Press Release
JAIS Tainted the Pulpits of Mosques with Defamation

Right after its effort in blocking access to the websites of Hizb ut Tahrir, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) today once again used its powers to further spread defamation of Hizb ut Tahrir. This time, JAIS used the pulpits of mosques in Selangor as a stage to defame and accuse Hizb ut Tahrir as a deviant group. The Friday sermon entitled "Drowned in the Ocean of Deviation" which was prepared by JAIS, was read by Khatib (Preachers) at all mosques in Selangor today. In the Khutbah, Hizb ut Tahrir was mentioned as one of the deviant groups alongside Shiah, Qadiani, Milah Abraham and some others.

This sermon that lists Hizb ut Tahrir as a deviant movement was made while a Judicial Review case is still proceeding at the Shariah High Court in Shah Alam, where Hizb ut Tahrir had applied to the Court to issue an order to the Mufti of Selangor and the Fatwa Committee of Selangor (JFS) to retract the fatwa of deviance which was issued against Hizb ut Tahrir. Besides the Mufti and JFS, Hizb ut Tahrir also named the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) as Respondents in this case. With the sermon issued by JAIS today, the said religious body apparently has not only disrespected the institution of the Shariah Court which is in the midst of handling the case, but worse, JAIS has tarnished the sanctity of the pulpits of the mosques throughout Selangor by sowing the seeds of slander. Hizb ut Tahrir had already issued an official answer/objection to the fatwa, and until now it remains unanswered by the Selangor Religious Authorities. Instead, they continue to spread defamation which is clearly haram (prohibited) by Islam.

O Selangor Religious Authorities! Do use the power in your hands to continue spreading this defamation and lies until not a single door on this earth is not entered by it! This is what you wish for, so just continue with it and we leave your matter to Allah (swt)! Hizb ut Tahrir has already and will always continue to remind you. May Allah soften your hearts with our advice, before you return to Him. When that happens, regret is useless. Those who listen are the fortunate ones and those whose hearts are as hard as stone shall perish!

O beloved Khatib (Preachers), before delivering a Khutbah, do study the truthfulness of the Khutbah text that you are to convey to the congregation in order that the holy institution is not be used as a platform to spread defamation which invokes the wrath of Allah (swt). If you lack knowledge concerning Hizb ut Tahrir, may Allah forgive you for what you have conveyed in ignorance. However, if you know the truth that Hizb ut Tahrir is not a deviant group as defamed by JAIS, then have the courage to speak the truth, even if there is a "price" that you have to pay for doing so. Rasulullah (saw) said, «قُلِ الْحَقَّ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُرًّا» “Speak the truth even if it is bitter” [Baihaqi]. You are the ulama (scholars) who should fear Allah (swt) alone and do deliver the Khutbah to please Allah alone, not to please men or out of fear of men. Say only the truth about Hizb ut Tahrir if you know the truth, and study about Hizb ut Tahrir if you know not. Indeed, who are defaming is clear, and who are being defamed is also clear, as clear as the sun at noon.

Abdul Hakim Othman
Spokesperson of Hizb ut Tahrir in Malaysia