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Morsi shows his true colours after just 100 days

  • Published in Analysis
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Mohammed Morsi, President of Egypt, spent his 100th day as president of Egypt in the United States of America at the United Nations General Assembly. Mohammed Morsi was sworn in as president of Egypt on the Saturday 30th June 2012 with much pomp and fanfare.

His electoral victory was a unique moment in the recent history of Egypt. Mohammed Morsi was elected by the people, something none of his predecessors can claim. He is also the first civilian leader in the country's recent history. His party the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) has been working for change for over eight decades, Mohammed Morsi took the premier seat in arguably one of the most influential and powerful countries in the region if not the Muslim world.

Both Mohammed Morsi and the MB have now come face-to-face with the real-world challenges faced by any head of state. Many took to the streets to oust Mubarak, many also lost their lives in the process. After 100 days of ruling we are in a position to asses Morsi's rule and judge if the people's demands have been fulfilled.

Constitution

As Morsi and the MB took the reins of power the electoral victory in reality took place in an environment, where the powers of the president were not defined and the nation's constitution had also not been written. After 100 days in power much of the old system remains intact. Morsi and the MB have not presented any grand vision for the country. It has used slogans such as ‘Islam is the solution,' which it has now dropped, however what has been notably absent is where they plan to take the people and exactly how they plan to enrich the nation. All great powers and strong leaders historically had grand visions which they used to unify the people behind them and also got the nation to contribute towards their vision of the future.

Since the election victory the MB has gone to great lengths to demonstrate its moderation to the West. Indeed in it rush to placate so called international opinion, they abandoned all pretence to Islamic politics. In doing so, they think they are being pragmatic, smart and politically savvy. When it comes to applying Islamic politics they cite constitutional barriers and the need to keep minorities onside. When it comes to applying Islamic economics, they cite the need to avoid scaring international investors and tourists. When it comes to applying the Islamic foreign policy, they cite the need to show a moderate image and to appease the West.

Economy

The biggest challenge that Mosri faced was the economy. Today Egypt has an economy worth $168 billion, almost entirely driven by agriculture, media, petroleum exports and tourism. Its services industry constitutes 49% of the economy.

One of The problems with the Egyptian economy is the fact that an elite few control it. When elites control an economy, they use their power to create monopolies and block the entry of new people and firms. This is how Egypt worked for three decades under Hosni Mubarak. The government and military own vast swaths of the economy -- by some estimates, as much as 40%. Even when they did "liberalize," they privatized large parts of the economy right into the hands of Mubarak's friends and those of his son Gamal. Big businessmen close to the regime, such as Ahmed Ezz (iron and steel), the Sawiris family (multimedia, beverages, and telecommunications), and Mohamed Nosseir (beverages and telecommunications) received not only protection from the state but also government contracts and large bank loans. Together, these big businessmen their stranglehold on the economy created astronomical profits for regime insiders, but blocked opportunities for the vast mass of Egyptians to move out of poverty. Meanwhile, the Mubarak family accumulated a vast fortune estimated as high as $70 billion.

Morsi's strategy for solving this was to officially beg the IMF for a $4.9 billion loan. Egypt's Prime Minister, Hesham Qandil described the 5 year loan to be paid back with 1.1% rate as a good deal for the country.

The Prime Minister appeared live on Egypt's state television in a desperate bid to justify the loan by explaining its benefits to the people. However, he was unable to conceal the truth and in his subsequent statement, he contradicted himself and exposed one of IMF's stipulated conditions, which is to force Morsi's government to cut spending related to looking after the affairs of the Egyptian people. He said, "It is an Egyptian programme that will work on cutting and spending and adopting certain other measures."

Fearing backlash, Qandil intentionally chose not to elaborate on the other draconian measures. It is well known that such measures include: increase in taxes, price hikes on essential items, and further loans from other institutions. All of which will make the people suffer immensely and add to their misery. In fact the Financial Times confirmed these measures. On August 22 2012, the paper stated: "The IMF wants Egypt to outline plans to reduce its budget deficit by bolstering revenues and trimming the costly public sector, including fuel and food subsidies. Egypt must also secure financing from other lending institutions as part of the loan terms."

