By Danielle Cahill and wires
A spokesperson for controversial Islamic group Hizb-ut-Tahrir has refused to say whether Australia is an enemy of Islam that should be targeted by jihadis.
In an interview with A Current Affair, Wasim Doueihi refused three times to answer a question about Islam and Australia being enemies.
He said Australians needed to understand the implications of actions taken by their government in the Muslim world.
"Australians should not accept the fact their government is part of a military occupation," Doueihi said.
"It's not the Muslims who are sending armies halfway around the world."
Doueihi claimed comments taken from the group's Lakemba conference calling for an Islamic state ruled by strict Sharia law had been taken out of context.
"It's disingenuous to take one sentence out of a six hour program," Doueihi said.
Doueihi told ACA jihadis were incorrectly branded as terrorists.
"Terrorism is a politicised term and we have to keep things on an equal balance.
"If we want to discuss the matter on an equal level there's no greater horror than what we have seen in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said.
Doueihi's comments come in the wake of a string of attacks on Hizb-ut-Tahrir by leading political figures angered by the group calling on young Muslims to join in a holy war.
Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out banning the group, which is outlawed in Britain, Germany and several Middle Eastern countries.
"There is often a thin line between stupid extravagant language and language which is deliberately designed to incite violence," Mr Howard said.
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