FAQ About Hizb ut-Tahrir
uploaded 31 Aug 2005
About Hizb ut-Tahrir
Hizb ut-Tahrir is a global Islamic political organisation that was established in 1953 under the leadership of its founder – the honourable scholar, thinker, able politician, and judge in the Court of Appeals in al-Quds (Jerusalem), Taqiuddin an-Nabhani.
In the Muslim world, Hizb ut-Tahrir works at all levels of society to bring the Muslims back to living an Islamic way of life under the shade of the Khilafah (Caliphate) State following an exclusively political method.
In the West, Hizb ut-Tahrir works to cultivate a Muslim community that lives by Islam in thought and deed, adhering to the rules of Islam and preserving a strong Islamic identity. The party does not work in the West to change the system of government, but works within the boundaries of the system.
The party also works to project a positive image of Islam to Western society and engages in dialogue with Western thinkers, policymakers and academics.
What is Hizb ut-Tahrir’s methodology?
Hizb ut-Tahrir adopts the methodology employed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he established the first Islamic State in Madinah. The Prophet Muhammad limited his struggle for the establishment of the Islamic State to intellectual and political work. He established this Islamic state without resorting to violence. He worked to mobilise public opinion in favour of Islam and endeavoured to sway the political and intellectual elites of the time. Despite the persecution and boycott of the Prophet Muhammad and the early Muslims, they never resorted to violence.
The party is therefore proactive in disseminating the Islamic intellectual and political thoughts widely in Muslim societies so as to challenge the existing status quo that exists there.
The party presents Islam as a comprehensive way of life that is capable of managing the affairs of state and society. The party also expresses its views on political events and analyses them from an Islamic perspective.
The party disseminates its thoughts through discussion with the masses, study circles, lectures, seminars, leaflet distribution, publishing books and magazines and via the Internet. We encourage people to attend our demonstrations, marches and vigils.
Where does Hizb ut-Tahrir work?
The party is active throughout Europe, Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Australasia and the Americas.
Does Hizb ut-Tahrir advocate violence?
Hizb-ut-Tahrir is convinced that the change we seek must start in the minds of people and we do not accept for people or societies to be forced to change by violence and terror. Consequently, Hizb ut-Tahrir does not advocate or engage in violence. The party strictly adheres to Islamic law in all aspects of its work. It is an Islamic intellectual and political entity that seeks to change people’s thoughts through intelligent discussion and debate. We consider that Islamic law forbids violence or armed struggle against the regime as a method to re-establish the Islamic State.
Numerous articles produced by a variety of media outlets including Reuters, Itar-Tass, Pravda, AFP, AlHayat, AP and RFERL to name just a few, have clearly pointed out that Hizb ut-Tahrir is a non-violent organisation that has ruled out armed struggle or violence as part of its methodology.
Some quotes include:
“Hizb ut-Tahrir is a completely non-violent organisation.” [Craig Murray, the ex-British ambassador to Uzbekistan, Al-Jazeera, 17/5/05]
“…it advocates the restoration of the Islamic caliphate. It differs from jihadi groups which share this objective in abstaining from violent activity.” [International Crisis Group, 2/3/05]
“Hizb ut-Tahrir [HT] is an independent political party that is active in many countries across the world. HT’s activities centre on intellectual reasoning, logic arguments and political lobbying. The party adheres to the Islamic Shariah law in all aspects of its work. It considers violence or armed struggle against the regime, as a method to re-establish the Islamic State, a violation of the Islamic Shariah.” [Restricted Home Office Documents 19/8/03, Released to Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain 1/6/05 under FOI Act]
“Hizb ut-Tahrir – Lines to take if extensive coverage is given in the media: Freedom of thought and speech key element of our society. Our tradition that there is a place for those who disagree with the way we do things – unless they espouse violence as a way to achieve their ends.” [Restricted Home Office Documents 19/8/03, Released to Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain 1/6/05 under FOI
Act]
“We have yet to see convincing evidence that Hizb ut-Tahrir as an organisation advocates violence or terrorism. Nor are we aware of any co-operation between it and Al Qaeda.” [UK FCO Minister Bill Rammell, Hansard, 19/4/04]
“It will be impossible to see Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation. If Hizb ut-Tahrir resorts to violence then it can be described as a terrorist organisation. Further more Hizb ut-Tahrir, as it stands, cannot be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.” [Verdict Turkish Second State Security Court, 13/4/04]
“Hizb ut-Tahrir does not advocate a violent overthrow of Muslim regimes… Instead HT believes in winning over mass support, believing that one day these supporters will rise up in peaceful demonstrations and overthrow the regimes of Central Asia.” [Ahmed Rashid, Jihad: the Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia]
“Hizb ut-Tahrir quite explicitly disavows violence as its means for achieving power.” [John Schoeberlein, Director of Harvard University’s Central Asia program]
“Hizb ut-Tahrir has shown dissatisfaction on the policies of the [Pakistan] government which is the right of each and every citizen…I am unable to understand as to how distribution of these pamphlets in the general public was termed as terrorism or sectarianism.” [Multan Bench, Lahore High Court, March 2005]
“Ata Abu Rushta, spokesperson for the Hizb ut-Tahrir, Liberation Party in Jordan, a party seeking to re-establish the Islamic Caliphate, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in February by the State Security Court for lese-majesty under Article 195(1) of the Penal Code in connection with an interview he had given to the newspaper al-Hiwar. The statements on which the charges were based did not advocate violence.” [Amnesty International Report, 1997]
Is Hizb ut-Tahrir extremist?
