Interview: Uprisings and situation in Muslim World
- Thursday, 12 April 2012 13:19
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The following written interview was given by Uthman Badar, media representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia, to World Future Online (WFOL) and published here on their website.
WFOL: The Europeans in cohort with Obama are stating the world has changed and Libya crisis in an international one. They however depart from this line of conduct when it comes to North Korea where people are really starving or Saudi Arabia when the regime attacks civilians. What will be your comment on this.
UB: Hypocritical stances from Western officials are now expected by everyone, and no longer come as a shock. They display numerous double standards in their foreign policy. This is because they have no fixed principles or morals. They only have fixed economic and political interests.
We saw this hypocrisy clearly with the case of Egypt. After propping up the oppressive regime of Mubarak for decades, pumping it with $1.5 billion annually, using it for torture by rendition and the like, President Obama simply jumped ship once it was clear that Mubarak would go and asserted that America stood with the people and their rights.
In reality America’s respect for the rights of people has already been exposed before the world in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan.
WFOL: The respected Yusuf Al-Qardawi is today repeating the same phrases like Obama; Gaddafi leave and this without respecting Libya's integrity. Yet they are both in sharp contrast on suicide bombing. Qardawi is in favor in many cases, Obama is damn against it. Has the ME crisis aligned some Muslim ulema with the US? How dangerous is that for the Ummah?
UB: There is no comparison between Obama’s stance and those of Muslim scholars. Obama is the American president and seeks to lead the implementation of American foreign policy in the region. Muslim scholars on the other hand are providing sincere advice to the people of Libya. There is no disregard of integrity in this. The Muslim Ummah is one. The borders placed in the Muslim World are artificial colonial constructs. They have no legitimacy in Islam or with the Muslims. The problems of Libya are as much problems for its Muslims as they are for Muslims all over the world.
On the whole we have seen the uprisings in the Muslim World align Muslim scholars with the Muslim people, not with Western powers. Yes, some figures have always been government stooges, and they continue to play such a role (though even this has been virtually absent during the uprisings). But the clear change has been a positive one whereby scholars have stood with the people and encourage political activism. We saw scholars marching in Egypt, in Tunisia and in Libya. We saw the sermons given on Fridays in favour of the uprisings and encouraging the people to stand firm and persist in their protests. These are positive developments, walhamdulillah.
WFOL: Mortimer Zuckerman the Jewish chief in Washington made it clear that Muslims must have a 'limited' and 'controlled' democracy which should not be as free as that of the West. Does this mean Muslims are the lesser 'humans' according the American view point?
UB: American policy has long treated the people of the so-called third world, Muslims and non-Muslims, as de facto lesser humans, as mere objects to be exploited for economic and political gain.
With Islam in particular however they see a real threat to their interests in the region, and from there the world at large. It is only Islam that can put an end to the exploitative capitalist system and the unjust benefits America and Europe derive from this at the expense of the lives and livelihoods of millions in the Africa and Asia. Thus they seek to prevent Islam from emerging as a political force and to maintain the status quo.
This is why people like Zuckerman want to given Muslims a limited democracy, because they know that if Muslims were given the complete choice to choose their system and rulers, they would choose Islam.
WFOL: The Hizb Tahrir has been around for many years. Can we have an idea of the progress your group is doing and what are the achievements so far in Europe, Asia, Arabia?
UB: Our work has borne great fruit, for which praise belongs to Allah (swt). Predominantly this is manifested in the changed Muslim public opinion throughout the world.
It is notable that in the post-WWII era the Muslim World was engrossed with ideas of Socialism, Capitalism and Nationalism. There was no clear opinion for Islam. Many of the rulers in the Muslim World at the time were seen in a good light by the people, even though there were mere colonial agents. Now, a few decades ahead, we see that Muslim public opinion is clearly in favour of Islam and the Muslims throughout the world call for change of the basis of Islam. This is a fact established both by grassroots interaction with Muslim populations, and even by survey and polls done by Western organisations and studies. There is now also a clear wedge between the Muslim masses and the rulers who are clearly seen to be on the side of the enemy.
The change of opinion has been achieved by persistent and dedicated daw’ah work by various Islamic movements, not just Hizb ut-Tahir. Hizb ut-Tahrir’s unique contribution however is the growing awareness and call for Khilafah specifically. The call for Khilafah now emanates from all corners of the Muslim World. By the grace of Allah, the Exalted, we now operate in over fifty countries, and are the largest Islamic political party that works globally under one leadership.
The above-mentioned change in public opinion, whilst an intangible result, is key in the effecting of change, and a prerequisite for the eventual radical political change, which we believe will occur soon, insha’Allah.
WFOL: Why do you think there is this current massive global hatred for Muslim leadership in almost all Muslim states? Will this ME crisis lead to the people feeling the need for a unified Muslim leadership or will it be yet another success for American imperialism?
UB: I would not call them a Muslim leadership. The rulers in the Muslim World have no legitimacy in Islam or with the Muslims. There are agents of foreign powers. Hatred of them has existed for a long time. It is just that now it is being manifested in a new way. The shackles of fear have been broken and people are openly expressing what they hid in the hearts for years.
Where the uprisings will lead is the key question. This is where all Muslims can and must play a role in advocating for change on the basis of Islam. We can all play a role in raising awareness for the right Islamic change, which is the Khilafah. The Khilafah is the only legitimate form of governance in Islam. It unites all the Muslims and manages their affairs in accordance with Islam.
In particular the message needs to be communicated to those Muslims in the Muslim World who hold positions of influence and power, specifically the armies, for they are the ones with the practical ability to institute change. The current uprisings have shown that whilst people power can set the basis for change, it alone cannot produce the results. The result is in the hand of those who form the backbone of power. Thus we must urge the personnel in the army commands in the Muslim World to stand with the Islam and believers, and to reject the colonial legacy which has been imposed on the Muslim World for so long.
Therefore Muslims must focus their efforts on raising awareness about the specific solution, namely, Khilafah, and to work on those who hold power in the Muslim World. This is part of the work Hizb ut-Tahrir does and we invite all Muslims to work with us in this noble cause.
As for Western imperialism in the Muslim World, its days are numbered. It may yet gain some small victories in the short-term by deceiving people in the name of democracy, human rights and freedoms, but it is on the downhill path. It has long lost its moral legitimacy, and its political and economic power is also on the wane. In contrast the Muslim Ummah, the sleeping giant, is now well awake. The re-establishment of Islam is now only a matter of time.
We ask the Allah facilitate the path for the resurgence of Islam, and return the Muslim Ummah to its rightful status as the best of nations raised for the guidance of mankind.
Uthman Badar
Media Representative
Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia
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