Press Release
“And Fear the Fitnah that Does Not Afflict Those Who Have Wronged Amongst You Exclusively and Know That Allah is Severe in Punishment” [Al-Anfal: 25]
(Translated)

On 19/05/2016, the forces of the tyrant of Shaam alongside the militias of the Lebanese party of Iran gained control over the strategic town of Deir Al-Asafir in addition to nine villages in its surroundings located in the south of Eastern Ghouta, near the capita1~al Damascus, taking advantage of the armed groups’ in- fighting... This fighting between the armed groups is what we have continued to warn about in addition to its disastrous effects upon the revolution in Sham and its people. In addition to the blood spill of Muslims and weakening the groups, it has provided the criminal regime with a golden opportunity to pounce upon the besieged areas and gain control over them which has led to the evacuation of hundreds of families thus increasing their suffering atop the suffering of the siege and starvation.

Even though the area is included in the agreement of the cessation of acts of fighting which had begun to be applied in a number of areas, the tyrannical regime of ash-Shaam nevertheless, as is usual with its treachery and betrayal, breached the agreement. And this is not the first time that the criminal regime has breached the ominous truce. Rather on every occasion, it takes advantage of this situation to gain control over the areas outside of its control and that is whilst the (opposition) armed groups stand watching the regime’s advance, still and not mobilising. Even worse they fight amongst themselves paying no regard to the destiny of their revolution and its people!!

O Muslims in the land of ash-Shaam, the abode of Islam (‘Uqr Dar ul-Islam):

The violations of the leaders of the armed groups and the connection of some of them with the agent-states of the West, using the argument of receiving support and assistance, has not brought to us anything other than misfortunes and destruction. It has brought us nothing except failure and fighting between ourselves. It was necessary to have put an end to these violations and to the connection of the leaders of the groups with the agent states. The states which are claiming to be on the side of the people of Shaam whilst at the same time proceeding in accordance to the American plans to contain the revolution of Shaam and then to bring its failure. Just as it is necessary to put a stop to anyone who spills the blood of Muslims easily and excessively in fighting amongst each other, which has no worth or relevance to us (and our cause), and to hold them to account. Allah Ta’Aalaa said:

(وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لَا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ)

“And Fear the Fitnah that Does Not Afflict Those Who Have Wronged Amongst You Exclusively and Know That Allah is Severe in Punishment” [Al-Anfaal: 25].

It is also essential, after the cutting of ties between leaders of the armed groups and the assisting states, to adopt a political objective and project that emanates from the Aqeedah of the Muslims, upon which the groups will unify behind a political leadership that is sincere to Allah alone. It will place its focus firmly upon striking the regime in its centre motherland to bring it down and to establish the rule of Allah upon its ruins, in the form of the rightly guided Khilafah "Caliphate" (Caliphate) upon the methodology of the Prophethood. This represents the only path for salvation and this represents the only path for the revolution of Shaam to reach safe ground. Allah (swt) says:

(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ)

“O You who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when they call you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered.” [Al-Anfaal: 24].

Ahmed Abdul Wahab
Head of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Syria