Trials of the Shabab of Hizb ut Tahrir are Unfounded, Politicized and Illegal
(Translated)

Hizb ut Tahrir, which is a political party based on the Islamic ideology, has started its activities in Turkey since the fifties of the last century. Hizb ut Tahrir, which carries intellectual and political works in order to resume the Islamic way of life by establishing the Khilafah "Caliphate" State, has been banned in Turkey, and its Shabab have been persecuted because of these actions. During the sixties of the last century, members of Hizb ut Tahrir were sentenced to six months imprisonment; this has increased by 15 fold to become 7.5 years later on in 2000.

Hizb ut Tahrir is a global political party, where its activity extends through almost all Muslim lands in more than 50 countries. It works for the establishment of the righteous Khilafah "Caliphate" State that will govern all Muslims by the Rulings (Ahkam) revealed by Allah (swt), as well as it will bring the Islamic Ummah once again under the command of a single leader as it had been over the past eras for 13 centuries, and will carry the message of Islam, a light and guidance, to the entire world. Hizb ut Tahrir does not adopt the method of a superior movement on the Ummah; it is a part of it, working within the Ummah and with it, in order to gain its support and leadership. Moreover it confines its work on political and intellectual actions and does not embrace armed actions whatsoever. Everyone in the world, friend and foe, knows of this firm foundation followed by Hizb ut Tahrir, which continues its activities for more than 60 years. Also, there is no doubt that whoever declared Hizb ut Tahrir a terrorist group and that its members are terrorists or whoever lay down rules based on that, is aware of this. They also testify before others the lies of these allegations that they delivered under duress, force and fabrication. Furthermore, these trials are considered more political than legal.

While Turkey considers the change it made since 1960 until the present day a progress towards greater democracy and greater freedom for it, however towards Hizb ut Tahrir it was a reverse process. In addition, there are contradictions between the verdicts issued by martial law courts and the state security after the coups in 1960 and 1980, and the verdicts issued in the years in which the democratic governments and civil courts ruled.

And in spite of the numerous amendments and formats emanating from the constitutions and laws of the coup and many judicial reforms that have been released, and the laws compatible with the European Union, the injustice and infringement of rights that are applied in the trials of Hizb ut Tahrir is on the rise. And while the sentences against the Shabab of Hizb ut Tahrir used to be about 3 years in early 2000, the sentences has increased to more than a double with the many proceedings that infringe the rights and the allegations that are unfounded despite the change of the definition of terrorism. Also, despite the absence of any article in the existing laws that considers sentencing Shabab of Hizb ut Tahrir, hundreds of people have been sentenced to thousands of years. Thus, more than 500 people have been sentenced to a total of 1828 years imprisonment.

One of the reasons why these verdicts are high is as came in the prosecution: "Even that it was shown that there was no act of violence in any of Hizb ut Tahrir's rallies or in its goal until today, there is violent in its goal internally already. Thus, it is a must to stop this violence to prevent the demolition of the democratic system that derives its legitimacy from the people.

Therefore Hizb ut Tahrir has been regarded a terrorist party."  As for the Attorney General to the Court of Appeals: "It has been determined that the goal is an armed struggle after the establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate" State to bring the Christian states through Jihad under the Khilafah "Caliphate" State, which has been established". Thus Hizb ut Tahrir was declared a terrorist party, and its Shabab were sentenced in a tragic way which is not at all compatible with the rights.

As well as other people and Islamist groups in Turkey were exposed to similar proceedings. It is clear that there is no difference between ancient and modern Turkey if the subject is Islam and Muslims. Thus, continued infringement of the rights of Muslims and their oppression throughout the history of the republic is no difference between the secular mentality - the old Kemalist and the concept of conspiracy (the charge against the Army) - the parallel state (the charge against Gulen's movement) which is common these days.

Laws, reforms, updates and democratic packages have long had a negative impact on Muslims. It should be remembered that the threats and policies of the great powers towards our country has an important role in this. However, the birth of a new great power such as the Khilafah "Caliphate" State on Muslim lands, Allah willing, foreshadowing the end of the current regimes and overturns the geopolitical calculations and balances and disrupts the path of colonialism in front of the dominant global system.

In this regard, we address our call to the new government headed by Ahmed Davutoglu, which was formed after the election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic, and to all judges and prosecutors who are on the threshold of electing the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors. To this country and its people in general, and all civil society organizations and media outlets in which we see their sensitivity toward Islam and the Muslim Ummah in particular. And finally to our brothers in Turkey who are an integral part of the Islamic Ummah, and we ask them all to say "STOP" to this injustice.

