Press Release
WE CONDEMN ATTACKS ON CHURCHES IN GARISSA

The incident that left 17 People killed and 66 injured in Northern Kenya is indeed a sad one and must be condemned/ opposed by every peace loving person. While investigations have not yet been concluded, accusations have already been directed to Terrorists. Politicians as usual came forward to oppose and condemn the attacks and vowed to step up security. On Monday 02/07/2012, White house press secretary Jay Carney said; "The perpetrators of the attacks have shown no respect for human life and dignity, and must be brought to justice for these heinous acts".

Hizb-ut Tahrir / East Africa would like to condemn these attacks because Islam forbids Muslims from attacking places of worship such as Mosques, Churches and Synagogues. Moreover Islam forbids any type of injustice including annoying non-Muslim so long as they do not fight Islam. The Prophet SAW said:'' Who ever slanders a Dhimmi ( non-Muslim citizen) then he (saw) is his rival on the day of Judgment". However, we would like to caution Muslims from falling into the trap of the so - called war on terror by starting to suspect and accuse one another even without any evidence. The Almighty Allah said;

[يا أيها الذين آمنوا اجتنبوا كثيرا من الظن إن بعض الظن إثم]

'O ye who believe! Avoid most of suspicions; for suspicion in some cases is a sin." [49:13].

With regards to the White House's statement, Hizb-ut Tahrir / East Africa perceives this as total contradiction to what America does. How can Garissa attackers be brought to justice while American troops raid houses and Mosques in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world and at the same White House remains silent and does not seem to bring her soldiers into justice despite the clear evidence of their atrocities! Is America really showing any respect for human life and dignity as Obama claims? Moreover, why is the murder committed by the American soldiers and NATO not labeled as Terrorism? How does America judge? This is very clear that terrorism is a politicized war launched by the West and uses it to trigger hatred against Islam and wage war against Muslims. Truly if this war does not target Muslims then the American and NATO Troops must be called terrorists and brought to justice.

As for the politicians who came forward to condemn these attacks and arguing that there are terrorists in the country who threaten security, this is only for the purpose of seeking political mileage in the next coming General Election and has nothing to do with caring for the security of the citizens. This is rather mocking at the citizens because in their political rallies they incite tribalism and speak inflammatory statements which in reality endagers the security of the citizens. They are the very politicians who usually hire hooligans to carry out their evil plans as had happen during the political chaos in early 2008 where nearly 50 Christian faithful were burnt alive inside Assemblies of God Church in Eldoret.

Finally we Hizb call the Christians in Kenya to open their hearts in understanding Islam and embrace it as a comprehensive ideology with a profound system of governance the Khilafah "Caliphate" which its establishment is expected very soon in one of the Muslim lands. Historically the Khilafah "Caliphate" guaranteed peace and tranquility for all its citizens regardless of faith, color, tribe or region. In East Africa our work is propagating Islam intellectually as an ideology to the people and adopting the Islamic solutions to all problems facing human that have been caused by the filthy ideology of Western capitalism.

After a series of grenade explosions in Nairobi, Mombasa and other areas in the country, it appears that the Government of Kenya is intending to pass the ‘Suppression of Terrorism Bill' which is now known as Prevention of Terrorism Bill,2012. This bill was published for the first time in the official Kenyan Gazette supplement No. 38 on 30 April 2003 and was rejected by parliamentarians nine years ago.

Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative
Hizb-ut Tahrir / East Africa