Zionist state "Israel"

Morsi made clear in his victory speech that he would honor all of Egypt's international treaties. No sooner had the dust settled on him assuming power it came to light Morsi had sent a communiqué confirming Egypt's commitment to peaceful ties with the Zionist state "Israel" . In the letter sent to Shimon Peres, President of the Zionist state "Israel", Morsi said: "I am looking forward to exerting our best efforts to get the Middle East Peace Process back to its right track in order to achieve security and stability for all peoples of the region, including that Israeli people." Despite vociferous denials by Morsi's representatives, the letter has turned out to be genuine. The UK's Guardian reported that Peres's office said the president's aides received the official communiqué on July 31st 2012 from the Egyptian ambassador to the Jewish state, both by registered mail and by fax from the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv. Furthermore, the paper stated that the fax number which appeared on the faxed letter was registered to the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv.

On the back of this in August 2012 the Morsi government decided to send the military to track and eliminate threats of militancy in Sinai. This was after accusing militants of killing 16 border patrol troops on a checkpoint in Sinai near the border with Israel. The killing of Egyptian troops was used as a basis to depose the head of intelligence, the head of military police and the governor of North Sinai. A few weeks later the heads of the SCAF, Tantawi and Sami Annan were also retired.

The removal of these senior generals was proven to not have been an independent affair when the US state department confirmed it knew about the changes within the military establishment before they happened as was reported by a US spokeswoman: "Hilary Clinton knew of ongoing discussions about a new defense team and was told during talks with President Morsi in Cairo last month that the change would be made 'at an appropriate moment." Commenting on the new appointed personnel for the defense ministry and army, the US administration said that, "Egypt's new top military officer is a known commodity in Washington."

The Morsi government's extremely heavy handed tactics raised a number of questions. The tactics and heavy weaponry was completely disproportionate to the incident. It was reported by the Associated Press that "Egyptian troops, light tanks, armored vehicles and attack helicopters are pouring into the Sinai desert." Based on the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Jewish entitysigned in 1979, Sinaiis a demilitarized zone and Egypt is not allowed to bring in military forces and heavy weaponry.

The complete silence by Jewish entityover this affair is very telling. Jewish entityhas always made a great fuss about any additions to any forces in Sinai. This is because General Lieutenant Ahmed Ali of the Egyptian forces confirmed in a briefing that "there is co-ordination over the presence of the armed forces in the Sinai territories," he continued: "I think that there is the understanding that the military operation in Sinai is in the interest of all." An Israeli government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity, said there are ongoing communications between the two sides.

Conclusions

Egypt in Morsi and the MB time is no different from Egypt in Mubarak's time, Morsi's ruling shows clearly that the slogan ‘Islam is the solution.' Was buried as soon as he became in power. Saad al-Husseini, a member of Egypt's Freedom and Justice Party executive bureau said in an interview, that tourism is very important for Egypt and stressed that drinking and selling alcohol are forbidden in Islam. However, he then added, "Yet Islamic laws also prohibit spying on private places and this applies to beaches as well...I wish 50 million tourists would travel to Egypt even if they come nude."

All pretence to Islam has been conveniently removed from the statements of MB and Morsi. On the economic front it is plainly clear both Morsi and MB have no programme. In the wider region Morsi has no plans to change the status quo, but maintain what his predecessors constructed. The current reality is that the Islamic groups that languished in the torture cells of the likes of Mubarak touting ‘Islam is the solution,' are now actually holding the Ummah back from Islamic rule.

Mohammad Morsi and the MB should remember when Mubarak protected Western interests rather than his peoples, the Ummah eventually rose up against him and when he didn't relinquish his position the Ummah came onto the streets and challenged him, eventually leading to his demise. If the MB fail to deliver a similar fate may await them.

 

 

Adnan Khan

 

 

 

 

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Muslims Should Not Protest Against Insults to the Prophet (saw), he said

  • Published in News & Comment
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Reaction to my BBC interview

As I stepped out of the BBC studio interview and checked my phone, I noticed that my twitter feed (@tajimustafa) had exploded with countless reactions to the interview I had just done covering Muslim reaction to the film insulting Prophet Muhammad (saw) and ‘free speech'. Listeners to the program were tweeting me their responses; some agreeing with points I made, some disagreeing, and some raising further questions. One of the categories of responses was that Muslim reaction is violent and disproportionate to the original provocation i.e. insults of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). For many Westerners who nowadays hold very little as sacred or worthy of respect, it is not surprising that they think that insulting a Prophet of Allah (swt) - a figure hugely loved and respected by over a billion of the world's population - is an overreaction.

Many also fail to appreciate the wider context; that Muslims see these latest attacks as the latest in a long line of attacks on Islam and Muslims be that occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, the Danish cartoons, desecration of Qur'an in Afghanistan e.t.c.

