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"It is unfathomable how American military personnel in Afghanistan could decide to burn copies of the Koran. Muslims consider destruction of the holy book blasphemous. A decade after the United States intervened in Afghanistan; all American forces should know that."-New York Time Editorial.

The callous burning of the Quran by bigots in the American military has spawned numerous protests across Afghanistan that hitherto has left 29 people dead and scores wounded. Obama's half-hearted apology has only added fuel to the incessant outrage expressed by ordinary Afghans who widely perceive America's occupation of their country as a wholesale onslaught on Islamic values. Only few weeks ago, US troops were caught on camera smiling and urinating on dead Afghans. The vilification of Afghans and their Islamic values is not limited to these incidents alone. Mutilation of dead bodies, horrific abuse of prisoners in Bagram, rape of young girls, mindless civilian massacres have become the hallmark of America's malicious crusade in Afghanistan. No matter how hard America tries to downplay this vitriolic incident, the latest episode is a vivid reminder to the rest of the world that barbarism and not emancipation from tyranny is a hallmark of America's war machine.

One would have thought that having spent over a decade fighting wars in the Muslim world, US soldiers would at the very least, be accustomed to the cultural sensitivities of Muslims. But no, we find the complete opposite. Wherever the American military intervenes, it leaves behind a trail of death and destruction with rancorous behaviour unworthy of a leading nation that also prides itself on tolerance. Look for instance, the  indiscriminate killings of unarmed civilians by US drones and Special Forces in Pakistan, or the immunity granted to Raymond Davis for his cold blooded murder of Pakistanis in broad daylight. This clearly undermines America's penchant for disregarding human rights it so evangelically preaches to the rest of the world. Take America's war in Iraq as another example: the cruel humiliation of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib and the senseless killings of unarmed civilians in Haditha are portent reminders about the fruits America's Iraqi occupation. Yet despite such uncivilized acts perpetrated by America's military, its soldiers are lavished with praise and their crimes against humanity are overlooked. At the end of last year, US President Obama told troops coming home from Iraq: "As your commander in chief, and on behalf of a grateful nation, I'm proud to finally say these two words."

Worse still, there are no serious efforts by America's political establishment, or senior officers to change the uncivilized conduct of US troops. Wherever US troops are stationed, the Pentagon immediately seeks immunity from prosecution as a mandatory condition in exchange for security pacts, or military aid. In other words, there are no repercussions for the evil acts committed by US soldiers against indigenous populations. If by chance a US soldier is found guilty, sham trials are convened by the US military (the conclusion of Haditha massacre trial early this year) to ensure that punishment does not fit the crime. The US military goes to great length to instill savagery within its personnel by making certain that barbarism is institutionalized. The recent National Defense Authorization Act passed by the US senate epitomizes such measures, which legalizes sex with animals and permits sodomy. As the US military is committed to preserving its barbarian code and despicable values, one can only imagine what type of training the US military imparts to nations around the globe. So what is the root cause behind such reckless behaviour that defies human logic? The explanation that ‘a few rotten apples' are to blame,  is no longer plausible and does not merit a discussion. Nor can America's military culture be held solely responsible for nurturing a generation of young men and women who show scant respect for foreign cultures and people. On the contrary, the military culture is based on the very foundations that the rest of American society is built.

The sole driver for such behaviour is freedom, which is the bedrock of America's cherished ideals and  responsible for shaping popular culture, corporate culture, social values and ethics. It is on this very basis that the military in Western countries, especially in America is responsible for moulding the attitudes of its military personnel. Men and women, fed from a young age on a diet of freedom enlist in the army as defenders of freedom, undergo weapons training and are eventually deployed overseas.. Here, they find themselves in a different environment; laws and restrictions of the home country no longer impinge on what one can say and do and the weapons in their possessions makes them feel that they can finally say and do whatever they desire. Naturally, the indigenous populations' beliefs, values, property, life and dignity are quickly trounced upon-all in the name of freedom.

