Press Release
Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain gathers community leaders in Walthamstow, London

Local members of the Islamic Political party Hizb-ut-Tahrir held a gathering for community leaders in Walthamstow on the 4th October 2009. The dinner was hosted by Hizb ut-Tahrir member Sami ur Rehman and was preceded by a series of short presentations. The guest speakers were Jamal Uddin, Senior Hizb ut-Tahrir member from Walthamstow, Mushtaq Raja, Community Leader in East London and Dr Abdul Wahid, Chairman of the Executive committee of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Britain.

Jamal Uddin gave an address in which he briefly outlined the history and background of Hizb ut-Tahrir - its founding origin in Jerusalem, its presence in over 40 Muslim countries (plus a few outside the Muslim world) and its political and intellectual methodology following the example of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Mr Mushtaq Raja then gave an address in Urdu explaining that, in his experience, Hizb ut-Tahrir was a dynamic party in which the youth are at the forefront of trying to bring positive change in the Muslim world. Mr Raja highlighted that during Israel's recent Gaza slaughter not one Muslim ruler acted to defend the poor and helpless Muslims of Gaza. Mr Raja called upon everyone to work with Hizb ut-Tahrir to change this situation by re-establishing the Khilafah "Caliphate". He said that like the propaganda since the early days of Islam, critics of Hizb ut-Tahrir seek to defend the terrible status quo in countries such as Pakistan and the rest of the Muslim world.

Dr Abdul Wahid gave the final address in which extolled the positive achievements of the Muslim community in the UK over the last 40 years. He paid rich tributes to the community for building many Masajids and in trying to ensure they live by Islam which can be seen in the fact that many Muslim women wear the Hijab and Jilbab today, amongst other things. However, Abdul  Dr Wahid warned that under the hostile environment facing Muslims today, where Islam was under almost daily attack, there were new challenges that needed to be met. He said the question today is not of having a foreign name or having brown skin; today for those who attack Islam in the West the issue is if one practices Islam and calls to account Western governments for their colonial wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the threats against Pakistan. This is why he said thugs from the English Defence League, were joining politicians and media in attacking Islam, trying to provoke young Muslims into violence in order to pressure Muslims into submission. He said that faced with this attack, Muslims here needed to secure their Islamic values and identity, and must not fall for the provocation and continue the support for the Khilafah "Caliphate" state in the Muslim world.

Also, seeing the numerous social problems in British society Muslims need to realise their responsibility to carry the Message of Islam to the wider non-Muslim community.

The gathering then engaged in a question and answer session with the panel in which members of the local community asked many questions. The gathering then ended with a dua and dinner.

Hizb ut Tahrir Britain