Dominant Western narrative - ‘Muslim rage'

Another reason for this misunderstanding is the narrative promoted by Western governments and media. When the Muslim world erupted as it did, there are a variety of issues to explain to a non-Muslim audience in order for them to appreciate why the reaction was such; how Muslims view the Prophet (saw), how Muslims feel under attack especially over the last ten years, the role of America in the Muslim world, the failure of Muslim rulers to react appropriately leaving people to feel that they have to stand up and demonstrate in defend of the honour of the Prophet (saw). Instead of tackling such complex questions, the issue is reduced to a simplistic explanation. In this case, the simplistic explanation (narrative) put out by many media outlets and Western governments was ‘Muslim rage'. Indeed, Newsweek, the once respected international news magazine, had this as its front cover headline - with a suitable picture to match! The narrative was basically that Muslims are over sensitive, that they do not understand free speech, and that they are prone to violent and irrational reactions. So, much of the subsequent reporting, discussion and debate - including my BBC interview - revolved around these themes. Largely forgotten was the original provocative insults, the US governments insistence that it could not ban it as that would be counter to its belief in ‘free speech', the fact that insults do sometimes provoke a reaction or that it is uncivilised behaviour to go round insulting people especially when you claim you want to live in peace with them.

The vast majority of protests in the Muslim world were peaceful and whilst we do not condone the violence that took place at some protests, one understands the deep sense of anger and hurt that Muslims feel at such gratuitous insults on our guide, mentor and Allah's Prophet (saw). It is important that Muslims in the West also voice their upset by raising their voices at peaceful protests that we take these opportunities to engage with non0Muslim neighbours and colleagues explaining the wider context and why we hold the Prophet (saw) in such high esteem. It is also an opportunity to challenge the dominant narrative and to get them to think about the non-existent of ‘free speech' in any absolute term and the uncivilised behaviour and problems that it has lead to even in Western societies where some now complain of a growing culture of rudeness, insults and anti-social behaviour.

Unfortunately, a few Muslims in the West have been so affected by the dominant narrative - that Muslim reaction is just irrational and violent rage - that some started to claim that the Prophet (saw) never reacted to insults so Muslims should remain silent about such insults, or that Muslims should not even demonstrate peacefully - something even non-Muslims do not say. Their selective reading of the seerah of the Prophet (saw) means that they ignore incidents in the seerah where the sahabah reacted to some of those who vilified the Prophet (saw), and where the Prophet (saw) consented to their response. Rather than examine and question the dominant narrative of western governments and some of the Western media, they have become apologetic. The irony is that some of these people would protest vehemently if members of their family were insulted, yet they expect Muslims not to protest when the best of Creation is insulted!

The Prophet (saw) said, ‘None can be a (complete) believer till I become dearer to him than his father, son and the entire mankind.' (Muslim)

 

 

Taji Mustafa

Media Representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Britain

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The ordeal in Syria intensifies. The rebels remain patient and steadfast and are determined to establish the rightly guided Khilafah State (Translated)

Although the regime of the coward Bashar has been badly burned and is waiting to be pronounced dead and buried, it still devastates besieged cities with its explosive fire. It commits all this criminality in full view of the world, because it knows the extent of enmity of the disbelieving West - led by America- towards this proud Muslim people.

Bashar want to take a comfortable retirement from his master in the White House, as a reward for destroying the country and trying to exhaust its rebelling people so that they accept any solution offered to them by America.

But it is out of the question that he, his master and all the Ummah's enemies get what they want from our faithful heroes, the blessed people of Al-Sham.

Whenever anguish and distress have befallen them due to the brutality of the regime and the conspiracies of the West, they took refuge in Allah.

They found that He (SWT) took care of their revolution and arranged for them both visible and invisible goodness beyond the expectation of any observer who pursued the revolution, from its start till today.

It is as if this revolution is the manifestation of Allah's (SWT) saying:

((وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ الْجِبَالُ * فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِ رُسُلَهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ))

(Indeed the unbelievers contrived their plots, but it is in Allah's power to nullify their plot, even though their plots were such that they would even move mountains. So do not think (O Prophet) that Allah would go back upon His promise to His Messengers. Surely Allah is Mighty, Lord of retribution.) [14: 46-47]

Yes, this revolution revived in the hearts of all Muslims, inside and outside Syria, the texts of the Holy Quran and the Noble Sunnah that talked about the permanent struggle between disbelief and Eeman: its nature, its direction, its intensity, its pains and its consequences; as well as the comfort and lessons.

