On Friday, 20th November 2015, a group of the Special Branch police task force from Bukit Aman police headquarters has arrested the Head of Media Office, who is also is spokesperson of Hizb ut Tahrir / Malaysia, Ustaz Abdul Hakim Othman at his home in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor. During the raid at about 6:30 am, the police also seized his mobile phone and laptop. At the same time, another member of Hizb ut Tahrir, Ustaz Umar Hussein was also arrested at his home in Batu Caves, Selangor and the police also seized his mobile phone. Both of them were arrested under Section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code. They were taken to the Dang Wangi police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for further investigation and detention. Both were questioned for about 10 hours and denied from Friday prayers that day.

In his statement, the Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa confirmed that both individuals were detained for further investigation following the demonstration protesting the presence of US President Barack Obama in Malaysia. Apart from investigating the demonstration against Obama’s visit as stated by the Kuala Lumpur Police Chief, the investigation was actually focused on the work of Hizb ut Tahrir in re-establishing the Khilafah and the involvement of the duo in Hizb ut Tahrir’s activities all the while. The police also warned that they will take action against the activities of Hizb ut Tahrir which violate the laws of Malaysia. During the interrogation, the police also tried to link Hizb ut Tahrir with the armed group of Islamic State (IS).

What is clear during the interrogation is that the government has been closely monitoring the activities of Hizb ut Tahrir in Malaysia for the past 10 years and has not been happy with the activities and Islamic thought carried by Hizb ut Tahrir.

We would like to assert that Hizb ut Tahrir is an international Islamic political party working to resume the Islamic way of life by re-establishing the Khilafah Rashidah upon the method of the Prophethood. Since 1953, Hizb ut Tahrir has been engaged in political and intellectual struggle by following the path of the Prophet (saw) and has never engaged in any violence in its effort to re-establish the Khilafah. This is a well-known fact across the globe. Hence, the attempt to link Hizb ut Tahrir with the armed group of IS is totally baseless. Hizb ut Tahrir does not recognize the Khilafah declared by the IS group and we have stated very clearly and unequivocally that the armed-struggle carried out by IS in their work to establish the Khilafah contradicts the divine rules and is therefore null and void. Furthermore, its methodology conveys a totally corrupt image of Islam and have brought a highly negative perception towards Islam and the true Khilafah.

We also want to stress that it is fardh (divine obligation) for the government to implement the Islamic law in its totality and on that basis, Hizb ut Tahrir has been accounting the government, since only the implementation of Allah’s law will prosperity, justice and mercy be realized amidst the people (Muslim or non-Muslim alike) and the country. Only by implementing the law of Allah alone, the grace of Allah will be disseminated throughout the universe and His Deen (Islam) will dominate over the others.

Finally, we would like to stress that neither the arrest of the members of Hizb ut Tahrir nor any other obstacles placed in the path of our da’wah, will stop us, not even slightly, from our work. They will instead strengthen and intensify our efforts until Allah (swt) grants His victory to His Deen.

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Malaysia

Thursday, 14th Safar 1437 AH

26/11/2015 CE

Ref: HTM/PR/006/15