Sam Manekshaw
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SYDNEY — What started as a courteous interview on ABC's Lateline last night, quickly unravelled into chaos.
Australian spokesperson for controversial Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir, Wassim Doureihi, was interviewed by Emma Alberici on the news program, which turned into a bickering match.
The interview focussed on Hizb ut-Tahrir's views on the Islamic State's tactics, which Doureihi downplayed in comparison to Western government tactics in the Middle East.
Alberici repeatedly called for Doureihi to state his group's views on the murderous campaign of ISIS, including his response to an Australian child holding up a severed head in Syria.
“Do you support the murderous campaign being waged by Islamic State fighters in Iraq?” she asked, before he attempted to deflect the question.
"I want to take a moment just to take a step back," he said. Alberici continued to push him back to the actual question, which he avoided answering directly. The fierce talking over, shut downs, question dodging and sneers continued almost the entirety of the 11-minute interview.
"The fact is the entire response isn't what Muslims are doing or may not be doing, but no one legitimately or sincerely is discussing what Western governments are doing in the Muslim world," Doureihi spluttered out as he was allowed a moment to speak.
"Groups like ISIS or Al Qaeda don't exist in a vacuum," he said. "They exist as a reaction to Western interference in the Islamic lands and they view themselves, rightfully or wrongfully, irrespective of my opinion or otherwise, as a resistance effort to what they regard as an unjust occupation."
Alberici interjected: "But what I'm asking you is the tactic that's being employed to push back. Do you support it?"
The back and forth continues: "Why will you not point blank condemn the actions of IS fighters?" she said. "The question itself is offensive," he said. "Answer it," she said, while interrupting. "I've answered the question quite - quite directly," he said, while still not answering the question.
The headache-inducing clash finally ended with more unanswered questions than answered, yet between the back and forth, Doureihi seemed to push his views through.
The interview followed a statement by Prime Minister Tony Abbott that he would like to see the group banned in Australia, as it has been in Germany, Russia and many countries in the Middle East.
"We are changing the law that will make it easier to ban organisations like Hizb ut-Tahrir," Abbott told the media. "There is no doubt they are an organisation that campaigns against Australian values, that campaigns against Australian interests. They are a thoroughly objectionable organisation."
Painful Interview Between Islamic Group Spokesperson and Australian Journalist
Australian spokesperson for controversial Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir, Wassim Doureihi, was interviewed by Emma Alberici on the news program, which turned into a bickering match.
The interview focussed on Hizb ut-Tahrir's views on the Islamic State's tactics, which Doureihi downplayed in comparison to Western government tactics in the Middle East.
Alberici repeatedly called for Doureihi to state his group's views on the murderous campaign of ISIS, including his response to an Australian child holding up a severed head in Syria.
“Do you support the murderous campaign being waged by Islamic State fighters in Iraq?” she asked, before he attempted to deflect the question.
"I want to take a moment just to take a step back," he said. Alberici continued to push him back to the actual question, which he avoided answering directly. The fierce talking over, shut downs, question dodging and sneers continued almost the entirety of the 11-minute interview.
"The fact is the entire response isn't what Muslims are doing or may not be doing, but no one legitimately or sincerely is discussing what Western governments are doing in the Muslim world," Doureihi spluttered out as he was allowed a moment to speak.
"Groups like ISIS or Al Qaeda don't exist in a vacuum," he said. "They exist as a reaction to Western interference in the Islamic lands and they view themselves, rightfully or wrongfully, irrespective of my opinion or otherwise, as a resistance effort to what they regard as an unjust occupation."
Alberici interjected: "But what I'm asking you is the tactic that's being employed to push back. Do you support it?"
The back and forth continues: "Why will you not point blank condemn the actions of IS fighters?" she said. "The question itself is offensive," he said. "Answer it," she said, while interrupting. "I've answered the question quite - quite directly," he said, while still not answering the question.
The headache-inducing clash finally ended with more unanswered questions than answered, yet between the back and forth, Doureihi seemed to push his views through.
The interview followed a statement by Prime Minister Tony Abbott that he would like to see the group banned in Australia, as it has been in Germany, Russia and many countries in the Middle East.
"We are changing the law that will make it easier to ban organisations like Hizb ut-Tahrir," Abbott told the media. "There is no doubt they are an organisation that campaigns against Australian values, that campaigns against Australian interests. They are a thoroughly objectionable organisation."
Painful Interview Between Islamic Group Spokesperson and Australian Journalist