Freedom is a fanciful idea and always leads to disputes and violence. The West claims that individuals are free to do whatever they choose and indoctrinates within its populace the desire to be free. But in practice this leads to unending conflicts amongst people, as the views expressed by a few, or behaviour exhibited by some, can be interpreted as offensive and insulting to others. Hence, Western governments are persistently intervening in disputes and resort to severity of the law to protect the freedoms of some people by depriving others of their freedom to express thoughts and behave in a certain way. Often, the real benefactors of freedom are those individuals or groups whose views or conduct coincides with the interests of the government, or the powerful capitalists who possess the ability to exert influence over the government. That is why so many institutions including the military establishments in the West are given free rein to attack Islam because their fiery rhetoric and discriminatory policies are in full harmony with West's unfinished war on Islam.  However, if the Western media, or its numerous institutions, were to insult Jews, or the Zionist state of Israel, Western governments would swiftly adopt stern measures to restrict their insults.

On foreign policy matters, Western governments manipulate freedom to either pry open societies closed to Western values, or totally ignore freedom when it does not concur with their interests.  In the case of the Arab uprising and the continued massacre of Muslims at the bloody hands of Western agents like Bashaar Al Asad, the West has chosen to water down its response, as the protestors are avid supporters of Islam and not democracy.  Such hypocrisy only serves to underscore the perception amongst Muslims that the America and Europe are solely interested in the utter destruction of Islamic values and practices.

Islam does not believe in the whimsical idea of freedom, where a handful of men decide which thoughts and behaviours are legally beyond censure, and which thoughts and practices are subject to criticism and can be tried in a court of law. Islam stipulates that life, honor, blood, property, belief, race and the mind are to be protected by the Islamic State. All the citizens of the Caliphate are guaranteed these rights, irrespective of whether they are Muslim or non-Muslims. Islam also protects the rights of non-Muslims to worship without any fear of retribution, or vilification of their beliefs. The Messenger (saw) of Allah said: "One who hurts a dhimmi (non-Muslim citizen of the Caliphate), he hurts me and the one who hurts me, hurts Allah"

Therefore, it is prohibited for a Muslim to insult the beliefs of a non-Muslim, spill their blood, harm their places of worship and desecrate their property. The Islamic history is unrivalled in its capacity to guarantee the religious rights of non-Muslims under the shade of the Caliphate. At the time of Omar bin Al Khattab(R.A), the Islamic army conquered Syria, but quickly returned the Kharaj collected from Homs a town inhabited by Christians and Jews. The Muslims reasoned with the non-Muslims that they were returning the money as they were unable to protect their life,  blood, honour and property from the regrouping Roman army. So impressed were the non-Muslims that they said, "We like your rule and justice far better than the state of oppression and tyranny in which we were. The army of Heraclius we shall indeed, with your 'Amil's' help, repulse from the citv." The Jews rose and said, "We swear by the Torah, no governor of Heraclius shall enter the city of Homs unless we are first vanquished and exhausted!" Saving this, they closed the gates of the city and guarded them. The inhabitants of the other cities - Christian and Jew - that had capitulated to the Muslims, did the same, saying, "If Heraclius and his followers win over the Muslims we would return to our previous condition, otherwise we shall retain our present state so long as numbers are with the Muslims." (Kitab Futuh al-Buldha of Ahmad ibn-Jabir al-Baladhuri, trans. by P. K. Hitti and F. C. Murgotten, Studies in History, Economics and Public Law, LXVIII (New York, Columbia University Press,1916 and 1924)

The only way to prevent the West and her surrogates from attacking Islam and humiliating Muslims is to re-establish the Caliphate. The rights of the Muslims were protected, until the very last days of the Caliphate. During the rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, Britain decided to stage a play, which depicted the life of the messenger (saw) of Allah in a derogatory manner. On hearing this Sultan Abdul Hamid complained to the British government to stop the play. The British government defended its decision to hold the play citing free speech. But when Sultan Abdul Hamid threatened Britain with military action Britain immediately relented.

Abed Mustafa

Tomorrow (25^th February, 2012) will mark the 3^rd year of the killing of the country's bright army officers by India, with the collaboration of Sheikh Hasina. The heinous massacre was perpetrated to remove the officers from the Army who were likely to resist the presence of, and establishing military-to-military relationship with, the Mushrik Army of India. Hizb ut-Tahrir informed the people about the plot and the plotters at that time (February, 2009). The Pilkhana massacre was the first act against the country's military in which Hasina collaborated but it was not the last. On 07 January, 2012, we, Hizb ut-Tahrir, in a leaflet exposed the continuing treacherous acts of Hasina against the military, particularly about the abductions, arrests and dismissals of sincere officers who are standing up for Islam and the interests of the country. Strong public opinion was generated against the government's policy of purging bright and sincere officers from the military, as a result of the distribution of thousands of this leaflet, as well as pasting posters and mass contacting. The government was forced to arrange a media briefing by the army, on 19 January, 2012, in an attempt to control the public opinion. It was not a briefing arranged by the military; rather Hasina was using the military to justify her actions because she knows very well that her words have no credibility to the people. This is similar to Pakistan where the government there uses some US agents in the military to announce their participation in America's War against Islam. So Hasina, after conducting for the past three years a crusade against Islam in politics, education and general public life, now announced its extension to the military. In fact by this briefing, where the military of this country of 160 million Muslims was branded as "blind religious zealots" in an atheist-communist fashion, the government confirmed its participation in the permanent war against Islam by US-Britain-India. This was further clarified by the statement of the Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraf when he said that this purge will be a continuous process. Moreover the statement by the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, Idris Ali, that the military will be monitored to search out the Islamic officers and remove them, definitely spelled out the government's policy of crusade against the military and the Ummah.

What Hasina announced is in fact the current plan of the kafir-mushrik imperialists regarding this country and it's Muslim Army. The leader of these imperialists, America has a design to prevent the return of the Islamic Khilafah "Caliphate" in this region (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia) and contain the rise of China. For this purpose she prefers a strategic partnership with India in order to secure her strong presence and hegemony in the region. For this they have a need to consolidate their grip over Bangladesh and its military, which is what they are doing through Hasina and the ruling regime. Therefore, the government, the opposition, and some in the military leadership in Bangladesh are being used as agents by these two enemy countries to solve the long standing issues with India and for establishing so-called friendly relationship with Indian military. This will facilitate India to join hands with America in implementing her design to prevent the return of Islam and contain China.

In executing this plan of the kafir-mushrik imperialists to consolidate their grip over the country and the Muslim Army, Hasina and the regime has taken numerous steps, only some of which are mentioned below:

First: The brutal killings, and mutilation of the brave and bright officers in Pilkhana.

Second: Dismissals or forced retirement of all the officers who raised their voice of protest against the killings and mutilation in Hasina's presence at the programme at Shenakunja after the killings.

Third: Arresting, torturing, dismissing or forcefully retiring many high ranking officers, including brigadier generals, lieutenant colonels and majors, under the excuse of having links with Indian separatists, so-called militants, bomb attack on ruling party MP Sheikh Fazal-e-Nur Taposh and having anti-Indian attitude! Furthermore due to the prevailing atmosphere, since Pilkhana killings, at least 150 officers submitted their resignations fearing imminent harm upon them.

Fourth: In July, 2011, two lieutenant colonels were recalled to Dhaka from their posts, separated from their families and confined for a long period, this was acknowledged later through a press release. In addition recently three officers were abducted; one of whom, a major, managed to escape and revealed the government's plots; as result the government is frantically searching for him to arrest him.

Fifth: Organizing a two week long military exercise with the Indian military, ‘Sampriti-1' from 01-14 November, 2010, for the first time in the history of Bangladesh military. And organizing a second military exercise, ‘Sampriti-2' for two weeks from 09 October, 2011, in Sylhet, which was the first in history on the soil of Bangladesh. Through these exercises, after she sold herself to the enemy, Hasina started the process of subjugating the Bangladesh military under India. According to military sources the Bangladesh military did not request or express any interest in organizing these exercises; rather they were organized at the political leadership level after requests from the Indian side.

Sixth: Humiliating the country's Muslim Army by making them salute the chief of the Mushrik Army, V K Singh, when he made a five day visit to Bangladesh, on 19 June, 2011.

Seventh: Granting transit to India to fulfill her security and economic interests.

Eighth: Handing over the country's strategic territories to India, under the guise of land survey and boundary demarcation.

Ninth: Continuing the policy of maintaining total US domination over the Bangladesh military, which started from the time of the US agent Ziaur Rahman and which successive governments after him followed. Therefore Hasina organized four US military exercises in Bangladesh, ‘Tiger Shark' in 2009 and 2010. And thereafter she organized the US military exercise, ‘CARAT' in 2011.

