News

On April 21st 2015 Eurasia.net reported in a story entitled "Georgia's Child Brides: Opting for Marriage over School" where Nikkah was blamed for allowing the rise in what is described as female children (under the age of 18) being forced into marriage under the guidance if religious men conducting Nikkah ceremonies that are not recognized by the State. A similar story was later published in by the same news source the next day titled "Kyrgyzstan Sees Rise in Child Brides", once again the reporting attacked Sharia Law and Nikkah as a social problem oppressing Muslim girls, placing them in violent abusive relationships and destroying their educational and vocational ambitions.

Comment

Both of these articles, as well as many others written in the past, represent a growing trend to isolate Islamic culture and Sharia Law as a brutal and cruel influence tormenting the lives of women who would otherwise have had happy and productive futures. The implication that Liberal Secular culture holds some salvation for women and girls and would secure their rights is a gross misrepresentation of the truth. Child abuse, trafficking in girls, female slavery and domestic violence are all increasing problems spiraling out of control in not only in Russia and the former Soviet States but the world over. Ironically the same news source only recently published a story entitled "'We Want a Voice': Women Fight for Their Rights in the Former USSR" on the 8th of March 2015, which exposed the great dissatisfaction that women of the region's most established democracy have with their political status. A quote from the article states; "...for the average Soviet woman (secular/democratic) emancipation meant a life of drudgery; bearing the "double burden" of home-making and child-rearing alongside work outside the home.......in a country beset by rampant shortages and widespread abuses.......

Today, almost 25 years after the fall of the USSR, many problems faced by women across the post-Soviet states have a familiar ring in the west." So it is clear that Sharia Law is by no means to blame for the origin of the misery and hardships faces by women in the Caucuses. The truth is that the problem of girls being forced in marriage has nothing to do with Sharia Law and more to do with economic injustices that create the needs of families to "sell" their daughter off into marriage before they are capable of carrying out the duties of being a wife.

The absence of a true Islamic political system that delivers the educational and social system is the real issue to be addressed. The Khilafah "Caliphate" of the past never had a problem of women being forced into marriage as there were real powers available to secure the laws of Allah (swt) and the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) that forbade such practices. The State promotion of the high moral values of women being an honour to be guarded and respected created male citizens that were mature in their understanding of what it means to be a man responsible for protecting the rights of the dependents in his charge in a loving and secure family unit. Islamic Sharia does not validate a nikkah where women do not have their consent so linking forced marriage to Islam is a gross fabrication of the reality. Sharia Law actually promotes the happiness of the man and women in marriage as is proven in the Ayat of Quran in Surah 30 verse 21;

((وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ))

"And of His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them; and He planted love and compassion between you. In this are signs for people who reflect."

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Imrana Mohammad
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir

On April 9, 2015 CE, the Khujand City Court in the Sughd region in the Republic of Tajikistan headed by Shokhrata Okhrorzuda ruled against 5 members of Hizb ut Tahrir, ages ranging from 35-42 years. The court convicted them of committing a crime according to Article 307 Item 3, Part 2 of the Criminal Code (the formation of an extremist organization, and participating in political party activities, public or religious or other organizations and associations...

Only the Khilafah "Caliphate" will Put India in its Place

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on 19 April 2015 resorted to unprovoked shelling on Pakistani border villages, damaging several houses. According to senior officials of the Chenab Rangers, the BSF started unprovoked heavy shelling on Abiyal Dogar, Thakerpurin and Chak Bheeka villages in Shakargarh sector along the Working Boundary. They said the BSF targeted the civilian population and fired several heavy mortar shells. The shelling started at 5pm and continued for hours, creating panic among villagers. It was the second incident of Indian shelling in the Shakargarh sector over the past four days.