So much so, that this struggle started with arrogance, rumours, killing, slaughter, torture and displacement of the Muslims by the disbelievers. But it will be concluded by victory, strengthening and establishment to them by Allah - as well as redress from their enemies.

Allah Ta'ala has told us of the conditions of the past clans such as people of Noah, ‘Ad and Thamud, or the people of Pharaoh and the people of the pit ... which is similar to what we see today in Syria. He says:

((قتل أصحاب الأخدود. النار ذات الوقود. إذ هم عليها قعود. وهم على ما يفعلون بالمؤمنين شهود. وما نقموا منهم إلا أن يؤمنوا بالله العزيز الحميد))

(The people of the ditch were killed; with Fire abounding in fuel; while them sat around them; and were witnessing what they did to the believers.

Against these they had no grudge except that they believed in Allah, the Most Mighty and Most Praiseworthy.) [85: 4-8]

And the Almighty said:

((ألم ترَ كيف فعل ربك بعاد. إرم ذات العماد. التي لم يخلق مثلها في البلاد. وثمود الذين جابوا الصخر بالواد. وفرعون ذي الأوتاد. الذين طغوا في البلاد. فأكثروا فيها الفساد. فصبَّ عليهم ربك سوط عذاب. إن ربك لبالمرصاد))

(Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with 'Ad; of Iram, known of their lofty columns; the like of whom no nation was ever created in the worlds. And how He dealt with Thamud who hewed out rocks in the valley? And with Pharaoh with pegs, who transgressed in the country; spreading in it much corruption? Then their Lord unloosed upon them the lash of torment. Truly your Lord is ever watchful.) [89:6-14]

And the Almighty said:

((فكلاً أخذنا بذنبه، فمنهم من أرسلنا عليهم حاصباً، ومنهم من أخذته الصيحة، ومنهم من خسفنا به الأرض، ومنهم من أغرقنا، وما كان الله ليظلمهم ولكن كانوا أنفسهم يظلمون))

(Each one of them We seized for his crime: We sent against some of them a violent tornado (with showers of stones); some were caught by a (mighty) Blast; some We caused the earth to swallow up; and some We drowned (in the waters): It was not Allah Who oppressed them. They rather wronged their own souls.) [29:40]

And the Almighty said:

((وكذلك نريد أن نمنَّ على الذين استضعفوا في الأرض ونجعلهم أئمة ونجعلهم الوارثين ونمكن لهم في الأرض ونري فرعون وهامان وجنودهما ما كانوا يحذرون))

(And We wished to be Gracious to those who were being depressed in the land, to make them leaders and make them heirs, to establish a firm place for them in the land, and to show Pharaoh, Haman, and their hosts, at their hands, the very things against which they were taking precautions.) [28: 5-6]

And this applies to Bashar, those with him and their like.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) told us also of the ahadeeth that reveal the nature of the conflict and the intensity of the confrontation and the good consequence. It is narrated from Khabab bin Aratt, may Allah be pleased with him, he said:

شكونا إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يومئذ متوسد بردة في ظل الكعبة، فقلنا: ألا تستنصر لنا؟ ألا تدعوَ لنا؟ فقال:« قد كان الرجل فيمن كان قبلكم يؤخذ فيحفر له في الأرض، فيجاء بالمنشار على رأسه فيجعل بنصفين فما يصده ذلك عن دينه، ويمشط بأمشاط الحديد ما دون عظمه من لحم وعصب فما يصده ذلك، والله ليتمنَّ الله عز وجل هذا الأمر حتى يسير الراكب من صنعاء إلى حضرموت لا يخاف إلا الله تعالى، والذئب على غنمه، ولكنكم تستعجلون.»

"We complained to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, while he was laying his head on a garment (Burdah) under the shadow of Ka'bah. We said: Don't you ask (Allah) for our assistance? Don't you pray for us? He (SAW) said: The person from peoples before you used to be taken and a pit is dug for him in the ground; a chain saw used to be put on his head making him two halves, but this would not make him abandon his deen; and whatever beyond his bones of flesh and nerves used to be combed with iron combs; yet this would not divert him (from his deen). By Allah, He The Almighty will complete this matter (Islam) till the passenger would travel from San'aa to Hadramout, fearing nobody except Allah Ta'ala and the wolf for his sheep; but you are impatient". [narrated by Ahmad]. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said to his companions:

«كونوا كحواريي عيسى بن مريم، رفعوا على الخشب وسمروا بالمسامير وطبخوا في القدور، وقطعت أيديهم وأرجلهم وسُمِّرت أعينهم، فكان ذلك البلاء والقتل في طاعة الله أحب إليهم من الحياة في معصية الله»

"Be like the disciples of 'Eisa (Jesus) son of Mary: They were, raised on wood, fixed with nails, cooked in pots, and their hands and feet cut off and their eyes punched with nails; yet that scourge and murder in obedience to Allah was dearer to them from life in disobedience to Allah."