And tenth: Signing contracts with US multinational companies, including ConocoPhillips, to facilitate their looting of the country's oil and gas. And after public opposition to the ‘TIFA' treaty, Hasina government is negotiating with the US to sign the same treaty under a new name, "TICFA" to establish US dominance over the country's trade and commerce.

O Muslims!

This is but a brief description of Hasina's crimes against the Army and the country. She is sparing no effort in aiding the imperialists to consolidate their grip over you and your Army. On the other hand when it comes to solving your problems the ruling regime's only effort is to lie to you, as Hasina did when she said people can now buy 10-12kg of rice with 100 taka! Or to mock your feelings which her minister did when he said the government is not worried about BSF torture and killings!! Or to insult you intelligence which the Home Minister, Sahara Khatun, did when she said her announcement that the killers of the journalist couple will be captured in 48 hours was a tactics!!! Although the truth, which everyone knows, is that the government has no control over the law and order situation.

The only way to free yourselves from the control of the imperialists and end your hardships is to establish the Khilafah "Caliphate". When you do that Allah (SWT) will open the doors of blessings for you. The Khilafah "Caliphate" state will secure the basic needs of the people, solve the long running problems faced by the people such as poverty and unemployment, industrialize the country's economy, build this country as the starting point for becoming a global super power, build the military as a strong and advanced fighting force, and unify with the Muslim Ummah.

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَى آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَاتٍ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَكِنْ كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ (الأعراف: 96)

"And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwa, certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they denied. So, We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn." [TMQ Al-A'raf: 96]

You need to break your silence and come out to struggle against Hasina and her government to establish the Khilafah "Caliphate", under the leadership of Hizb ut-Tahrir. Do not turn to the BNP alliance. BNP alliance is part of the same democratic regime. They will serve the imperialists just like the Hasina government. So do not respond to their grand rallies. These rallies are the means in their effort to sell themselves to the imperialists by showing your large gatherings under their banner. RasulAllah (SAW) said,

"لا يلدغ المؤمن من جحر واحد مرتين"

"The believer is not stung from the same hole twice."

O Muslim Officers!

You are more aware of the truth of what we are saying. You are also aware that Hizb ut-Tahrir was the first and the only party to expose the real plot and plotters behind the Pilkhana massacre. And you are aware that only Hizb ut-Tahrir has been consistently exposing Hasina's treachery against you and the country. We have been fulfilling our responsibilities and making sacrifices in this way. And we will continue to do so, for the sake of Allah (SWT). When will you fulfill your responsibility to remove Hasina and provide us your Nusrah so that we can establish the Khilafah "Caliphate"? You have enough reasons to motivate and inspire you to do this:

Feeling of vengeance - Tomorrow (25-02-2012) when you will be remembering your brothers with grief, the Indian BSF will be having a cocktail party to celebrate their killings! Hasina has drenched her hand with the blood of your brothers when she collaborated with these enemies; this is enough to generate in you the feeling of vengeance.

Anger from being humiliated - Hasina forced you to salute the chief of the mushrik Army; this is enough humiliation to make your blood boil.

The urgency to protect your institution - No doubt you realize that the removal of your sincere and bright officers; and the domination of US-India is a grave harm to your institution, which must be stopped urgently.

Responsibility to the people - You are the sons of this Ummah and they are crying out for deliverance from this life of misery. Their cries do reach your ears and this surely creates in you the eagerness to overthrow the ruling regime, instead of sitting and watching the democratic circus whereby Hasina and Khaleda can continue to ruin the people's lives, if there is anything more left to ruin.

The vision of restoring the glory of your Ummah - RasulAllah (SAW) gave you the glad tidings,

((عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ عِصَابَتَانِ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَحْرَزَهُمْ اللَّهُ مِنْ النَّارِ عِصَابَةٌ تَغْزُو الْهِنْدَ وَعِصَابَةٌ تَكُونُ مَعَ عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام))

"Two groups of my Ummah Allah has protected from the Hellfire: a group that will conquer India and a group that will be with ‘Isa ibnu Maryam."

This gives you a clear vision of your role as a Muslim Army. All you need is the commander-in-chief, the Khaleefah who will prepare you and lead you to materialize this vision.

