Press Release
The Arrest of Ustaadh Khaled Al-Loumi, Member of Hizb ut Tahrir, in Sfax
If this isn't a political arrest, then what is it?!
(Translated)

On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, the Research and Inspection Unit in Sfax arrested a member of Hizb ut Tahrir, Brother Khaled Al-Loumi. He received a summons from the aforementioned unit and was denied the presence of his lawyer during the summons. The reason given was that their work with Ustaadh Khaled was merely a counseling procedure. The interrogation with him continued from 10:00AM until 5:00 PM. When his lawyer inquired about this, the unit officers responded that they would prepare a new report, charging him with "suspicion of terrorism," and that they would detain him for at least 48 hours.

Based on this, the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Tunisia announces the following:

1. We would like to remind everyone that Brother Khaled Al-Loumi is a well-known person in his region, and the security authorities are aware that he is associated with Hizb ut Tahrir as one of its members. What is the purpose of falsely accusing him of "suspicion of terrorism"? It should be noted that this man is over sixty years old, suffers from heart problems, and has undergone several surgeries. If this is not a political arrest, then what is it?!

2. Furthermore, it becomes evident that the policy of pursuing the Shabab of Hizb ut Tahrir and the arbitrary arrests targeting them serve as a blatant and transparent service for political agendas aimed at obstructing Hizb ut Tahrir and its call. Consequently, Brother Khaled Al-Loumi is arrested, mistreated, and falsely charged - all for his ideas, especially given his mentioned health conditions.

3. The fabrication of charges against Hizb ut Tahrir‘s Shabab and their repeated arrests are politically motivated actions aimed at intimidating the general public from the Hizb. These actions are intended to isolate the party, prevent the people of Tunisia from resisting colonization and its collaborators, and hinder their efforts to restore life in accordance with the principles of Islam.

4. We strongly condemn this arrest and consider it unjust and contrary to Islam. Hizb ut Tahrir, wherever it may be, including our country Tunisia, works to elevate the word of Allah and uphold the honor of Islam and Muslims by reviving Islamic life through the implementation of Islamic Sharia under the shade of Al-Khilafah (Caliphate).

The Hizb remains steadfast in its commitment to adopting the method of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) in calling to Islam, without deviating even by the width of a hair. It rejects violence, condemns it, and considers it Haram (forbidden). We reiterate that such arrests are nothing more than a gateway that allows security personnel to fabricate legal charges in the service of repressive political entities with malicious intent.

We, in the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Tunisia, demand the immediate release of Brother Khaled Al-Loumi and the end to the political arrests of the Hizb’s Shabab so that they can continue their work in the service of Islam and Muslims worldwide, including Tunisia. They have faced arrests and imprisonment under the regimes of Bourguiba and Ben Ali, and neither arrests nor prisons deterred them. Today, they remain more determined than ever to overthrow Western dominance, its legislative system, its local instruments, and to establish a righteous rule based on Islam. The incitement of the malicious and the prisons of the oppressors will not weaken their resolve.

Allah Almighty says:

[يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى اللهُ إِلا أَنْ يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ]

“They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah refuses except to perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.” [At-Tawba:32].

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Tunisia