Press Release
A Member of Hizb ut Tahrir Arrested by JAIS in the Sacred Month for Distributing Da’wah Leaflet!

A member of Hizb ut Tahrir / Malaysia (HTM), Azmi Rahman Bin Mat Zuini, 49, was arrested by four enforcement officers of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) while distributing Sautun Nahdhah, a weekly leaflet of HTM, today. Azmi was arrested at Masjid Nahdah al-Islam, Section 18, Shah Alam, Selangor under Section 12 (c) of the Shariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995 on the charge of insulting the Mufti’s order for acting contrary to a fatwa. The fatwa concerned is a fatwa against Hizb ut Tahrir, issued by the Selangor Fatwa Committee in September 2015, that is full of defamation, lies, distortions and confusion against Hizb ut Tahrir. Immediately after the arrest, Azmi was taken to the JAIS Headquarters in Shah Alam, where the investigation paper had been opened against him. He was later released on bail with one surety, and asked to come back for further examination on 17/04/2017. JAIS has also set 07/12/2017 for Azmi to be charged in court.

With this latest arrest, JAIS has apparently once again acted cruelly against Hizb ut Tahrir, disregarding the Hukm Shar’i (Islamic divine law) and disregarding the Judicial Review case filed by Hizb ut Tahrir, which is still in proceeding at the Shariah High Court, Shah Alam concerning the said fatwa. As a matter of fact, the Selangor religious authorities have until now failed to answer the Objections by Hizb ut Tahrir on its fatwa, instead, they keep using their power to suppress the members of Hizb ut Tahrir by such an arrest that clearly goes against Hukm Shar’i. After defaming Hizb ut Tahrir via the said fatwa, they have shown no fear nor shame, even slightly, to Allah (swt) in arresting a member of Hizb ut Tahrir who is at that time carrying out Da’wah in the cause of Allah (swt). At the very same time, leaflets related to usurious loans that are clearly Haram (forbidden) in Islam, are left unattended at mosques in Selangor. And at the very same time, how many idols, gambling centres, massage parlours, entertainment outlets, the largest alcohol factories and various other types of wrongfulness in Selangor are all ignored by the Selangor religious authorities.

O Selangor religious authorities! Do read our Sautun Nahdhah entitled “Technocrat Government: Alcoholic Perfume to Cover the Rottenness of Democracy" that you seized from our member and explain to us which part of its content contravenes Islam? If there is, please advise us and we shall Insha Allah rectify our mistakes. If there is none, then this means that you have done an evil act by arresting our member who is delivering the truth! Are you completely out of arguments so much so that a piece of paper containing the truth, distributed by our member, is "answered" by you with an arrest? If you do not have an argument before us, what would be your argument before Allah (swt) in the Hereafter?

O Selangor religious authorities! Do you realize that by arresting our member today, you have committed evil on a Friday, which is the principal of all days? Worse, you have actually committed evil in the month of Rajab, which is one of the sacred months to Allah (swt), in which the reward and sin committed in this month is multiplied by Allah (swt). We would hereby like to advise you, enough is enough with all the cruelties that you have inflicted upon Hizb ut Tahrir for if you do not stop it, you will only invite the wrath of Allah (swt) upon you! From the devious fatwa, harassment of our activities, the closure of our websites, up to the arresting and charging of our members in court, all these will never bring any goodness to you, but sins. May Allah (swt) have mercy upon you and forgive you.

Indeed, Hizb ut Tahrir has sworn to Allah (swt) that it shall relentlessly work intellectually and politically, until the entire law of Allah (swt) is established on this earth. Hizb ut Tahrir has sworn to Allah (swt) that it will re-establish the Righteous Khilafah "Caliphate" (Caliphate) upon the method of the Prophethood where all Muslims will unite under it, and will unite under the shield of Al-Liwa' and Ar-Rayah (the flag) of the Prophet (saw). Indeed, what Hizb ut Tahrir is doing is for your goodness and for the goodness of this Ummah and we expect nothing from this work except the pleasure of Allah (swt) and His paradise. As such, give your hands to Hizb ut Tahrir in this noble work and do not become barriers to Da’wah, which shall only result in you losing in this world and in the Hereafter.

Abdul Hakim Othman
Spokesperson of Hizb ut Tahrir in Malaysia