Extremist groups exploit people’s fears and present disingenuous arguments that are based upon weak and erroneous thoughts. We do not hide behind polemics and slogans – we believe the strength of our thoughts is evident in our literature. Our members have discussed and debated with some of the best thinkers in the world such as Noam Chomsky, Daniel Dennett and Flemming Larsen from the IMF because we believe the only way forward for humankind is to engage in global debate and discussion. We believe it is time to do away with the old labels of ‘extremist’ and ‘moderate’ and believe it is possible for people who hold dissimilar and disparate views to engage in rational dialogue.
If you would like one of our members to participate in a debate or panel discussion that you are organising please contact us.
Is Hizb ut-Tahrir linked with any other groups?
Hizb ut-Tahrir has no association with any other Islamic or non-Islamic movement, party or organisation by name or deed. In particular, the UK media have frequently associated the party with Al-Muhajiroun – Hizb ut-Tahrir has had no working relationship or partnership with this organization or its successors.
Why is Hizb ut-Tahrir banned in many countries?
Hizb ut-Tahrir is at the forefront of political activism in the Muslim world. The party has challenged and called to account the tyrannical rulers of the Muslim world such as Colonel Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak, Karimov, and General Musharraf. The response of these regimes to our work has been to imprison, torture and murder our members. Whilst our challenge to these regimes has been at an intellectual and political level, by encouraging debate and discussion, these regimes have resorted to banning and silencing the party, as they have no intellectual thought of their own. As these regimes tolerate no opposition whatsoever, other opposition parties are also banned. Despite the banning of the party and the intimidation of its members, the thoughts of the party have nevertheless successfully permeated throughout society.
Can I attend a Hizb ut-Tahrir meeting?
All our meetings are conducted openly and whoever is interested, regardless of their political and intellectual outlook, has the right to participate. We give every attendant the right to participate in discussing the contents of the meeting, regardless of his or her personal stance towards Islam or the subject matter of the meeting.
To find out details of a meeting near to you please contact us.
How does one join Hizb ut-Tahrir?
Membership of Hizb ut-Tahrir is open to Muslim men and women regardless of their nationality, race or school of thought, as the party looks to all of them according to the viewpoint of Islam. An individual becomes a party member after detailed study and contemplation of the party’s thoughts and opinions. Affiliation with the party is based solely on an individual achieving maturity in the party culture and adopting the party’s thoughts and opinions.
Are women involved in Hizb ut-Tahrir?
Women in Hizb ut-Tahrir play an active role within the party to achieve its objective. They undertake intellectual and political work including calling the rulers of the Muslim world to account and struggling against oppression and injustice. Many female members of Hizb ut-Tahrir have faced imprisonment as prisoners of conscience by a number of the regimes of the Muslim world. In accordance with the Islamic etiquettes, women’s activities are separate from men’s activities.
Hizb ut-Tahrir’s Views
What is Hizb ut-Tahrir’s view on the events of 9/11 or 7/7 and the killing of civilian non-combatants?
The rules of Islam forbid any aggression against civilian non-combatants. They forbid the killing of children, the elderly and non-combatant women even in the battlefield. They forbid the hijacking of civilian aeroplanes carrying innocent civilians and forbid the destruction of homes and offices that contain innocent civilians. All of these actions are types of aggression that Islam forbids.