Thus the condition of Muslims in Syria is like the condition of their predecessors of the people of faith. And the condition of their Pharaoh is like the condition of the Pharaohs of that time. However, the Way (sunnah) of Allah that will be realized is "the good end will be for the righteous".

Dear free Muslim rebels!

The huge sacrifices you have made and still make are little compared to a victory by which Islam and its people will be honoured, and by which disbelief and its people will be disgraced. Spending oneself and one's wealth is also little compared to the valuable commodity of Allah, Paradise (Jannah). The victory of Islam and Muslims and their formidable fortress are realised in the establishment of the Islamic Khilafah "Caliphate" State. It is the decree of our Lord, the source of our might and the conqueror of our enemy. Within it government is carried out with Truth and justice, and under its shadow people would live a decent life, and the highest ranks of humanity are achieved.

Everything is trivial compared to its establishment.

Contrast that is what our enemies call for, namely a Civil State, democracy and secularism, that are indeed destruction and misery, which are not equivalent in the Sight of Allah to the fingernail of any child killed by this offensive regime.

O Muslims, be patient over what has befallen you; and do not let the severity of adversities distract you from the goal you announced: "We will never bow to other than Allah". Indeed arbitration to other than the law (Shar') of Allah is bowing (rukoo') to other than Allah. Allah would not be pleased with being disputed or shared in ruling (hukm) by anybody. Allah, Ta'ala says:

((إن الحكم إلا لله، أمر الا تعبدوا إلا إياه، ذلك الدين القيم، ولكن أكثر الناس لا يعلمون))

(The command 'hukm' is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men understand not.) [12: 40]

O Muslims in Al-Sham of goodness!

Allah, the Almighty wanted to honour you and take from you martyrs. You have good news (bisharat) in the ahadeeth in which the Prophet, peace be upon him, bestowed special honours upon the people of Al-Sham. They are great good news: The first is the words of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him:

«عقر دار الإسلام بالشام»

"The centre abode of Islam is in Al-Sham". In this hadeeth much of the support and help of Allah are to the people of Al-Sham, and His defeat to their enemies. The second good news is his saying, peace be upon him:

«... ثُمَّ تَكُونُ خِلَافَةٌ عَلَى مِنْهَاجِ النُّبُوَّةِ»

"...and then it be Khilafah "Caliphate" on the way of prophethood". Whoever examines the reality of what is going on in Syria today sees that the situation is heading towards the establishment of the promised second rightly guided Khilafah "Caliphate", Allah willing?

These pieces of good news will be followed automatically by third good news of the Prophet (SAW), which is his saying:

«تقاتلكم يهود فتقتلونهم»

"Jews will fight against you and you will kill them". There is reference in this hadeeth to the elimination of the oppressive rule (hukm jabri) that established the Jews, protected them and prevented any sincere work that threatens their existence. These three good news will be followed, Allah willing, with many good news that include conquering of Rome, the bastion of Christianity, and that Islam will prevail over the world ... So, look, O People of Al-Sham how little is that you pay (though it is very great) in return of what you receive! Allah, Almighty says:

«فاستبشروا ببيعكم الذي بايعتم به وذلك هو الفوز العظيم.»

(Rejoice then in the bargain you have made with Him. That indeed is the mighty triumph). [9: 111]

We in Hizb-ut Tahrir rejoice with the victory of Allah and His near conquest. Look at the signs of victory looming in the horizon of Allah's promise for the patient in His way (fee sabeelillah). We ask Allah that Al-Sham is its centre abode.

O Allah! We do not see goodness to Muslims and the whole world except by this deen. O Allah! Decree Your victory for Muslims sooner rather than later. You are the Sponsor of that and the Powerful to do it.

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The Exclusion of Women from Iranian Universities, Demonstrates that Women's Educational Rights will only be safe in the Hands of a Sincere Islamic Leadership - the Khilafah

On 22nd September 2012, Al-Jazeera and various other media outlets reported that the decision by 36 universities across Iran to bar women from studying 77 academic subjects, with approval from the Iranian government came into effect. Graduate degrees included in this ban are engineering, accounting, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, and industrial management. The Science and Higher Education Minister Kamran Daneshjou...

