Australian PM Tony Abbott Slams ABC For Appearance Of Former Terrorism Suspect

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has accused ABC of betraying Australians by interviewing an extremist on live television. Mr Abbot said ABC needs to “have a long, hard look at itself” after allowing Zaky Mallah, a former terrorism suspect, participate on its live panel show.

In 2003, Mallah, who was then 19 years old, became the first person to be charged under new counter-terrorism laws. After spending two years in jail, he was acquitted of two terrorism offences and was convicted of attempting to kill officials from the Australian Security and Intelligence Office.

Mallah was allowed to ask Steve Ciobo, the parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs and trade, about the Abbott government’s plans to revoke the citizenship of Australians who have travelled to the Middle East to fight alongside extremist groups. Mallah had been in Syria in 2011, reports Business Insider.

ABC has admitted it made a mistake by letting Mallah appear on the show. “The ABC made a very, very serious misjudgement last night,” said Mr Abbott. He added that Australia’s national broadcaster has allowed a convicted criminal and known “terrorist sympathizer” to be on a national platform. He said millions of Australians might feel betrayed.

Mallah and Ciobo had a heated exchange on the show with the Liberal MP saying that the extremist would be a prime candidate for the new laws. Ciobo told Mallah that he would be happy to see the convicted criminal out of the country. Mallah escalated the issue by saying that the Liberals have justified to Australian Muslims in the community to go overseas and join ISIS because of ministers like him.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull wants the Australian Federal Police to review ABC’s program following security concerns. The minister said he was concerned that there were no physical security checks on the audience with the man.

Turnbull said he has asked security checks to protect the live audience and guests in the studio. He talked to ABC chairman James Spigelman, managing director Mark Scott and program host Tony Jones. Turnbull believes ABC had an “extreme error of judgment.”

It was not the first time Mr Abbott has accused ABC of being anti-Australian, reports news.com.au. The prime minister had the same view in January after ABC and The Guardian reported about Australian tapping the phone of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

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