Published by Women News Agency on 26/01/2015 CE

We hope that the Women News Agency which is concerned with women’s affairs and sufferings to publish our response to the reader so that it becomes clear who truly yearns for the elimination of violence against women and holds a viable project and who wants to market women’s issues!

The article’s title “Hizb ut Tahrir and the sanctity of violence against women”, came in response to the statement of the women’s section in the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir, which was titled: “Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls Bill in Tunisia; Seemingly Compassionate on the Surface But Oppressive in Reality”.

This made us question: Did the writer really read the statement in full or did he briefly read parts that suited him and built his article upon it! Since if he fully read it, he would have realized that Hizb ut Tahrir denounces violence against women. Indeed, we in the Women’s Section of Hizb ut Tahrir have expressed in the same statement the seriousness of the matter and that the rate of violence in Tunisia amounts to the shocking rate of 47.6 percent, so we said, and I quote, “The issue can no longer afford to be traded with, but we must strive to stand to find the real cause of the disease and eradicate it. However unfortunately there are official bodies and associations that claim that they are concerned with women’s burdens and their defense, but they have been exposed and have revealed their falsehood and that they prey on women’s agonies and carry bright slogans used to implement malicious agendas with poison hidden within it.

Our objection to the project inspired by Western laws is supported by the accompanying failure in eliminating the problems that women face in the West, including violence. This a glimpse of the figures on violence against women in countries that claim to be the champions of equality and rights! The rate of violence against women in Denmark is 52 %, in Finland 47%, and in Sweden which ranked the first in the countries worldwide to achieve gender equality, the percentage of violence against women is 46%, while in Britain and France it is 44%, and these numbers are according to the EU report issued in 2014. Therefore, our rejection of the project should count for us not against us, as it is the first step in the fight against violence. It stands in the face of repeated unsuccessful solutions and rather calls for deep and informed discussion of the issue, with the presentation of effective solutions able to eradicate the cause of the disease… and then we offered an alternative derived from Islam, without elaborating the details,” and this is what the writer held against us! For this reason this needed to be addressed. It was supposed to be a press release that included an invitation for an event held by the Women’s Section in Tunisia and not grounds for explanations and details. And all those who attended the event and attend other scheduled events in the coming period cannot deny the existence of a detailed alternative in Islam, which presents the correct view of women and their effective role in society and how she is safeguarded graciously by the Ahkam (Laws) of her Lord, and how her rights are guaranteed for her in the Islamic state, and if the matter necessitates then the armies will be mobilized for her sake. Hizb ut Tahrir has clearly presented in its International Women’s conference, which was held in Tunisia in 2012 ”Khilafah: A Shining Model for Women’s Rights & Political Role” sufficient details that satisfies the seeker for the truth and facts and this is witnessed by the enemy before the friend. So it will not be sufficient to cover all the details in a statement or essay, for our Islam has laid the foundations and solution for every detail in our lives, and it gives us honest concepts about life to formulate the society to make it a distinctively sound and unique model.

The disease that led to the dire situation of women in Tunisia, rather in the entire world, lies in the misconceptions stemming from the western culture which made women live an imaginary war with men, running behind crumbs of rights that cannot be attained under secular capitalist regimes, which did not hesitate to exploit women – regimes that from time to time strengthen their legal arsenal which they claim will ensure women’s rights and gains. However, its deception is exposed by the reality. Women’s issues are increasing and compounded without a solution in sight.

The writer made strange remarks when he said, “the time has jumped with the status of women in Tunisia to be a full partner in the society dreaming of greater fairness and equality where everyone is equal, without distinction between a man and a woman.” It is as if he is describing a reality different to the reality in which we live in and experience! As if he is echoing the repeated discussion that we tired of hearing during the era of Ben Ali, which its deception and violation to the reality was exposed after the revolution! What leap is he talking about while the illiteracy rate among women in Tunisia today is 28.2%, and unemployment rate is 21.9%, and only 41.9% of them are graduates of higher degrees; and the poverty rate in Tunisia exceeded 24.5% and spinsterhood 62%, and the divorce rate is quite high and many other rates that if it indicates anything it is the failure of what they claim as gains of the “personal Status Code and what follows” in solving the problems of women. By Allah, in your claims, where does the suffering and agonies of the rural woman fit! Where are the working women who are rewarded with the cheapest wages for her efforts! And the women subjected to the worst kinds of state abuse and violence, and many others where do they fit in your false claims!

Those ranters of the alleged gains of Tunisian Women are drowning in delusion. And how will they have enlightened thought when their thought is captive in the dark shell of secularism and capitalism, and their solutions are just patchwork! Congratulations to you, Hizb ut Tahrir on your ideology that elevated you above the corrupt reality since you went against the tide and came with solutions that heal the breasts; solutions derived from the great Islam that Allah blessed us with and guided us to it, and I wish its people knew this so that they may learn about the good in it and implement it.

The Khilafah upon the method of Prophethood and with all pride is the only political alternative to the abhorrent secular system that impacted people with suffering, men and women. This is recognized by the West and its masters, while many Muslims, unfortunately, accept it for themselves to remain affiliated and subordinates. The image of the Khilafah State according to some gullible people is that of female servants and tents, and even caves in Afghanistan, but if they realized its reality, they will know that it is the only way to modernity and progress, and with it alone, we will return to being the number one state in the world, a leader in all fields. Who knows, we might even jump a few light years from our situation today.

Allah سبحانه وتعالى says:

ألَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

“Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.”

(Al-Hadeed: 16)

Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir Women’s Section

Friday, 10th Rabbi’ II 1436 AH

30/01/2015 CE

Issue No.: 1436 AH /15