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Reproducing Western Popular Culture in the Native Tongue of Muslim Lands: The Latest Style of Importing Corrosive Capitalist Liberal Ideas to the Region

  • Published in Analysis
  •   |  

The influx of Liberal Secular Culture in the Muslim Lands from popular movies and dramas series that are ‘dubbed' into the local languages is a well-established style of infiltrating Muslim societies with values and ideals that undermine Islamic morals. The availability of contracts and licences to reproduce well known formats such as ‘American Idol', ‘Big Brother' and ‘Britains got Talent' (known as ‘Arab Idol' ‘The Boss or Al-Ra'is' and ‘Arabs got Talent in the Middle East) is nothing new. However the failure of certain formats in the Muslim world, such as ‘Big Brother', have highlighted the need for greater cultural adaption of some of these shows in order to ensure longevity and secure the personal allegiance of the viewers in any given country. Whilst many of these shows are already firmly embedded into the viewing schedules of our nations, a number of formats have had problems establishing themselves and have prompted public protest from the Muslim populations in certain areas of the world. One such format was Big Brother, a show that has now been cancelled in the Middle East.

Kwintessential, a UK company specialising in business management across cultures commented on the failure of the Big Brother format to succeed in the Muslim World in the following quote:

"Targeting an audience comprising of mainly Muslims, Al-Ra'is (The Boss) failed to read the cross cultural signs. The close quarter interaction between men and women was culturally unacceptable to the majority of viewers. "It is normal for males and females to mix, but not to put them together in the same house for a long time," said 21-year-old student Maryam al-Sayrafi, who summed up most Muslims feelings on the show.

The failure of Al-Ra'is (The Boss) points to two things:

1) The adverse consequences of a failure to incorporate cross cultural analysis into a business strategy; in this case a TV show.

2) The importance of cross cultural understanding in transferring ideas and concepts across cultures." (Kwintessential 7th September 2012)

From this analysis it is clear that western companies understand that in order to succeed in implanting specific concepts and ideas in a society and in order to mould mentalities and personalities on a massive scale, there needs to be a clear awareness of the culture that you are operating in. This cultural ‘sensitivity' is in no way a benign expression of a corporation's willingness to elevate the nation and promote the best that is traditionally available in any given region. On the contrary, this deep awareness of the society is needed and valued in a business model in order to comprehensively subvert any independent ideas and values that may be an obstacle in a personality so that they conform to the actions that serve the interests of the business. In the case of our Muslims governments and the Capitalist companies operating in our lands, television advertising revenues can only be profitable as long as Muslim audience rating remain as high as possible. There is a direct relationship between how much more domestic viewers can identify with the media material presented to them and how sustainable audience rating become in any given region.

Whilst dubbing movies and dramas serves its purpose in the literal translation of popular western culture and is not likely to ever end as it allows for high viewing rates and advertising profits, there is currently an unexploited and growing market in the sales of popular western drama series such as "Desperate Housewives" that are being bought by countries such as Turkey, to be adapted using local actors and even local political issues so that viewers feel more drawn into the storyline and are more likely to invest and advertise the program to friends and family. The Licences issued by the original program owners even allow for adjustments in the title of the program, for example in Turkey ‘Desperate Housewives' is called ‘Desperate Women'. However, regardless of the fact that these media licences permits the reproduction of these shows in light of local languages and cultures, it does not eliminate the circulation of the dangerous cultural ideas that contradicts Islam. Muslim governments allow internal media corporations to pay millions of dollars to import philosophies that directly undermine the Islamic Social system with the aim of corrupting the minds of Muslims, in particular the women and the youth. It is well known that shows such as ‘Desperate Housewives' have very consistent and clear themes in every episode such as:

1) Promoting feminism

2) Advocating secularism

3) Encouraging individualism

4) Undermining the role of wife and mother

5) The glorification of fornication and adultery under the guise of pursuing ‘romance' and personal happiness

6) Endorsing free mixing of males and females

7) Promoting unrealistic expectations of what a man and women should be like including distorted body images aspirations.

8) Encouraging unceasing dissatisfaction with the life one has regardless of how much you have in terms of relationships and material wealth.

Of course this is not a comprehensive assessment of the conceptual attack that is being unleashed upon the Muslim Housewife, they are to name but a few. One thing is certain and that is with the use of local actors, languages, dress styles (even the incorporation of the Hijab and Jilbab) there is no possibility of eliminating these themes or compromising on the conveyance of a very ridged set of alternative viewpoints to the Islamic Way of life.

