Press Release
We Condemn Torture of Hizb ut Tahrir Youths in Zanzibar

Hizb ut Tahrir Tanzania condemns vigorously an act of barbarity, brutality and atrocity perpetrated by an unknown group of people with firearms snatching and torturing three Shabs of Hizb ut Tahrir on 1st March at Kiboje area, South Region of Zanzibar.

The armed militias (without uniform) without exposing their identifications forcefully entered the village about 2:00 pm, some of them surrounded the house (in which youths were inside) with weapons as if they were an army of enemies, then apprehended Juma Muarab, Ibrahim Silima and Said Mohammed, handcuffed them, covered their faces, forced them into a car to an unknown location where they subjected them to brutal, offensive and unexplained tortures. At the end released them the same day at approximately 10:00 pm. warned them not to engage and associate themselves with Hizb ut Tahrir.

This act is barbarous, shameful and cowardly since the militias committed their evils while covering the faces of the victims lacking even the courage to make open their identities.  Furthermore, it is a vivid manifestation of severe hostility against Islam and Muslims in spite the fact that they are a majority among inhabitants in the Isles of Zanzibar.

In addition, the presence of such militias for a long time in Zanzibar and their acts of brutal and illegal activities in broad daylight without being rebuked or accounted by concrete steps by the state cast doubt that in their operations obtain full blessing from Police Force and not to mention being used by politicians.

We appeal to all with an ounce of humanity and sense of justice to condemn harshly and denounce this militia’s act of animosity that further destabilize social cohesion.

We remind militias, their helpers and supporters that this evil will neither be forgiven nor forgotten.

[وَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ غَافِلاً عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ الظَّالِمُونَ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ الأَبْصَارُ * مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِي رُءُوسِهِمْ لاَ يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ وَأَفْئِدَتُهُمْ هَوَاءٌ]

“And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror]. Racing ahead, their heads raised up, their glance does not come back to them, and their hearts are void.” [Ibrahim: 42-43]

Masoud Msellem
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Tanzania