did he simply regurgitate baseless allegations previously made by David Cameron, he was hypocritically speaking at a time when the Tories have been widely criticised for being in bed with European allies who are well known for preaching hatred across the continent.
Taji Mustafa, media representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain said “Chris Grayling’s bare faced lies that Hizb ut-Tahrir promotes hatred and violence are another desperate attempt to boost Conservatives poll ratings. His statement has no basis in fact, was comprehensively rebutted when first uttered by David Cameron and is the latest addition to their other anti-Muslim policies. Despite our challenge to a public debate, Cameron has not had the courage to respond.”
“We will not take lessons on promoting hatred from a party that supported the Iraq war and is in bed with some of the most vile, racist and xenophobic parties preaching hatred across Europe. Whilst the Tories European allies like the Latvian For Fatherland and Freedom party is deemed too extreme even for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, some of these hatred spouting extremists have been welcomed at the Tory conference in Manchester. This shows that Grayling and Cameron have no principles and will do and say anything to get into power.”
“Chris Grayling also spoke passionately about how the government ‘has eroded civil liberties’ and that this was ‘shameful and must be reversed’, yet he wants to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic political party with over 50 years of non-violent political activism to end tyranny and dictatorship in the Muslim world. This is the heart of the hypocrisy of freedom espoused by these politicians. On the one hand they justify invading Muslim countries on the basis of securing ‘freedom and democracy’, on the other hand they call to shut down political debate by banning organisations. In reality people are only free as long as they obey and follow the rules and laws enacted by these hypocritical and corrupt politicians.”
“While desperately trying to portray themselves as ‘liberal conservatives’, everyone can see that they are the same neo-conservative party, albeit with new colours.”
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