Press Release
Call for Protest in front of Russian Embassy in The Hague

Hizb ut Tahrir/The Netherlands will organize a protest on the 24th of November 2012 in front of the Russian Embassy in The Hague against continuous arrests of its members in Russia.

Recently, the Minister of Internal Security of Russia in cooperation with the Federal Security has arrested 6 members of Hizb ut Tahrir, whereby they have committed house searches. According to the Russian authorities, they have found several weapons and ‘extremist' literature during their house searches. This slander against the members of Hizb ut Tahrir being in possession of weapons is a fabricated lie without a doubt and speaks against the reality and reputation of Hizb ut Tahrir, which has been clear throughout the years on an international level to be known as a non-violent political party.

In addition to the arrests of these 6 members, in the past there have been several house raids on the members of Hizb ut Tahrir in Moscow, its surroundings and other places in Russia because this Party has been dishonestly placed on a list of banned terrorist organization by the Russian Court since 2003, while having no evidence for it.

This hate campaign of the Russian authorities against Hizb ut Tahrir does not stop here. The wives, daughters and mothers of the captives are also being targeted and continuously being harassed by the security services.

Hizb ut Tahrir/The Netherlands will hold a protest in front of the Russian Embassy in The Hague because of their raids, detention and extra-judicial treatment of its members as well as their families. Our message against the Russian authorities is the following:

Hizb ut Tahrir is a political party which has been known throughout every corner of the world, since its establishment until now, and by many as a Party with a deeply-rooted culture and also known for its trustworthiness. Throughout the years, the Party has won the hearts of countless people because of its political and intellectual struggle. Whether these Russian authorities claim that Hizb ut Tahrir is a political or a terrorist party, it does not interrupt Hizb ut Tahrir. Hizb ut Tahrir's concern is what is in accordance with Divine Law and what is against Divine Law in Islam. Hizb ut Tahrir has an opinion that it should reject violent acts, because Divine Laws in Islam reject violence. If Divine Law within Islam permitted violence to be used by a political party as a part of their method, then Hizb ut Tahrir should have at least responded against oppression by governments which kill and torture their members. In reality, Hizb ut Tahrir looks at it differently and views a correct Islamic method for change as the method of The Prophet (saw), which is based on rejecting violence.

Hizb ut Tahrir does not strive to change the judiciary of Russia nor does it strive this change in other western countries. If Hizb ut Tahrir would strive to change the judiciary of Russia, then it would have declared it openly and without any fear. Just as the Party has declared its activities in Egypt, Syria, Pakistan or any other country of the Muslims. It is not a matter of tactics nor fear. It is a matter of priorities and a goal. It is something which Hizb ut Tahrir does not see in Russia or other western countries.

Final point: We demand the Russian authorities to immediately release our members. We also call upon the Islamic nation to be aware of the enmity of the Russian regime and hatred against Islam and Muslims, and to remove the corrupt leaders who are, through their silence, accomplices with the crimes committed by the Russian regime, and to give pledge to the Khalifah who implements the Islamic Sharia and defends the sanctities of the Islamic nation.

For further information about the arrests, we would like to refer you to our press releases:

- http://www.hi.zat.one/info/english.php/contents_en/entry_21024
- http://www.hi.zat.one/info/english.php/contents_en/entry_21026

Location of Demonstration: Embassy of the Russian Federation in The Hague
Address: Andries Bickerweg 2 2517 JP The Hague
Date: Saturday 24 November 2012
Time: 13.00 - 15.00

Okay Pala
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir / Netherlands