Press Release
The Government Extends Closure of Mosques in Persistence to Fight the Religion of Allah
(Translated)

Abu Umamah Al-Bahli (ra), narrated from the Prophet (saw) that he said

«لَتُنْقَضَنَّ عُرَى الإِسْلَامِ عُرْوَةً عُرْوَةً، فَكُلَّمَا انْتَقَضَتْ عُرْوَةً تَشَبَّثَ النَاسُ بالتِي تَلِيهَا، وَأَوَّلُهُنَّ نَقْضاً الحُكْمُ وَآخِرُهُنَّ الصَلَاةُ»

“The knots of Islam will be undone one by one, each time a knot is undone the next one will be grasped, the first to be undone will be the Ruling and the last will be Prayer.”

The boldness of the rulers of Tunisia against the religion of Allah has reached a great amount. After excluding Islam from the rule, and their alienation of the true law of Allah from the state and society, and fighting Islam in the name of fighting terrorism, today they are destroying the rest of the rituals of Islam, by closing mosques and preventing Friday and congregational prayers under the pretext of lessening the contagion of the Coronavirus epidemic, which is considered one of the most severe transgressions in the religion of Allah. Mosques are the houses of Allah, and no one can close them, whatever the circumstances, so what if the targeting is intended in itself?! The government's decision on 29^th October 2020, aimed at closing mosques without most other daily activities, which confirms that the Coronavirus epidemic has become a peg to eliminate the remaining rituals of Islam. How can a sane person believe that the government is looking for the safety of people by closing mosques while allowing them to gather in front of public administrations and in transportation, large commercial spaces, pubs, etc.?!! Then did the mosque-attendants not adhere to safety measures, so why did the government not exempt them from this procedure as it did for others?!! Or is Islam the weak connection in this country?!!

O People in Tunisia:

The government's claims to ensure your safety from the epidemic infection is pure nonsense, mockery, and false arguments that no longer fools anyone, and its extension to close mosques until 6^th December 2020 despite protests against their closure and the demands sought by the good people to open them, confirms that the government is continuing defiantly despite public opposition to its sinful actions.

We in Hizb ut Tahrir / Tunisia call upon:

1- The decision-makers to abstain from their sin, go back to their senses, fear Allah their Lord, and rectify their order by hastening to open the houses of Allah and proclaiming their repentance for this great crime, the Almighty said:

[وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَى فِي خَرَابِهَا أولئك مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَا إِلَّا خَائِفِينَ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ]

“And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allah from being mentioned in His mosques and strive toward their destruction. It is not for them to enter them except in fear. For them in this world is disgrace, and they will have in the Hereafter a great punishment.” [Al-Baqara: 114].

2- The Imams and preachers to fear Allah, so they open mosques, and do not participate in this sin with others. The Prophet (saw) says: «لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الْخَالِقِ»“No obedience for a creation in the disobedience of Allah the Almighty.”

3- The rest of the Ummah, to declare to Allah their dissociation from this evil, and let everyone do what he can to compel those responsible to draw back from this great crime.

Allah (swt) says:

[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ]

“O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered” [Al-Anfal: 24].

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Tunisia