Instead of initiating Jihad against India as a befitting response to its continuous hostility, the Raheel-Nawaz regime is busy implementing the ‘National Action Plan', which is in reality a US Action Plan to eliminate the Mujahideen fighting against US occupation in Afghanistan from the tribal regions and indeed the entire country. On the one hand, our jet fighters, tanks and artillery are fighting day and night in our own tribal territories, yet on the other hand not a single jet fighter, tank or artillery is available to avenge the attacks our soldiers and civilians and stop Indian aggression. As per the American plan, the Raheel-Nawaz regime is not responding Indian aggression in a befitting manner. America wants Pakistan to concede to the rise of India so India could be used to counter China in this region. And to prevent the armed forces resisting this rise, America has ensured that they are engaged in fighting their own brothers in the tribal region.

Only the Khilafah "Caliphate" will restore the rights of the Muslims before an ever-hostile India. The Khilafah "Caliphate" will naturally unify the Muslims of Central and South Asia as a single state, effectively countering Indian hostility, as well as that of Russia and China. It will be a powerful state with a vision to secure Islam's dominance within the region and the world.

Dependence on Foreign Technological Expertise and Finance is Another Begging Bowl that Needs Smashing

Pakistan and China signed on 20 April agreements worth $28 billion to immediately kick-start ‘early harvest' projects under the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (PCEC). A statement issued by the Planning Commission said that the remaining projects of $17bn would be carried out as soon as the required studies, processes and formalities were completed. The $28bn financing agreements will immediately come into the implementation phase because necessary processes have already been completed. These include: 1000MW solar power park in Punjab; 870MW Suki Kanari (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) hydropower project; 720MW Karot (AJK) hydropower project; three wind power projects at Thatta of United Energy Pakistan (100MW), Sachal (50MW) and Hydro-China (50MW); Chinese government's concessional loans for the second phase upgradation of Karakorum Highway (Havelian to Thakot); Karachi-Lahore Motorway (Multan to Sukkur), Gwadar Port east-bay expressway project and Gwadar International Airport; provision of material for tackling climate change; projects in the Gwadar Port region and establishment of China-Pakistan Joint Cotton Biotech Laboratory and China-Pakistan Joint Marine Research Centre. Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the PCEC would link Kashgar in western China with Gwadar Port through a mesh of communication networks comprising a world class seaport, commercial sea lines, an airport, highways, railways, fibre optic cables and oil and gas pipelines.

The Raheel-Nawaz regime has made great fanfare about the Chinese Presidential visit and economic agreements. It comes at a time of unprecedented anti-American feelings and is being presented as an attempt to escape subservience from America. However, these measures are only undertaken because America has permitted them, as is the case of all the major policies of the regime. Moreover, these measures deny Pakistan of its actual potential and increase its dependence on yet another foreign power.

The Khilafah "Caliphate" will ensure strong industrialization without the compromise of dependence on foreign powers. It will unleash immense wealth for such projects by applying the Islamic laws to public property, such as oil, gas and minerals which are currently privatized under the capitalist system. Such wealth will be invested in infrastructure projects, without the heavy cost incurred of depending on foreign powers, establishing dependency in critical areas of infrastructure. As part of the industrialization, the Khilafah "Caliphate" will ensure that the Muslims develop the technological know-how that is needed to become the world's leading state. It will thus undo the colonialist policy regarding the transfer of technology after the destruction of the Khilafah "Caliphate", which left the Muslim World as a rich source of raw materials and a large consumer market, but largely dependent on foreign goods.

Look to the Ummah for Strength, Rather than East or West

The army formally announced on 21 April 2015 the creation of a 10,000-man strong special force for protecting the development projects to be carried out under the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (PCEC) and the Chinese workers associated with them. "A special force is being raised for Pakistan-China economic projects," military spokesman Maj Gen Asim Bajwa said. The new force named ‘Special Security Division' would be of the size of a division consisting of nine army battalions and six wings of paramilitary forces - Rangers and Frontier Corps. A two-star general would head the special force. The announcement came as Chinese President Xi Jinping completed his two-day visit to Pakistan during which he performed the ground-breaking of a number of power generation projects, besides signing agreements on other ventures worth $28 billion under the economic corridor.