For example regarding the massacre of civilians in Algeria a leaflet from Hizb ut-Tahrir published on 4th September 1997 states:
“We and all Muslims declare to Allah our disavowal of these criminal and savage massacres and those who perpetrate them, whoever they might be. We declare that those who commit such acts have nothing to do with Islam or Muslims. Furthermore, this is not the route to establish a Khilafah (Caliphate in the Muslim countries)….The route to that is the route laid d2own and followed by the Messenger of Allah (saw) in his campaign to establish the Islamic State: It is political activism, which starts by winning over individuals and acculturating them into the Islamic culture. It then proceeds to address the masses to generate in them a public opinion and a public awareness about and for the idea of Islam. This is the method to follow to establish the Khilafah and restore the rule by that which Allah has revealed. It is not by physical action or the use of material force.”
In the aftermath of 9/11 Hizb ut-Tahrir issued a leaflet on September 18th 2001 which stated:
“The rules of this Message forbid any aggression against civilian non-combatants. They forbid killing of children, the elderly and non-combatant women even in the battlefield. They forbid the hijacking of civilian airplanes carrying innocent civilians and forbid the destruction of homes and offices which contain innocent civilians. All of these actions are types of aggression which Islam forbids and Muslims should not undertake such actions.”
After the London Bombings of 7 July 2005 the UK website made the illegality of the bombings from an Islamic perspective many times, and in many ways.
Is Hizb ut-Tahrir anti-Semitic?
We reject completely the charge of anti-Semitism because Islam is a message directed to all humankind. However, at the same time we completely reject Zionism represented in the form of Israel and Hizb ut-Tahrir, like the majority of Muslim organisations, is opposed to the continued occupation of Palestine by the Israeli State.
The state of Israel is founded upon a land that was taken by force, after its people were driven out, both Muslim and Christian. This is injustice, which can never be accepted from an Islamic perspective, regardless of the race of the perpetrators. In Palestine, Islam is in conflict with Israelis – not in their capacity as Jews who historically had lived alongside Muslims in peace and security for centuries – but in their capacity as occupiers and aggressors.
History is testament to the fact that Jews lived with Muslims under the banner of Islam for almost thirteen centuries. Throughout those periods Jews used to have the same high standard of living as the Muslims did. They enjoyed equal rights, prosperity, happiness, tranquillity and security. Hizb ut-Tahrir’s aspiration is to see this situation emerge again.
What is your view on democracy?
The Islamic ruling system, the Khilafah, allows and encourages the accounting of the ruler and has provision for elections and consultation. Islam does not permit state policies to be influenced or directed by corporate elites and big business. Islam obliges citizens in the Khilafah to be involved in politics and accounting the state.
Democracy in capitalist states is undoubtedly a ruling system that is distinct from the Islamic ruling system. This is because Islam and Capitalism are built on entirely different fundamental philosophies. While the capitalist system advocates sovereignty in legislation for humankind, the Islamic system advocates sovereignty in legislation for the Creator. For this reason, democracy is not consistent with the Islamic system.
Furthermore, democracy even in its aspect of representation is increasingly seen to be deeply flawed, controlled by large corporations and largely indifferent to the needs of ordinary citizens. Voter turnouts in the West are at an all time low and people are obliged to go out to the streets in their hundreds of thousands to express their frustrations. Though individuals currently have some ‘freedom’ to criticise and change their politicians in the West, the reality is that whichever politicians are elected, they are of the economic elite and they rule on behalf of the economic elite.
Why does Hizb ut-Tahrir not participate in Parliament?
The regimes ruling in the Muslim world nowadays are all un-Islamic. They are regimes which are not ruling by Islam because their systems are not derived from Islam (except for some portions of them). It is our view that Muslims should not help, participate in or be a part of these corrupt dictatorial regimes. Rather Hizb ut-Tahrir urges Muslims to work with utmost diligence and speed to dismantle them and establish the system of Islam in their place.
We do not intend to prolong the life of corrupt and tyrannical systems of government by participating in them.
Within a western context Hizb ut-Tahrir does not make the dismantlement of the un-Islamic structures an issue. We recognise that the default position is that the political institutions are not from Islam. While we believe Muslims should not participate in these institutions, we do believe that Muslims can use all legitimate means to ensure their voices are heard.
Source: KCom
