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Taylor Auerbach
The Daily Telegraph
January 02, 2015 9:19AM

Man Haron Monis.

MAN Haron Monis had “strong links” with extremist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir before pulling off Australia’s first ever Islamic terror attack.

Former associates of the crazed gunman revealed Monis and his partner Amirah Droudis met regularly with Hizb ut-Tahrir organisers and attended a number of their events.

The Daily Telegraph has also obtained photos that show Man Haron Monis locked in discussion with radical Ismail al-Wahwah, the leader of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia.

The two were snapped together at a rally in front of the Egyptian consulate in Surry Hills.
“He spent two hours talking to (Hizb ut-Tahrir) people at the rally,” said a source who attended the demonstration.

Man Haron Monis canbe seen in the background engaged in conversation with Australia's Hizb ut-Tahrir leader, Ismail Al Wahwah.

Closeu-: The two men can be seen taking in the background of the image.

Closeup: The two men can be seen taking in the background of the image.

Ismail al-Wahwah, leader of Hizb ut-Tahrir.

“As if they knew each other really well.”

Hizb ut-Tahrir is a hard line Islamic political party that calls for a caliphate run on Sharia law.
Their flag — the shahada written in white on a black background — is the same one used by Monis throughout his act of evil.

Leader al-Wahwah is an outspoken opponent of democracy.

“They send their troops to Iraq to bomb Iraq to spread democracy. We will send our troops to Australia, to France to Germany,” he told a rally in October.

“We believe the world deserves another world order. We are ready to sacrifice everything for our concept.”

People who knew Monis believe he was radicalised by members of Hizb ut-Tahrir.

The organisation was embroiled in controversy last year when their spokesman Uthman Badar was booked to deliver a presentation titled “Honour killings are morally justified”.

The organisation was approached for comment but did not return calls.