Analysis, Europe, Side Feature

Moscow Wages Anti-Islam Campaign on the eve of 9th May

On Wednesday the 4th of May, the Russian media outlets mentioned based on information from the Russian federal security apparatus that “A group of citizens from Central Asian states were arrested in the city of Moscow who had been planning to undertake a series of terrorist acts in the Moscow region, during the days of the celebrations, under the commands of the leaders of terrorist organisations operating within Turkey and Syria”. According to the Russian federal security apparatus a “Large quantity of weapons, explosive materials and other terrorist tools were seized”. The Russian security apparatus described their communications across social media platforms on the internet with their relatives in Syria and Turkey as being “Communications with international terrorist organisations”.

On the 5th of May, the Mishansk court in Moscow sentenced four of the 12 who had been detained in the case where three of them were charged in accordance to article 222 of the Russian federal criminal law “Illegal trading of weapons and ammunition” whilst the other was charged under article 317 of the Russian federal criminal law “Assault against the life of a law man” because he resisted arrest. Despite that, the media outlets were not concerned about the fact that the court did not direct charges of terrorism against them but rather continued to incite animosity towards immigrants and against Islam. That is in addition to wild and random accusations of terrorism in the electronic news media outlets and intensive propagation about the plans of those detained to open fire upon pedestrians in the public places of festivities. Then following that they were accused of being complicit in terrorist acts during the campaign (The immortal regiment) in the Red Square on the 9th of May. In other words, the media outlets are assisting the security departments as much as they possibly can to demonise the detained Muslims and to show that they present a threat to the society.

That which also brings disapproval is the statement issued by the news agency (Komersant) which said that the arrested are thought to be members of Hizb ut Tahrir. So in turn, we say that this represents and insolent and shameful lie, and that this isn’t the first time that this newspaper has come out on the side of the security agencies which display their unjustifiable hostility against the members of the Islamic political party Hizb ut Tahrir. And we reaffirm and reiterate that terrorism does not conform with our party or with Islam, which is the basis upon which we undertake our activities.

After this despicable and lowly media campaign, the police stated that apart from the four who had been charged in the Mishansk court, the rest of the detainees had been released and that there are no grounds to put them on trial.

Consequently, the media support for the recent arrests is only representative of the traditional campaign against Islam and immigrants which is designed to build fear amongst the people and to divert their attentions away from the economic collapse which is accumulating in the country. In addition, it reflects another attempt to bring justification for the Russian military criminal campaign in Syria, the victims of which are also Muslims.

Allah Ta’Aalaa said:

لاَ يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالاً وَدُّواْ مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَاء مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الآيَاتِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

“They will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason”

(Aali ‘Imraan: 118)

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Russia

Thursday, 29th Rajab 1437 AH

06/05/2016 CE

REF: 1437 AH/09