KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — The local chapter of hardline Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir denounced today the anti-terrorism law passed recently by Parliament, saying its own ambitions for an Islamic caliphate may fall under the ambit of the extremism that the law aims to curtail.

Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia (HTM) said such laws are beholden to the Western concept of “moderate Islam” that inadvertently brands such undemocratic movements as “extremists”, in addition to curbing legitimate “jihad” or holy struggle against enemies of Islam.

“The West and Muslim leaders who think like them are trying to curb political groups, even those which have never even taken up arms. They are not exempted from being labelled as terrorists, or at least having the potential of becoming terrorists,” the group said in its weekly newsletter.

“The extremist label is commonly used, especially against political movements that want to uphold Islam holistically, those that reject democracy and want to uphold an Islamic state not through democracy.”

Hizbut Tahrir aims to establish an Islamic state in Malaysia and a worldwide caliphate as part of its global network, although it has never explained how.

Last month, HTM had said that using democratic means to introduce the controversial Islamic penal code of hudud is “haram” or forbidden, insisting that Islamic law must be implemented in its entirety in Malaysia without approval from Parliament or state assemblies.

In its newsletter today, HTM said even though there is a provision in the Prevention of Terrorism Bill (Pota) against detention solely for political belief, it only applies to lawful political beliefs.

“It is not excessive to say that the drafting of Pota will curb any political and Islamic activities, except those allowed by the government!!!” it said.

While denouncing terrorism, the Islamist group defended the act of jihad, saying that it is virtuous and obligatory to fight against infidels who hold Muslims as enemies.

“In this context, we must differentiate between jihadists and militants because not all militants are jihadists,” it said.

HTM also claimed that some so-called “terrorists” exist as a response to oppression and invasion of infidels in Muslim territories, taking up arms since other Muslim leaders have ignored their plight.

Pota was passed after the ninth block voting, with the final voting favouring the government when 79 MPs from Barisan Nasional supported the Bill while 64 MPs from the opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat rejected it.

It is being criticised for reviving the arbitrary and indefinite detention without trial that went away after Putrajaya repealed the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) in 2012.