Family First party pushes for Australian ban on Muslim Brotherhood

The push follows a proposal by British historian Andrew Roberts, who categorized the movement as a global jihadist entity during a Sydney gala. While the Brotherhood currently lacks a terrorist designation in Australia, the call for state intervention seeks to mirror international trends where several nations have already moved to restrict the group’s operations and funding networks.

Legal pathways for such a ban exist under updated legislation passed in January. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke noted that while the government has implemented new mechanisms to target hate groups, any proscription must be initiated by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). The current threshold for such a listing requires evidence that an organization advocates for violence or engages in hate crimes. To date, authorities have utilized these powers against groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir and the National Socialist Network, with penalties for affiliation reaching up to 15 years in prison.

Despite the party's demands, Family First has not publicly identified specific Australian entities as Brotherhood affiliates. The debate coincides with an expanding international crackdown, including recent U.S. designations targeting specific branches of the organization in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and Sudan for their material support of Hamas.