Yoni Cohen, senior vice president for development and sales at 20th Century Fox commented on ‘Glee', one of the top-rated shows in the U.S which, like ‘Big Brother', could prove problematic in some markets as the show has openly gay actors and discusses pregnancy in unmarried teenagers, he says. "We try very hard not to let other cultures dictate.....and we'd rather not do a show in the end if it steps beyond an adaptation and into a reinvention."

The moral lines have been clearly drawn by the original programme owners. There is absolutely no willingness to remove the western cultural perspective in order to secure any Islamic value system, one has to now wonder why our own Muslim leaders do not share this great determination to secure the Quran and Sunnah as a measure for life and progress for our men, women and youth. The answer is simple; our own governments have a lot of financial and political interests in allowing this cultural invasion to spread further into our lands. They themselves exist to serve and obey their Western masters and are employed by them as tools for indirect colonialism. With new and evermore subtle and sophisticated styles available, Muslims are more likely to be duped into watching and allowing their families to watch programming that is not so obviously different to their own lifestyles and in doing so, they would have fallen into the media trap that is being so carefully tailor made for them. After all, if a housewife is too busy being ‘Desperate' for an unattainable life based on false principles that have no basis in reality and has her energy directed into destroying the happiness of herself and her fellow citizens, then where would she get the time for political activism against the very regime that is the real source of her oppression and misery.

In the absence of a sincere leadership that rules from Islam and that serves the interests of the Muslims, our Islamic Lands are wide open for this cultural attack. Indeed they are being invited into the lands and are being welcomed in the warmest of manners by the very leaderships that should be protecting us from their harmful influence. The Islamic State (Khilafah "Caliphate") existed in the past and served as the correct guardian for the Muslims not accepting any form of colonialism (direct or indirect) as it acted independently and purely for the protection and promotion of the Islamic thoughts and systems. In its draft constitution of a future Islamic Sate the political party Hizb ut Tahrir, who's objective is to re-establish this Khilafah "Caliphate" , has outlined a number of constitutional points that give some indication as to how these news styles should be dealt with:

Article 161

The use of foreign capital and its investment within the State is forbidden. It is also prohibited to grant franchises to foreigners.

Article 165

The Islamic creed constitutes the basis upon which the education policy is built. The syllabi and methods of teaching are designed to prevent a departure from this basis.

Article 166

The purpose of education is to form the Islamic personality in thought and behaviour. Therefore, all subjects in the curriculum must be chosen on this basis.

Article 167

The goal of education is to produce the Islamic personality and to provide people with the knowledge connected with life's affairs. Teaching methods are established to achieve this goal; any method that leads to other than this goal is prevented.

With regards the superiority of the Islamic thought over the non-Islamic thought, there is no room for cultural relativism as Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in the Quran

{بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ ۚ وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ}

"Rather We hurl the truth against falsehood and it cuts right through it and it vanishes clean away!" [Surah Anbiya, 21:18]

And when dealing with those that are the enemies of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and the fact that our leaders give them control over the media in our lands, we should bear in mind that Allaah سبحانه وتعالى warns us.

{وَدُّوا لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَاءً}

"They would like you to be kafir as they are kafir so that you will all be the same." [Surah Nisa, 4:89]

In light of these principles the laws relating to how the media supports or works against these constitutional points and evidences would be regulated by an Islamic State and it is the absence of this comprehensive Islamic System that leaves the minds and indeed homes of the ummah exposed to all manner of sick and depraved viewpoints that work against the progress of Muslims, both socially and at a personal level. The solution to counteracting this new media style is to account our leaders for permitting that which is impermissible and harms our interests as well as working to resume the Islamic way of life in calling for no other system except the Khilafah "Caliphate", as prescribed by Allah (SWT) and His (SWT) Messenger (SAW).

Messenger (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) said;

''The one who removes his hand from obedience he will meet Allah without a proof for himself' and Whosoever dies without a bay'ah (pledge of allegiance to a Khalif-iIslamic Ruler)on his neck dies the death of Jahiliyyah.''

