Press Release
New Arrest Campaign of Muslims in Tatarstan!
(Translated)

On 24/04/2018, the Russian media published a report citing the official spokesman of the security services in Tatarstan saying that there has been arrests of 14 members of Hizb ut Tahrir in the city of Kazan and its environs. The houses of these Muslims were searched based on false charges of their involvement in terrorist acts. The video showing the storming of Muslim homes has been posted on local and federal channels. The press release said that the operation was carried out with the participation of troops in Omsk and Ulyanovsk.

For our part, we declare that we do not know some of the Muslim detainees, and they are not members of Hizb ut Tahrir. From the style and size of the spotlight given by the media, and the participation of security forces from other parts of Russia, we can conclude that this process is part of preparations for the World Cup matches that will be organized in Kazan. The operation is aimed at unifying the work of the various security forces nearing the start of the World Cup while at the same time intimidating the Muslims and copying the fight against the (terrorist) threat in front of the society.

As far as Hizb ut Tahrir members are concerned, it is known that Hizb ut Tahrir is not considered a terrorist threat; it is a political Islamic party that its name has been put on terrorist organizations’ list. Increasing the sanctions on its activities is linked to the rise in Russia’s fear of Muslims’ political activity.

As one former member of the party who was previously sentenced said in his last words, Hizb ut Tahrir's work has not changed and remained the same, but in recent years the sanctions have been stepped up tenfold. He said: "In 2011, I was sentenced to one year imprisonment for this activity - this sentence was annulled by a fine of 100,000 rubles - now my activity is worth 15-20 years’ imprisonment," he said.

Thus, the process carried out by the security forces is in no way related to threats of terrorism and the violence and lies against Hizb ut Tahrir are aimed at driving people away from wanting to live in accordance to Islam. However, as the saying- they like in Russia- goes:

“Power lies in the Truth”, certainly this Truth will worry them, when they get the punishment of Allah for causing harm and suffering to the Muslims and attempt to drive them away from obeying Allah...

Allah (swt) says:

(وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ)

“And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy” [Al-Buruj: 8].

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Russia