Recently the media outlets in Kenya reported the arresting, imprisoning and prosecuting of Political Islamic Activist of Hizb ut Tahrir, Br. Arkanudin Yassin, who lives in Nairobi city, Kenya. He was arraigned in court on charges of promoting the idea for the re-establishment of a Caliphate in Kenya. The case will be heard on 5^th May, 2016.

Comment:

The arresting and prosecuting of the political Islamic activist who se platform was outside Masjid Jamia Mosque in Nairobi city; has confirmed once again that indeed the Kenyan government is suspicious on its relationship especially with the Muslims and its citizens in general.

The activist Br. Arkanudin Yassin is a computer expert and is amongst vast numbers of activists of Hizb ut Tahrir who are spread all over the world and including East Africa. In his propagation activities, he is ever steadfast to the thoughts and method of anchoring Ideological change as envisioned by Hizb ut Tahrir who is known globally. In its methodology, it does not include violence or war in its work to Re-Establishing the Khilafah; but instead it uses intellectual and political struggle in specific areas in the heart of Muslim lands. That is the policy of Hizb ut Tahrir and it is unexpected for an activist to deviate on the same since the party has a procedure, an agenda and a specific method to achieve its objective. How come it is mentioned in the media that Br. Arkanudin Yassin was intending to use violence against the Kenyan government.

It is surprising, laughable and shameful for Kenya to prosecute the activist of Hizb ut Tahrir on the grounds of promoting the Caliphate’s re-establishment in Kenya. Due to the fact that Hizb ut Tahrir has been in existence in East Africa for over 20 years working openly on different activities including conferences, press releases, radio talk shows, authoring newspaper articles, posting in social media, distributing of its books etc. In all the strategies Hizb ut Tahrir lay bare its thoughts, views and method for revival and its objective in East Africa including Kenya. It is very clear there is adequate information in the security apparatus of these countries on the activities of the party of Hizb ut Tahrir and its method of revival. Since it spread into our countries there has never been a time that Hizb ut Tahrir was officially mentioned or linked as a violent party or has intentions of re-establishing a Caliphate in these regions.

On the other hand, such charges are a disgrace to Kenya, considering that Hizb ut Tahrir East Africa despite conducting different activities as mentioned on the levels of villages, towns/cities and nationwide. Also Hizb ut Tahrir East Africa has even held huge conferences in Kenya (2008) and another conference in Tanzania (2004). In those conferences, invitations were issued to people of all walks of life including thinkers/scholars and Hizb ut Tahrir depicted its method of revival, agenda and objective in small countries like those in East Africa including Kenya. Main objectives for Hizb ut Tahrir in East Africa is to conceptualize the Islamic thought in Muslims and for them to adhere to it fully and realize they are part of the Muslim Society (Ummah) across the world. Also Hizb ut Tahrir adheres to promoting good and forbidding bad. And not even once has Hizb ut Tahrir ever believed or declared even by mistake that it has an aim of Re-Establishing a Caliphate either in Kenya or anywhere else in East Africa. Hizb ut Tahrir and its activists adhere to that position due their Islamic concepts that our small countries lack the criteria/factors according to the Islamic Jurisprudence of Establishing a Caliphate. Furthermore, the factors dictate that the country should have Muslims majority, militarily capability and its residents should have an Islamic public opinion.

As for the allegations that activists of Hizb ut Tahrir are engaged in violent activities; it is not true. Since it contradicts the propagation by Hizb ut Tahrir and its publications. It is widely known even by those countries that bribe Kenya to venture in wars that do not concern them from the war on terrorism/Islam on behalf of America and Britain. Their governments have not claimed the same against Hizb ut Tahrir despite their clamor for the same and their hatred towards Islam and Muslims. While should the same be alleged by Kenya?

The truth before us is that Kenya does not want to be castigated due to it being surrounded by shame and guilt in every corner. Its rulers consider themselves as if owners of the said country. And that is the major reason of arresting and prosecuting of Br. Arkanudin Yassin. He has been on the forefront in criticizing and accounting the Kenya government on matters of corruption, bribery, abuse of rights especially Muslims, open discrimination against them, continuous arrests on flimsy grounds which go hand in hand with torture and extra-judicial killings aimed at silencing them.

Kenya is following the footsteps of hypocritical democracy. It alleges the anchoring of ‘Freedom of Expression and Opinion’ while it arrests those that criticize them in order to expose its rot and shame; but, instead they silence them especially the Muslims of whom are the majority victims.

It is now time for Kenya to realize that what the activists of Hizb ut Tahrir warned about its pain which was felt commencing with its tribal politics and launching itself in Somalia etc.

Kenya should take this opportunity to release free activist Br. Arkanudin Yassin and other Muslims arrested without any charges. By that act, it will reduce the anger and pain felt by Muslims in their chests by most of unimaginable acts that are committed to them. Kenya should remember that an honest person learns from even her enemy.

Masoud Msellem

Deputy Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in East Africa