Press Release
Reports that Legal Measures are being Considered against Hizb ut Tahrir Suggest UK Government Wants to Exploit Woolwich Killing for other Political Motives

London, UK, July 17th 2013 - Following a debate in the House of Commons on 10 July 2013, some media outlets have reported that the UK Government is once again considering taking legal measures against Hizb ut Tahrir, despite ministers' official answers adhering to the tightly worded script they have used for the past few years whenever asked about Hizb ut Tahrir.

When asked about the reports, Taji Mustafa, media representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Britain, made the following points:

"If these reported discussions are true it would not surprise us, but they suggest deeply hypocritical motives".

"Firstly, such reports would suggest that the government is trying to further its agenda to clamp down on Muslims who advocate, by means of argument alone, that Islam provides a better way of life than any other in the world".

"Secondly, they would suggest a continued clamp-down on Muslim voices that expose and criticize colonial Western policies in the Muslim world - as well as belligerent policies within the UK and Europe".

"Thirdly, the comments from MPs from various parties expose their cheap attempts to appear more muscular than each other on matters of security".

"If the reports are true, it would suggest that Cameron's government, much like its predecessors, is more interested in cynically exploiting issues like the Woolwich killing for furthering its hostile policies towards Muslims, as well as point-scoring politics in Westminster".

"Any actions such as those proposed would be nothing more than an admission of an inability to counter Hizb ut Tahrir's arguments. They would be an example of the state singling out the Muslim community to ‘shut-up' about foreign policy issues or face being criminalised".

"The issue of Hizb ut Tahrir is well-understood to have nothing to do with issues such as Woolwich. Even the so-called ‘conveyor belt' theory they cite as a rationale has been discredited. So, why raise it, unless there was a reason to cheaply exploit Woolwich for alternative ends".

"Read silencing Hizb ut Tahrir is the hallmark of an intellectually inept Government for an update on the current (and the previous) government's hypocrisy over this issue."

"Despite these reports and suggestions, Hizb ut Tahrir in the UK will continue to challenge malicious government policies on all manner of domestic and international issues relating to Muslims and engage with non-Muslims to present Islam as a comprehensive way of life. The Party presents Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims as a complete way of life - and will continue to encourage Muslims in the UK to do likewise, adhering to the Prophetic Shari'ah method in all its actions." [Ends] 

The Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Britain