With continued hype over expanding relations with China, the regime is presenting the people with a deceptive choice, either Pakistan can be dependent on America or China. This is no choice at all because both represent political suicide for dependence on a foreign country will always prevent the emergence of a strong state. In the time of RasulAllah (saaw) and the Khulafah Rashideen, the Ummah never looked to the West, the Roman Empire, or to the East, the Persian Empire. This is because the vision of Islam is far greater than climbing on other people's shoulders to gain height, a perilous venture. The vision for the Ummah is to convey the message of Islam to all of humankind, which necessitates that the Khilafah "Caliphate" is the leading state in the world. So, the Muslims pursued a course of depending on their own resources to build a powerful state, that eventually overwhelmed the two empires that had previously dominated global affairs and led to the Khilafah "Caliphate" being the world's leading state for centuries.

Only the Khilafah "Caliphate" will bring back the noble vision of ensuring Islam's dominance. Rather than bowing to East or West, it will gather the immense resources of the Ummah. It will ensure that other powers will seek favourable terms before it. Energy starved China will be forced to think again about its brutal dealing of the Muslims of China, including East Turkestan, and will remember the times when it feared the arrival of the Khilafah "Caliphate"'s armies and paid Jizya to the Muslims.

Regime Assists US Plan for Yemen in Negotiations Phase

Saudi Arabia treated on 24 April a crucial visit by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif to Riyadh in a low-key manner. There was no substantive announcement from either side even after Prime Minister Sharif along with his delegation started the journey back home after completing a daylong trip. PM Sharif and his delegation opened the trip with a meeting with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz at Al-Ouja Palace and later met Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammad bin Naif, and Saudi Defence Minister Mohammad bin Salman. He also called on President Mansour Hadi, recognised by Pakistan as the legitimate ruler of Yemen.
Examination of the American interests in Yemen reveals that the trip is part of the US plan for negotiations with stakeholders to maintain American influence in Yemen. America has supported the Houthis through Iran with weapons so that they are able to dominate Yemen by force.

However, America realized that the Houthis found themselves in a shambles. They had extended themselves across Yemen, but were unable to either successfully dominate or to return to their stronghold in the north. It therefore decided to save them through limited military action, by which it seeks to hit two birds with one stone: to show them as victims, after the people had begun to see them as aggressors; and to create the atmosphere for emergency negotiations, to come thereby to a compromise solution. This is its well-trodden path, with respect to what it is unable to take for herself alone. She aims by pressing military action to open the door of negotiation.

In Islam, it is upon the sincere ruler to end the colonialist influence in Muslim Lands and work to unify the Muslim Lands as one state to stand against the enemies. However, the current rulers betray the Ummah to the colonialists, seeking Western dominance in war and peace. The tragedy of Yemen is yet another reminder of the urgent need for the Khilafah "Caliphate".

News

According to a news piece published by the Dhaka Tribune on 19th April, Ekattor TV Senior Journalist Farzana Rupa alleged that she received a death threat from a self-proclaimed Islamic militant, minutes after her report on the Pohela Boishakh assault on women was telecast on the private television channel. On 14th April amid the Bengali New Year Festival at least 20 women were sexually assaulted in a barbaric manner at Dhaka University campus. Police didn't come forward to rescue them though they were right beside the spot. Some of the perpetrators were caught red handed and handed over to police but the police released them immediately after knowing that they are activists of the student wing of ruling Awami League. Rupa, the special correspondent of the TV channel, told the Dhaka Tribune that a person identifying himself as the deputy chief of an Islamic militant group threatened to kill her and her family members if she doesn't give up her job. She said that she received the threat after the news on the potential suspects of the assault and sexual harassment of women at the Bengali New Year celebration at TSC in the Dhaka University area was aired at 7pm on Saturday.

http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2015/apr/19/rupa-receives-death-threat-report-sexual-harassment

http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2015/apr/20/religious-bigotry-results-boishakh-incidents

