Press Release
What is to be Learned from the Westgate Attack?

Following the attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi which killed tens of people and injured hundreds and as others mourn the deaths of their loved ones, we Hizb ut Tahrir / East Africa, the political party whose ideology is Islam party are shocked and saddened by the event and would like to highlight a few issues as follows:

First: The attack has clearly shown the deterioration of security in Kenya. Before this attack, we had witnessed the killing of citizens in various areas like Mandear, Bungoma and Garissa. Also, for residents of major towns in Kenya, it is typical to be harassed daily by criminals.  This is evidence of failure by the security apparatus to protect the public. Most people are questioning whether it is true that the step the government took to send its troops into Somalia in the Linda Nchi operation was intended to ensure security in the country, then why are such attacks happening? Certainly, Hizb views that the step was taken under political pressure from western governments especially Britain and America which aimed at installing their agents in Somalia so as to plunder its resources and  enhance all manner of evils.

Second: Major media organizations changed the face of the event e.g. it had earlier been reported that the attack was done by gangsters but after several hours, the story was changed to a terrorist attack after Al-Jazeera reported that Al-Shabaab had claimed responsibility. This has clearly shown that Westerners control major media organizations and use them to tarnish Islam and create hatred between Muslims and non-Muslims. This is dangerous as it is easy to plunge the country into religious violence. It is clear from this that killings done by some Muslims are terrorism but when done by non-Muslims, it is not linked to religion or called terrorism. It reminds us of the attack in July 2012 that killed 42 police officers in Baragoi which was never associated with terrorism by the press or are we being informed about the fate of the attackers. Hizb states that all terrorism and   thuggery acts are against Islam. However, the West has given the name ‘terrorism' a special meaning that suits them. Anyone who is against the interests of Capitalists is branded a terrorist. Evidence for this is that Britain branded Mau Mau fighters as terrorists because they opposed the injustices of the British colonialists. Likewise, as Islam is an ideology that clashes with the Capitalist ideology, it follows then that all Muslims who oppose injustices and corruption of their evil ideology even by only speaking are branded terrorists.

Third: From this attack, it has exposed the lies by Western leaders who pretended to cry crocodile tears for the deaths of women and children while their hands are dripping with the blood of millions of women, children and elderly in countries like Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, etc. These leaders are the ones who patronize and give permission to their  puppets in Muslim countries to use chemical weapons against the public as is being done by their puppet Bashar Al-Assad of Syria. Another of their hypocrisy is while Kenyans are congregating in several centers to donate blood to help the injured; these leaders are urging their citizens to avoid crowded areas and not to leave their houses because of  security reasons. They therefore care for the security of their citizens and not that of  Kenyan citizens. Also, they are issuing travel advisories to their citizens that because of lack of security, they should not enter Kenya while at the same time not issuing advisories to close for their Multinationals which continue to plunder Kenyan resources.

In conclusion, Hizb states that terrorism is another scapegoat by the West to enter Africa including Kenya to plunder its resources. Their Capitalist ideology has failed to bring peace and security in the whole world. This ideology which divides people along party, religious and tribal lines will continue to destabilize peace as currently witnessed in the world. The main objective of the ‘war on terror' is to stop the rise of Islam to lead the world as an ideology which is a complete way of life and a solution to all mankind  problems. For 13 centuries, Islam ruled half the world and succeeded in spreading peace, security and uniting society without regard for religion, race, tribe or status.

Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in East Africa