O the new Government! Justice cannot be achieved except by implementing Islam in life as Omar (ra) said, "Justice is the basis of governance". But to inflict severe punishments against the Shabab of Hizb ut Tahrir because of the thought the party holds and the political acts that it undertakes; a party that seeks to achieve its aim without carrying out any acts of violence and has never adopted it. Then, this is an obvious injustice and infringement of rights. It is upon your government, which it launched carrying the slogan "New Turkey", to put an end to this immediately, or at least to return rights to their owners. Is it not on your government to show the same strong and resolute stance against infringement on the rights of Islam and Muslims, as is the case in its attitude toward the coup plans prepared against it and toward the parallel state? And if you are thinking of the Day the Reckoning, is it not more likely that you stand up for this position as rulers who are responsible for millions of people?

O Courts and Judges! Judge justly as Allah Almighty said, [وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ اعْدِلُواْ]"And do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just: that is nearer to righteousness." [Al-Ma'ida: 8], because every decision you take, you will be questioned of it before Allah (swt) and would be a disaster on you and will be on your necks in the Day of Resurrection.

Despite what was indicated in the police and intelligence reports that were obtained by your courts, that Hizb ut Tahrir in its current form does not embrace violence and therefore cannot be rated a terrorist organization based on the present laws. And despite the fact that you are aware of the systematic deliberations about Hizb ut Tahrir, prepared by experts in law, also despite your attention to the pleadings of the Shabab of Hizb ut Tahrir before you, which are full of facts, so is it justice that you sentence innocent people because of your exposure to several proposals and political pressures without paying attention to your conscience? Is not that you should not bow in front of what is imposed upon you, and stand on the acquittal decisions that you issued?

O Civil Society Organizations and Media Outlets! You know that "'Whoever remains silent from the truth is a mute devil (Shaytan)". Shouldn't your reaction be most severe in the face of this infringement of rights, due to the position you hold and under the mission you are working on? Shouldn't you act according to the principle that you carry of standing at the same stance for everyone, without distinction of a religion, language, color, doctrine or principle? Shouldn't you speak up more than anyone else over the infringement of rights while hundreds of people are being tried for thousands of years on flimsy reasons, imperious comments and unfounded allegations, and their families, children and their loved ones become the victims of this?

O Sincere Muslims! You know that the satisfaction of injustice is injustice too. And that Hizb ut Tahrir is one of you and with you. Your sons, your brothers and your relatives are working with it. You are the closest to witness that it is not a terrorist party and its Shabab are not terrorists. Is not it time for you to consider your attitudes and your testimonies against the sincere Shabab of Hizb ut Tahrir as they are exposed to the harshest punishments and treated without mercy?

Hizb ut Tahrir/ Wilayah Turkey will as of 18th September 2014, Allah willing, organize a campaign under the title "Say STOP to Judicial Persecution against Hizb ut Tahrir" that aims to put an end to the unjust rulings that are taken against the Shabab of Hizb ut Tahrir in particular and all Muslim thinkers in general and to the infringement of the rights. It will be organized within the scope of this campaign, press conferences, visits, activities of the social media, and other activities in order to increase public awareness and not to stand silent in the face of this injustice.

We do not expect justice in the regime, but rather the contrary, justice is the result of implementing the rules of Islam. As well as justice cannot be established anywhere in the world as long as the system of Islam is not applied fully and comprehensively in all areas of life. Therefore, what we hope for from the current regime is to abandon the unjust infringement on the rights and the illegal actions. This is a common right for all people, wherever they are.

Hizb ut Tahrir has been subjected to all kinds of injustice, infringement of rights and illegal procedures in many countries of the world for 60 years since its inception to the present day. It has tasted all kinds of suffering from political repression to torture, arrests to murder and martyrdom. However, it has never and will never deviate from the foundations it laid, its method, and its goal since its inception. Nor any force, tyrant or dictator in the world was able and will not be able to frighten Hizb ut Tahrir and deviate it away from its path, Allah willing, until it is enabled to establish the righteous Khilafah "Caliphate" state on the method of the Prophethood, which is the promise of Allah and the glad tiding of His Messenger (saw), in the near future with the help of Allah the Powerful, the Exalted in Might.