And the Promise of Allah - The return of the Khilafah "Caliphate" is the promise of Allah (SWT) to the Muslims. And you are in the position of being honoured as the Ansar, if you provide the support in establishing it.  So remove Hasina and grant Hizb ut-Tahrir your nusrah so that we may establish the Khilafah "Caliphate". Allah (SWT) says,

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُم فِي الأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لاَ يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْفَاسِقُونَ (النور: 55)

"Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them authority to practice their Deen which He has chosen for them. And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do no associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whosoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqun." [TMQ Surah An-Nur: 55]

On 24/2/2012 representatives of more than 70 countries and international groups met in Tunisia under the title of "Friends of Syria", headed by the Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Both Russia and China boycotted the conference - clear evidence of their continuous support for the criminal Syrian regime.

The conference was attended by the foreign ministers of the United States, Britain and France, Germany, Turkey and Arab countries except Lebanon. They gathered to discuss ways to stop the bloody violence perpetrated by the Syrian regime against its own people.

The final statement called for a political solution to the Syrian crisis. It appealed to the Arab League to hold a meeting that includes the groups and figures that represent the opposition, including activists inside Syria.

This is in order to agree on a coordinated mechanism that represents all parties and issues a clear statement about the transition process in Syria - in addition to commit themselves towards forming a civilian government that would work to protect the rights of the minorities.

It is worth mentioning that this conference, like other conferences, is one example of the international conflict over Syria.

France was the first state to call for increasing the isolation on the Syrian regime and accelerating the process of overthrowing of Bashar al Assad.

However, the United States has been able to influence decisions, resulting in weak resolutions merely begging for Syrian regime to accept the delivery of food and medical aid. These weak resolutions gave Bashar and his gang encouragement to continue their crimes; which is what they did. They continued bombarding cities, especially Baba Amr, and killing the Syrian people by the most horrific means. They relied on protection, not only from Russia and China, but from America, which influenced decisions of the conference in its favor, and used the states in the region - such as Iran, Turkey, Iraq, and the current government in Lebanon - so that events in Syria do not go against its interests. All of this delays any decisive solution until an alternative to Bashar matures; thus an agent replaces another agent! This explains the solution advocated by America of a ‘peaceful transition', as it alleges, of power without accounting Bashar for the crimes he committed!

But the effect of American influence in the conference in delaying the solution indicates the non-readiness of the alternative.

The National Council gained nothing except a testimony from Clinton that it is "a credible representative" indicating there is no solution ready as yet - and the Council needs a better endorsement from America!

O Believers: the patient and honest Muslims in Syria:

Those who gathered at this conference are not friends of the Muslim Syrian people; they are enemies who have built their relationships on the grounds of their own interests. The result of this conference is the greatest proof to the external conspiracy against you. What is recommended in the removal of Bashar, giving him amnesty for his huge crimes, is disregarding your blood, your honor and your deen.

Allah Ta'ala commands you to take refuge in Him alone and not in America or in Europe; for this is prohibited. Allah Ta'ala commands that you should abide by His divine law (Shar') and the method of His Messenger (saw) alone, rather than abiding by the resolutions of the Security Council or the disbelieving international law; for this is prohibited. Islam alone is the guarantor of unifying Muslims on the right word, and saving them.

The Hizb ut-Tahrir has passed throughout the days of its call, in Syria and in all Muslim countries, in the most difficult circumstances. It continued patient and steadfast on the way of the Prophet (saw), without deviating a hairbreadth. It did not contemplate to surrender to the current situation and take solutions outside the Shar'. It invites you to join it by strength of belief (Imaan) and sincerity of commitment and determination to establish the second rightly-guided Khilafah "Caliphate", asking Allah to be pleased with it by establishing this Khilafah "Caliphate" amongst you and with you.

We, in Hizb ut-Tahrir, turn to the Muslims rising up  in Syria, asking them to be sincere to Allah Ta'ala alone in their revolt. We also turn to the influential people amongst the Muslims to help their deen and people by improving the thinking, planning and implementation to take the authority and overthrow the dying Assad regime so as to achieve the promise of the Messenger of Allah (saw) by establishing the second rightly-guided Khilafah "Caliphate" at the last days of the world - and we hope Sham be its center. Congratulations to those who participate in building its structure.

Allah Ta'ala says:

وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَى أَمْرِهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

And Allah has full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind do not know.