The Jakarta Post, a magazine published in the English language, has published in its edition dated 3/7/2014 CE, last week, in the Views section, a cartoon picture insulting to Muslims. The picture showed a banner with the shihada written on it, flapping high, with a picture of a skull, the symbol of pirates under the flag of (la ilaha il Allah); under it men of Arab features were drawn, some were on vehicles with heavy artilleries and others were carrying out executions on people using bullets. The picture depicts Islam as a barbaric religion that spills blood. The picture was more offensive when the words (Allah, the Messenger, and Muhammad) were written on the skull.

By publishing this cartoon on its views section, is similar to a report or the front page, it expresses its official views, and it is a clear indication that it is has insulted Islam, by tarnishing, and attacking it.

This is not the first time that the Jakarta Post Magazine insults Islam, it published in its previous articles and news; there were many repeated insults on Islam. Therefore the publication of the cartoon is deliberate and it exposes the editorial plan of the Magazine in its animosity towards Islam, which is unique to the secular Media outlets.

Based on this, Hizb ut Tahrir Indonesia wants to explain the following:

1- The Magazine was offensive to Muslims, especially after the publication of the cartoon picture. It is unacceptable to associate the word of Tawheed with a picture of a skull, especially since it had the words (Allah, the Messenger, and Muhammad) written on it.

2- Apologizing to the Muslims and retracting the picture by the editors are not enough, and so the cartoonist who drew the picture must be severely punished. If the insult to the Prophet (saw) was confirmed, he must be executed. The excuse that it wasn’t intentional, or that there was negligence, is unacceptable, especially that it deals with clear and fatal offense. Jakarta Post must stop its campaign of insulting Islam.

3- We call on the Muslims to work seriously to the glory, to the establishment of the Shariah and establishment of the Khilafah. The protection of the Islamic sanctities, dignity, holy places, security, safety, and justice, cannot be achieved except by the Khilafah state.

Mohammed Ismail Yusanto

Official Spokesman of Hizb ut Tahrir in Indonesia

Hp: 0811119796 Email: [email protected]

Wednesday, 11th Ramadan 1435 AH

09/07/2014 CE

Issue No: 265