 

 

Imrana Mohammed
Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir

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Press Release Hizb ut-Tahrir led several hundred Muslims in a march towards the American embassy to protest against the film made by the American scoundrels insulting the Prophet (SAW)

Today, Monday, 24 September, 2012, about 500 Muslims marched under the leadership of Hizb ut-Tahrir towards the American embassy in Dhaka to protest against the disgusting film made by the American scoundrels insulting the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The march started from Guslhan 2 circle, where Muslims burnt the American flag and raised high the Shahadah flags. After that in an eye catching display of the highest level of love for RasulAllah (SAW) they advanced towards Madani Avenue, the location of the US embassy, chanting Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar; La ilaha illallahu Muhammadur RasulAllah; Death to America; No to American presence in Bangladesh etc. In contrast to that, the Hasina government demonstrated it's affection for the embassy building of its master by ordering the police to attack the Muslims when they reached the front gate of the embassy, and arrested one person; we condemn this attack and demand the immediate release of the devout Muslim who was arrested. Hizb ut-Tahrir knew that the government will perform the duty assigned to it by its master but Hizb ut-Tahrir resolved to perform its duty to Allah (SWT) and the Messenger (SAW) by leading the Muslims in the march. As the sincere and aware leadership of the Ummah Hizb ut-Tahrir represents and expresses the thoughts and feelings of the Ummah.

Hizb ut-Tahrir and the 160 million Muslims of Bangladesh strongly condemn the insulting of our Prophet (SAW) by America, the leader of the crusaders. Muhammad (SAW) is the best of men and the best of Prophets. Our love for him is more than anyone or anything in the dunya and we will not silently observe the dishonouring of our Prophet (SAW).

Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Muslims of Bangladesh are utterly disgusted by the belated, face saving and completely ineffective stance taken against the film by the Hasina government. Yet she lashes out against anyone who criticizes her or her father, let alone insulting them. Her honour and the honour of her father is dearer to Hasina than the honour of the Prophet (SAW). We are more disgusted to witness that the government continued all relationships with America as business as usual. Nay! The government went further than that by welcoming US 7th fleet commander and allowing the US to hold naval and military exercises in Bangladesh in the same week the Muslims were expressing their anger at America and demanding to sever all relationships with America. Moreover the government kept to the schedule provided to it by the Americans and sent the Foreign Secretary to America for strategic dialogue, which is nothing more than an avenue for America to plot against Islam and the Muslims of Bangladesh. We also express our disgust at the opposition leader Khaleda Zia, for she too kept her commitments to America and held meetings with American delegations in the same week.

Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Muslims of Bangladesh reject the American way of life i.e. the democratic system and we announce our resolve to uproot it from Bangladesh. We will not rest until that has happened. It is this democratic system which declares crusades against Islam and the Muslims, murders our brothers, loots our wealth and above all attacks our sanctities by giving it legal cover under the so-called freedom of expression. It is this system which produces agent rulers like Hasina who are harsh against the believers and affectionate towards the disbelieving imperialists.

Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Muslims of Bangladesh will undertake a sustained political campaign against American domination over the Islamic land of Bangladesh on the basis of the following demands:

1. Close down America's embassy and cut all diplomatic relations with her;

2. Reject strategic and security dialogues with America;

3. Must end all military to military relationship with America immediately, refrain from signing the ACSA agreement and no further US military exercises must be held in Bangladesh;

4. Stop negotiations for concluding the TICFA agreement; and

5. Throw out the American oil and gas companies from Bangladesh.

In order to materialize these demands Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Muslims of Bangladesh will step up their efforts to re-establish the Khilafah "Caliphate" state which is the only state that will stand up for the cause of Islam, the Muslim Ummah and her sanctities. We call upon the sincere officers in the Muslim Army of Bangladesh to provide us their Nusrah and fulfill their duty to Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW), Islam and the Muslims.

O the sincere officers who love RasulAllah (SAW)!

Surely you do love RasulAllah (SAW) as he commanded,

"فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ"

"None of you will be a believer until he loves me more than his family, his wealth and all people." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Surely your career is not dearer to you than RasulAllah (SAW). In fact you are his army and surely you stand ready and willing to let your career be sacrificed for his honour. How is it then that the murderous American commanders, officers and soldiers came in your midst while their fellow Americans insult your beloved Prophet (SAW) in the most disgusting manner? Is it that you are so incompetent that you do not have the know how of disaster management and need training from the Americans for it? Or is it that the agent the government and few generals who use this as a cover along with various other cover order you to accept the presence of Americans in your midst? Definitely it is the latter. Then rise up! Remove the government and the ruling regime; and grant your Nusrah to Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Muslims to re-establish the Khilafah "Caliphate".

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ}

"O you who believe! Answer the call of Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life" [Surah Al-Anfal: 24]

 

Media Office of Hizb ut-Tahrir
Wilayah Bangladesh

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