Press Statement
Hizb ut-Tahrir's Media Office in North Africa:
Regarding Detention of Shabab charged with links to Hizb ut-Tahrir in Tunisia

[إن الذين يحادون الله ورسوله أولئك في الأذلين كتب الله لأغلبن أنا ورسلي إن الله قوي عزيز]

"Allâh has decreed: "Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious." Verily, Allâh is All-Powerful, All-Mighty."  [TMQ 58: 21]

Tunisia, the land of such a city as Kairouan, which was founded by ‘Aqabah ibn Nafa' as the city of lights and goodness, is a country that either understands the dynamics of history nor comprehends world events; and is oblivious of the ways Allâh (swt) dealt with those before. It challenges Allâh (swt) Himself and His Prophet (saw). It prohibits the slogans of Allâh, is faithful to the nations of kufr and rejects His commands. Tunisia prevents women from adorning the hijab in government establishments which it regards as sectarian attire alien to it. The predominantly Muslim country prosecutes people; for being faithful to Allâh (swt), ‘accuses' them of calling people to establish the deen of Allâh on Allâh's own earth. These are ‘crimes' in Tunisia on par with felony!! To be seen as a good citizen, one must not only confirm to the kufr rules, he must respect and defend them too, even if it is at the cost of flouting his Islamic identity. A law-abiding citizen is expected not to strive for establishing Allâh's deen on earth i.e. the Khilafah "Caliphate", which is mandatory for a Muslim just because Bush, Brown and Sarkozy do not approve of it. To work of reestablishing the deen is therefore prohibited and the only place for those who ‘indulge' in it are the prison cells where he is tortured and humiliated by officials on whom as Muslims, it is mandatory to raise the banner of Islam and not fight Islam and Muslims.

The correctional eighth Court of First Instance in Tunis under the chairmanship of Justice Mohamed Ali Ben Shuwaikha on Wednesday 7 / 5 / 2008 took up case number 10890, concerning: Mohammed al Samaawi, Mabrouk Boudhafri, Muhammad Ali Albiskri, Ali Al-Hajjaji, Momammed Abbas, Fawzi Shehi, Fathi al Azizi, Mohammed bin Khumailah, Reza Thabit, Rauf al-Amri, Bashir al-Zaitouni, Mehrez al-Saidi, Anis Al-Hajjaji, Mohammed Ben Youssef, Mohammed al-Muhmadi, Mahdi ben Mehrez, Faisal Sasi, Youssef al- Taroudi and Mohammed al-Razeqi. Another case number 4148 concerning each of: Congratulations, and Mehrez Rajab Boudhafri and Bashir al-Zaitouni on charges of reestablishing an unrecognised organisation, and holding unauthorised meetings and preparing the place for holding of unauthorised meetings and of being in possession of leaflets that disturb public order. The ‘accused' were defended by a team of lawyers comprising; Ahmed al-Siddiq, Samir Ben Omar, Kulthoum al-Zaowi, Abdel-Fattah Moro, Najib bin Youssef, Sa'eedah al-‘akrami and Radhiah al-Dureidi. The judge decided that the two cases will be taken up for hearing, arguments and ruling on Saturday 10th May, 2008.

Saturday, the 10th of May, 2008:

The correctional eighth Court of First Instance in Tunis under the chairmanship of Justice Mohamed Ali Ben Shuwaikha issued the following ruling:

Case number 10890: Sentenced imprisonment for Faisal Sasi for a period of one year and two months; Mohammed al Samaawi, Muhammad Ali Albiskri, Ali Al-Hajjaji, Momammed Abbas, Fawzi Shehi, Fathi al Azizi, Mohammed bin Khumailah, Reza Thabit, Rauf al-Amri, Mehrez al-Saidi, Anis Al-Hajjaji, Mohammed Ben Youssef, Mohammed al-Muhmadi, Mahdi ben Mehrez, Youssef al- Taroudi and Mohammed al-Razeqi for a period of eleven months, and sentenced Mabrouk Boudhafri and Bashir al-Zaitouni for a term of six months.

In the case number 4148, the same court sentenced: Mabrouk Boudhafri for a period of 2 years and 3 months while Mehrez Rajab Boudhafri and Bashir al-Zaitouni were ordered imprisonment for a term of 11 months each.

The ‘accused' were charged with ‘participating in reestablishing an ‘illegitimate' organisation (Hizb ut-Tahrir), holding un-authorised meetings, preparing a place for holding un-authorised meetings and in possession of leaflets deemed as disturbing public order'!

These are the ‘crimes' committed by the ‘accused' Shabab who are firm believers in their Master, Allâh (swt) and to whom they have been faithful. They call upon people to establish the righteous deen of Allâh (swt) on earth, they are neither hostile to any person nor do they indulge in any material and physical action aimed at the regime. They refrain from such violence not in fear of the brutal oppressors, but rather in emulation of the Messenger of Allâh (saw) who did not resort to material action as a means of establishing the Islamic State. The Shabab have neither spilled people's blood nor wrongfully pilfered their wealth and are complying with Allah's commands.

