Press Release
The Riverside Attack Should Not Be Used to Further the War against Islam

Hizb ut Tahrir / Kenya was shocked by the heinous killing of 14 people that happened at Dusitd2 Hotel at Riverside, Nairobi. We in Hizb ut Tahrir / Kenya condemn the spilling of blood and at the same time state the following:

Since there are reports that the involved persons in the attack were killed, we call up on the security apparatus in Kenya not to harass innocent citizens. Unfortunately, it is common practice for police to pursue the Muslim community under the pretext of revamping security.

This hotel attack occurred despite the fact the government alleged it has upped its security; hence, the fundamental question is: "How was it possible for the attackers to use a vehicle with Kenyan plate numbers, access the hotel and commit the said evil? We state categorical that it is the role of the security apparatus to ensure the safety of citizens and their properties.

As for the local and international media, they clamored to brand the act as an act of terrorism and accuse Muslims and Islam even before the government issued its statement. We take this as a deliberate move aimed at tarnishing Islam and cause religious hatred between communities. We state that Western regimes seize such attacks in furthering the adulteration of Islam under the ploy of fighting terrorism. The most disheartening, is that the West in their thirst to pillage the wealth of other nations, are colluding with dictators in committing genocides like in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and in other areas. Without shame, their terrorism is branded as liberation to establish so-called Democracy!

In conclusion, we give sincere advice to the Muslim Scholars not to fall in the trap set by the West in making the castigation of Islam as the root-cause of terrorism. We remind that the West will never tire in fighting Islam and the war on terror is intended at forcing the Muslims to do away with their Islamic teachings. Furthermore, we believe that followers of respective religions will not accept their teachings to be interfered with or to change their religious positions emanating from the force of others. The West is not fighting genuine terror instead; they want Muslims not to strictly adhere to their Islam as a better, comprehensive ideology and solution to the problems facing humanity today. Hizb ut Tahrir / Kenya emphasizes that Islam from its inception to the end of the world prohibits all acts of violence committed by Muslims or non-Muslims.

Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya