News

On 3 January, Interfax-Russia Agency reported that the President of Russia together with the Prime Minister inspected the readiness of the Olympic facilities and infrastructure for the Games in Sochi. Putin and Medvedev also found time to ski and talk over a glass of mulled wine.

Comment

The trip of Putin and Medvedev in Sochi was held after the resonance explosions in Volgograd, where tens of people died and more than fifty wounded were in hospitals. On 29 December, there was an explosion of the entrance to the rail way station in Volgograd and the next day the going-along-the route trolleybus was bombed. Both of these explosions are connected with the coming Olympiad in Sochi. Investigation states that in both cases there were cases of self-explosion of gunmen from North Caucuses who were intending thereby to disrupt the Games in Sochi.

Such statements were after the previous explosion in Volgograd less than two months ago, where also some people died. Then it was officially announced that a Muslim woman made that self-explosion on the instructions of North Caucuses gunmen. But special services' statements, also videos and pictures from the place of explosion caused a lot of issues and put in doubt the official version. Then in a short time the case was closed after the no less mysterious murder of the alleged customer of that explosion, which led to more questions.

For this reason after the recent explosions there appear some doubts as to the statements of the investigation, although it is possible that the explosions were committed by North Caucuses gunmen, as they really announced their intention to disrupt the Games in Sochi. So it is not excluded that the explosions were committed by the U.S. intelligence services since they are interested in destabilizing the situation in Russia and are not less cynical of their Russian colleagues.
Thus the price for Olympiad in Sochi is not billions of dollars but people's lives.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Suleyman Ibragimov

Once a brother from our region asked one of the brothers on the "electric racquet", whether it may be used to kill insects. My Mushrif asked me to do research on this issue to apply what I have learned. He also sent the matter to the Hizb, as well as the details of my research and its result, as in the file attached to this message.

Sheikh Abu Talha expounds on the meanings of Surah Al Sharh. This is the next surah revealed after Surah ad-Dhuha by Allah (swt) to his Prophet (saw). In his unique style and presentation he links the message of the Quran into our current scenario and the oppression and obstacles faced by the Islamic dawah carriers which are similar to those faced by the Prophet Mohammed (saw) and the Sahaba (ra). He also extracts the method to carry the dawah from the way of the Prophet Mohammed (saw) and his Companions' actions in Makkah.

News:

The Star Newspaper on 1^st January 2014 reported that high cost of living, insecurity and an increasingly bad political situation has made majority of Kenyans less optimistic as they prepare to welcome in the new year. According to a Synovate poll released on 31^st December 2013, 70% of Kenyans are worried about the cost of living as being one of their greatest concerns. Another 49% cite insecurity as their major worries for 2014. But the levels of optimism have slumped compared to 2012 when Synovate conducted other similar poll just months before the general elections. During that survey, more than half - 54% - of the people interviewed were full of optimism that 2013 would be a better year than 2012. They were convinced that the political climate - despite it being quite turbulent due to the then election campaigns - was going to be better. Only 17% said the situation would not change while 16% were pessimistic that things would get worse. The number of those pessimistic about the country's political future is double that indicated in the 2012 poll. This is despite the peaceful elections held in March this year and smooth transfer of power from Mwai Kibaki to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Comment:

Kenyans were in 2002 regarded as the most optimistic people in the world after removing the dictatorship of Moi and banking their high hopes on Mwai Kibaki to deliver them from the misery the Moi regime had visited upon them. No sooner had the dust settled than it dawned on Kenyans of the stack reality of democratic politics as squabbles engulfed the new government and mega scandals surfaced. All their hopes were dashed but they were to be re-awakened in the subsequent election of 2007 which resulted in violence never witnessed in Kenya before.

The poll report stated that "With all the presidential aspirants promising to reduce unemployment if elected, it is not surprising that many Kenyans had high expectations for 2013. With the election behind us, Kenyans looking out for visible signs of employment opportunities in line with the ‘KusemanaKutenda' (Talk and Action) - a Jubilee Alliance slogan - pledge and evidence of these are yet to be seen," explained Margret Ireri, the CEO of Ipsos Synovate. It is quite clear the presidency of Uhuru Kenyatta has since the election been jumping from one crisis to another. Currently, the government is battling rebellion in its ranks following the recent appointments of parastatal chiefs. Kenyans had been promised during the campaigns that the Jubilee government will comprise the youth as they were repeatedly told to vote out the old guard. It is a surprise to many Kenyans that the old guard that was anathema during the campaigns is now being rewarded with plum jobs! There have also been claims of unfair distribution of government jobs and corrupt deals in the award of tenders for multi-billion projects in the government. While Kenyans expected politicking to end after the March elections and the country would focus on development agenda, this has not been the case. In fact, the high cost of living has made the number of those intending to invest drop to zero!

The art of giving people false hope is characteristic of all systems that adhere to the Capitalistic ideology. The industrial revolution gave the poor hope for a brighter future which was nipped in the bud by the greedy rich who used them to further their objectives. This has been the case in Kenya since ‘independence' in 1963 where promises to fight poverty, illiteracy and diseases were given. The country recently spent millions to celebrate 50 years of independence yet poverty ravages half the population, illiteracy levels are still high and the healthcare system is in a mess as we are just smarting from a doctor's strike. To be diplomatic, it is actually a crime to be sick in Kenya as in many cases, it is a death sentence! Kenyans will continue to have endless hopes as long as Capitalism continues to promise economic development and democracy promises change of leadership. Islam actually exhorts us to be hopeful and not despair with the mercies of Allah. However, we are not allowed to have endless hopes based on promises made by people who thrive on a system whose objective is to serve the elite. Islam puts a system of checks and balances to account those in authority for each and every promise made to the public and guides the public on what to bank their hopes on. Those in authority are also keenly aware that it is not only the accounting by the public that they face but also by the Creator which makes them more accountable. That system, which is the Khilafah "Caliphate" state, was in place and delivered for over 1,400 years! Its return will be the only savior for Kenya and the whole world leading to realistic hopes which can be fulfilled.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Kasim Agesa

Member of the Media Office of the Hizb ut Tahrir in East Africa.