Should a person calling for establishing the deen of Allâh (swt) in a Muslim land be thus imprisoned?! Should he be subjected to torture and humiliation just for saying:

[يا قومنا أجيبوا داعي الله وآمنوا به يغفر لكم من ذنوبكم ويجركم من عذاب أليم]

"O ourpeople! Respond (with obedience) to Allâh's Caller (i.e. Allâh's Messenger Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]), and believe in him (i.e. believe in that which Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] has brought from Allâh and follow him). He (Allâh) will forgive you of your sins, and will save you from a painful torment (i.e. Hell-fire)." [TMQ 46; 31]

Should this be the treatment meted out to him while at the same time when flagrant violations of His commands, promiscuity, liquor, immodesty, usury and atheism are rampant, obedience to Allâh is suppressed, people are prevented from attending congregational prayers, vice is openly permitted and modesty is shunned and the country is ruled under a system of kufr. Indeed, this reminds us of the shameless & impudent ways of the people of Lot who ordered the righteous people to be driven out their village. Their story has been narrated by Allah (swt):

[أخرجوا آل لوط من قريتكم إنهم أناس يتطهرون]

"Drive them out of your town, these are indeed men who want to be pure (from sins)!" [TMQ 07: 82]

Here in this Muslim country, the people are persecuted for being chaste and are regarded is esteem for being immodest, mean, despicable and for being disobedient to Allah. The regime is not fearful of their actions because the Shaitân has enchanted them and glamorised their actions. Shaitân has beautified for them (their false hopes), and (Allâh) prolonged their term (age). Allâh says:

[أفأمنوا مكر الله فلا يأمن مكر الله إلا القوم الخاسرون]

"Did they then feel secure against the Plot of Allâh? None feels secure from the Plot of Allâh except the people who are the losers." [TMQ 07: 99]

Like their predecessors Abu Jahal, Abu Lahab, Ibn Mughairah and other Kufr leaders, this untenable and crumbling regime feigns that it can overwhelm Allâh (swt) Himself, suppress His lights and shout down His call. They may have their benefits in following the deviant ways of kufr, but let them not forget that whatever Allâh wishes will certainly dominate and whoever opposes that will meet a distressful end.

Let the leaders of this Tunisian regime and others who are bent upon exploiting the Muslim Ummah know that either of the two punishments awaits them: it is either the punishment at the hands of the Ummah whom they have wronged; or it is the punishment of Allâh (swt) Himself.

[قل هل تربصون بنا إلا إحدى الحسنيين ونحن نتربص بكم أن يصيبكم الله بعذاب من عنده أو بأيدينا فتربصوا إنا معكم متربصون

"Do you wait for us (anything) except one of the two best things (martyrdom or victory)? While we await for you either that Allâh will afflict you with a punishment from Himself or at our hands. So wait, we too are waiting with you." [TMQ 09: 52]

Let the leaders of this Tunisian regime know that the Khilafah "Caliphate" which the Muslims are being imprisoned for demanding and working to establish, Allâh (swt) willing, is set to take shape soon and will seal their fate and hold the treacherous Munafiqeen to account for their loyalty to the Kuffar and for fighting the Ummah. They must know that the khilafah will establish and implement the command of Allâh on the earth. We know that Shaitân has enchanted you with his charms and instilled in you that this khilafah is a mirage, but we have accepted the command of Allâh (swt) and firmly believe in His glad tidings:

[فاصبر إن وعد الله حق ولا يستخفنك الذين لا يوقنون]

"So be patient (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]). Verily, the Promise of Allâh is true; and let not those who have no certainty of Faith discourage you from conveying Allâh's Message (which you are obliged to convey)." [TMQ 30: 60]

We fully believe when He says:

[وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ]

"Allâh has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islâm). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh)." [TMQ 24: 55]

We also firmly believe when His Prophet (saw) said:

"تَكُونُ النُّبُوَّةُ فِيكُمْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ خِلَافَةٌ عَلَى مِنْهَاجِ النُّبُوَّةِ فَتَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ مُلْكًا عَاضًّا فَيَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ مُلْكًا جَبْرِيَّةً فَتَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ خِلَافَةً عَلَى مِنْهَاجِ النُّبُوَّةِ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ" [أخرجه الإمام أحمد]

"The Prophethood will last among you for as long as Allah wills, then Allah would take it away. Then it will be (followed by) a Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah (rightly guided) (ala minhaj an-Nabuwwa) on the way of the Prophethood. It will remain for as long as Allah wills, then Allah would take it away. Afterwards there will be a hereditary leadership, which will remain for as long as Allah wishes, then He will lift if He wishes. Then there will be a Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah (ala minhaj an-Nabuwwa) on the way of the Prophethood" then he kept silent." [Reported in Musnad Imam Ahmad].

Let the criminals do as they wish; indeed Allâh (swt) is not oblivious to their deeds. Their scheming ways will not deter the servants of Allâh (swt) from; calling for Khilafah "Caliphate" in Tunisia, carrying the banner of Islam high until the deen is established and the criminal & hypocrite enemy is humiliated.

[فلا تحسبن الله مخلف وعده رسله إن الله عزيز ذو انتقام]

"So think not that Allâh will fail to keep His Promise to His Messengers. Certainly, Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Able of Retribution." [TMQ 14:47]

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Tunisia