Comment

After the occurrence of any heinous crime in Bangladesh, to hide the true face of the perpetrators and to gain hidden political objectives, it has become a popular trend amongst secular media and politicians to lay the blame on Islam or ‘so-called' Islamists for these events. But, actually this is nothing but a nasty political game. When a group of women were sexually assaulted in an extremely shameful manner in the event of Bengali New Year Festival on 14th April, the true face of secular liberal democratic values and the ugly face of some vandals who are products of the corrupt secular ideology were clearly exposed to the people of Bangladesh. To save the backs of these despicable criminals the current secular regime of Bangladesh and anti-Islamic media are playing the same old game. After four days of this shameful incident without any evidence the current Law Minister claimed that it is an act of ‘Islamic' terrorists. And, the anti-Islamic secular media is misguiding the mass people through their objective oriented false propaganda in line with the ruling class.

In fact, sexual harassment in university campuses is a very common phenomenon in Bangladesh and years after years the political cadres of the ruling class have been doing this heinous crime right under the nose of the authority. Numerous complaints have been filed to the university authorities on behalf of the harassed women and a number of reports have been published in newspapers with detailed evidence. But, the ruling class, university authority and law enforcement agencies never took any kind of action against these culprits. Rather, to meet their selfish political gain, the secular ruling class gave these culprits political backup, and hence turned these campuses into safe havens for these criminals and rapists. Only two month ago, in Ekushay Book Fair, three women were sexually harassed at the same campus. From CCTV footage two perpetrators were identified as the activist of Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) - the student wing of the ruling Awami League. However, the university authority refused to take any action against them. This time again from CCTV footage some activists and general students of the University confirmed that some of the perpetrators are the cadre of BCL. But still the police are claiming that they couldn't identify anyone and the secular media and the ruling class are busy blaming Islamists while turning a blind eye to the facts. And, also the police are barred from disclosing the footage of CCTV-16, which is extremely important for the investigation.

In fact, this secular cult consisting of the secular ruling class, the anti-Islamic media and the current law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh is the vicious cycle which is the prime barrier to protecting women's dignity and honor. To get rid of this vicious cycle we have to throw this corrupt capitalist system which has given birth to this secular cult, into the dustbin of history. This is so that the people of this country not only get rid of sexual harassment of women but also get rid of the endless corruption, shameless nepotism and cronyism, power mongering destructive politics and above all get rid of the tyranny, oppression and treachery of this secular ruling class.

Under the Khilafah "Caliphate", for 1300 years women were treated as the honor and dignity of the state. There is not a single evidence of this kind of heinous crime against women in the history of the Khilafah "Caliphate". Unlike the secular corrupt ruler, the Khalifah used to be the shield of protecting women's dignity and honor. Unlike the corrupt man made legal system, Shariah law used to break the hand of the perpetrator by executing exemplary punishment. Not only that, Khalifahs used to send large envoys to protect the honor of a single woman. Khalifah Mu'tasim Billah had sent a huge army to protect the honor of a single Muslim woman captured by the Romans. Young Muslim General Muhammad bin Qasim rescued a group of Muslim women and children who were being held under the captivity of Hindu tyrant King Dahir Sing. Furthermore, unlike the secular system, women under the Khilafah "Caliphate" used to go to educational institutions without any fear of being harassed. This is because the Khilafah "Caliphate" created an environment where women were safe within each and every corner of society. So, the women of Bangladesh who took to the street to protest against this heinous crime, demanding from this corrupt secular leadership - which has never kept its promises - to enact exemplary punishment against the perpetrators of this should instead work for the Khilafah "Caliphate", which will bring back the woman to her original position and that is the position of honor given by our Lord (swt).

((أَفَحُكْمَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ))

"Do they, then, seek the judgment of the Time of Ignorance? Who could be better at giving judgment than Allah for people with certainty?" [Surah Al-Ma'ida: 50]

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Fehmida binte Wadud
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir