Press Release
The Dignity of the State is not in Massive Skyscrapers
Rather it is in Putting an End to the American Arrogance!
(Translated)

US President, Trump, and many American officials publically threatened Turkey in a bid to release American monk Andrew Brunson who was arrested in Ezmir in October 2016 and imprisoned for two years. The American threats started with a tweet by Trump, who stated: “The United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson, a great Christian, family man and wonderful human being. He is suffering greatly. This innocent man of faith should be released immediately!” He was followed by Vice President Pence who said in one of the meetings: “To President (Tayyip) Erdogan and the Turkish government, I have a message on behalf of the president of the United States of America: release Pastor Andrew Brunson now or be prepared to face the consequences.”

Following the statements of the arrogant American rulers, pastor Brunson was released on July 25, 2018, and he was sentenced to house arrest even though the court had originally refused to release him around seven days ago in a court hearing on July 18, 2018. However, the decision of house arrest did not put an end to the American threats as Trump, Pence, and Pompeo continue with their threats for a complete release of Brunson. The US Treasurer eventually announced his decision to refuse the sanctions suggested by the Secretary of State and the Attorney General.

Republican President, Erdogan, and his officials did not meet the arrogance of America nor respond to their threats with similar harshness and clarity. Rather, they just criticized the harsh American style! They responded to the threats by suggesting compromises! It’s worth mentioning that these rulers in the past few months released journalist Denise Yogel and quickly extradited him to Germany based on the request of the German Prime Minister, Merkel. Yet again, Erdogan is bowing down to Trump’s threats by releasing the pastor and sending him home, and Erdogan did nothing to confront those threats except for a few robust speeches with empty words. He is watching his words carefully out of fear of ruining his relationship with America, and he couldn’t say: America and the West are the worst enemies of the Muslims and the generator of great evil. He quickly forgot his pre-election speeches that he used to start with: “Which America?”

O Rulers! How do you accept to call those who insult you as “friends”? How do you express your worries about the corrupted relationship with America right now? Don’t you know that the disbelievers cannot be allies of the Muslims? That we cannot doubt their resentment, hatred, and animosity towards Allah, His Messenger, His Book, Islam and the Muslims, and that no matter what compromises you present to them, they will always ask for more? Do not ever forget that your friendship to them is strictly swindled with their interests with you, so once these interests are fulfilled, this friendship will quickly perish. Therefore, compromises on status and dignity should not occur at all, and even more, status and dignity do not come from high luxury towers!

O Muslims! You are the generation of Khalifah Omar bin Al-Khattab, and you are the generation of the Companions who went out to Qisra of Persia and the Caesar of Rome in their patched clothes while carrying the messages of the Rasuul (saw) to them. You are the children of Sultan Suleiman Al-Qanuni who stopped a party in France since they were mocking Islam. You are the generation of Al-Mu’tassam who dispatched a huge army in response to a woman’s call: “O Mu’tassam!” who was imprisoned by the Romans. If this is how it was, then your position should be as honorable as that of your great ancestors! It is only befitting of you to follow the footsteps of a Khalifah Rashid (rightly guided Caliph) in dispatching a magnificent force which will put an end to the American riot, since it is not enough to simply make melodically robust speeches!!

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Turkey