Press Release

Professors and Intellectuals who Claim to Uphold Freedom of Opinion are irked by the Distribution of the Renaissance (An-Nahdha) Dam Booklet!

(Translated)

On Wednesday, 28 Jumada Al-Awwal 1439 AH corresponding to 14/2/2018, Al-Intibaha Newspaper, (Issue 4198) reported a news piece under the title: “Members of a party break into the headquarters of a workshop”. In the report, it states: "The residents and participants in one of the seminars at the University of Khartoum, were surprised when members of a party stormed abruptly the headquarters of the Seminar. Members of Hizb ut Tahrir/Wilayah of Sudan, stormed a seminar on the effect of water and electricity on An-Nahdha Dam, organized by the Institute of Asian and African Studies at the University of Khartoum yesterday. The members of the party immediately after breaking into the headquarters of the seminar began to distribute a booklet on An-Nahdha Dam to the audience. Meanwhile the Institute of Studies announced its rejection of this behaviour and described it as unacceptable, and stated: "We do not accept or allow anyone to distribute books and publications in a seminar or talk that we hold.”

To clarify the truth, we want to highlight the following:

First: Hizb ut Tahrir members did not storm into the seminar or talk, because it was not held in a private venue, but rather it was in a public hall (Sharjah Hall), and the members were part of the audience, just like others.

Second, the booklet was distributed to the audience courteously, without causing any disturbance. If the “podium” was really keen on the Haq and the truth, they would have thanked the members of Hizb ut Tahrir for their action, because they submitted written material, that needs to be read first and then met with argument and proof, and not by outbursts that are not appropriate to the people of science and knowledge!

Thirdly, neither the “podium” nor the institute that held the seminar has authority over the audience, who were given the booklet: “An-Nahdha (Grand Renaissance) Dam and the Threats of Water War, Negligence of the Rulers and the Duty of the Ummah” who have the right to the full truth.

It is really sad to see those who claim to uphold freedom of opinion, and freedom of publication, are irked and annoyed with a written opinion in a booklet! Or because the written opinion does not agree with their whims, and reveals their falsity, and deception to the people, as they adopt the government's opinion, and celebrate the World Bank's agents, and reject the opinion of sincere experts, who are concerned for the interest of the country and the people?! And why wasn’t the opportunity given to Brother Abdullah Abdul Rahman- Member of the Wilayah Committee of Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah of Sudan, although he submitted a written request for an opportunity to comment; if they were fair?!

As for the point of taking permission; conveying the truth to the people does not need permission, and the authorities do not give permission; we have previously submitted to the authorities to hold a speech festival, and then an economic seminar, they gave permission for the festival but suppressed and banned it before it was held! As for the seminar, it was banned and refused permission. Hizb ut Tahrir therefore communicates what it deems right in any available venue, which is our Shariah duty. This is what Br Abdullah Abdul Rahman said to the “podium” when they objected to the distribution.

This event had a positive impact on the audience who welcomed reading the book, and praised what it covered, and those who did not receive the book asked the members of the party to provide them with it later. Praise be to Allah, who gives victory to the Haq, and sends disgrace on the liars and hypocrites. Allah (swt) says:

﴿يَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ﴾

“But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners” [Al-Anfal: 30].

Ibrahim Othman (Abu Khalil)

Official Spokesman of Hizb ut Tahrir

in Wilayah Sudan