The following is a translation from Arabic.
The German Interior Minister Wolfgang Shoelbe on the second Wednesday of May 2007 C.E called for an Islamic Conference for the second time where 15 delegates represented the Muslims and another 15 represented Germany with the purpose of discussing ways to integrate Muslims in Germany. The apparent aim was to assist Muslims residing in Germany to integrate and carve a German Islam. This is how the interior minister declared in the conference when he said: “….and to improve the mutual coexistence between Muslims and majority of the society”.
Before we begin to delve into the agenda of the conference and its aims, we would like to disseminate the interior minister’s inaugural speech addressed to the Muslims in the Islamic World. This was not objected to by the so-called Muslims’ representatives in the least; on the other hand, in the context in which he expressed his well-veiled views, these representatives were filled with a sense of satisfaction, relief and admiration. The interior minister said: “The Muslims in Germany are not responsible for the Jews and Christians who do not enjoy the same rights in the Muslims countries”.
On the surface this statement amounts to absolving the Muslims living in Germany; because as the minister said, these Muslims have no hand in non-Muslims’ plight and suffering at the hands of the Muslims in those countries!
Actually this was an impertinent question; because this rather petty question does not make sense, that Muslims living in Germany or other Western countries are responsible for the so-called oppression that the non-Muslims suffer in the Muslim lands. Nevertheless, the judgement of the interior minister absolving the Muslims of Germany was totally uncalled for in the first place.
Since we regard the German interior minister as a sane and wise person, we do not expect him to utter heresy. At the same time we find his elegantly styled address hides his evil intention, which he intentionally slapped on the faces of the representatives.
Despite the fact that we do not intend to defend any un-Islamic practice in the Muslim countries, anyone who knows us understands that while working to establish a Khilafah State, Hizb ut-Tahrir is engaged in a struggle to bring about a change in those countries. However the claims of the interior minister are misplaced and erroneous. Anyone who visits the Muslim countries knows that the non-Muslims there are far better placed than the majority of the Muslims and do not suffer as much as the majority of the Muslims do. And more often the non-Muslims enjoy a higher level of life style and enjoy special privileges denied to the majority of the Muslims.
The Chinese in Malaysia, the Maronites in Lebanon, the Coptics of Egypt or the Jews of Morocco are living examples of the better living conditions of non-Muslims in the Muslim World. As for some of them suffering poverty, it is a result of the general economic poverty prevailing in those countries as a whole and in all likelihood, the plight of the Muslims there may even be worse!
Returning to Germany, the land of order, freedom and democracy, which the interior minister praises enormously, let us look whether the Muslims living in Germany really enjoy the same rights as enjoyed by the majority non-Muslims there and let us apply the same reasoning that the minister used, to understand the situation.
Therefore as an instance, do the Muslims really enjoy the same rights while the Muslim women are denied a simple right to wear Islamic dress?
In the province of Bavaria, a constitutional court has ruled clearing allowing the catholic clergy to adorn their ‘religious’ head gear, and in a sharp contrast, has clearly rejected the Muslim women’s headscarf! Do the Muslims enjoy the same rights when a Muslim lady wearing Khimar is told that she is not eligible for any employment in her headscarf. When a Muslim lady refuses a job because it requires her to discard the Khimar, does she enjoy rights similar to the non-Muslims? Her dues are deducted like of those who do not report for work.
Do the Muslims enjoy the same rights when they are told on their face that Muslims who offer prayers are not required in the company? The Muslims are ridiculed or are sacked from work for refusing to attend company functions where liquor is served.
The list can be lengthy, but it is clear that the so-called ‘all citizens are equal’ is farcical and pure nonsense, its purpose to throw dust in the eyes of the Muslims and propagate lies and illusion that the Muslims enjoy same rights.
At this point we would like to quote the authorised statement of Maria Bomer of the Christian Democratic Union (the CDU). She stated in response to the fair demands by Muslims to segregate boys and girls in sports classes. She stated that this “equality is not negotiable”. May we ask her how are segregated sports classes related to equality? When the same sporting arenas and sporting equipment are used under the school supervision by the girls and boys, how do separate classes infringe upon equality? It is for her to explain this intellectual contradiction. But off course she need not if her intention was to hurt the Muslim sentiments.
As for the interior minister’s call to create a ‘German Islam’, it is out rightly rejected by the Muslims, just as similar calls for a ‘European Islam’ or any other brand if Islam.
Islam is one, it is the deen of Allâh (swt) which He revealed to His Prophet (saw) to organise man’s relation with his creator; with himself and with other human beings. This is the one testimony which binds the Muslims the world over. It is this testimony that gives Muslims their identity and makes them an inseparable part of the Islamic Ummah. The Muslims in Germany are being asked to renounce their link to the Ummah and embrace another set of laws which are unacceptable. However, having said that it is not being implied that the Muslims in Western countries like Germany can not live in peace with non-Muslim majority, this is not only possible but it is also a requirement under Islam. Therefore a Muslim by merely obtaining a visa to enter Germany or by accepting the nationality is obliged by the Shari’ah to comply with the general law of the country and not to violate peoples’ property, honour and blood in any way. This is the basis on which the German nation can require the Muslims to comply with, but if it chooses to demand that Muslims must shed their identity and renounce their beliefs, it certainly can only be rejected.
It is an obligation for the Muslims in Germany to profess their Islam with a sense of pride. It is for them to become the sinless brigade which Allâh (swt) revealed to His Prophet (saw) which will release the people from the shackles of ignorance to the enlightened truth.
The Muslims must analyse such false statements that are issued by the politicians of Germany and see the falsehood of Western values through these and also see through their policy to match apple with two apples which characterises their representatives in the conference.
يَا أَيُّـهَـا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْـتَجِـيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُـولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِـيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُـولُ بَـيْـنَ الْمَـرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ.
"O you who believe! Answer Allâh (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] calls you to that which will give you life, and know that Allâh comes in between a person and his heart. And verily, to Him you shall (all) be gathered." [TMQ Al-Anfâl, 8: 024]
Engineer Shakir Asim
Member representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir
In areas referred to as Germany
19th Rabee’ al thani, 1428 A.H
6th May, 2007 C.E
The German Interior Minister Wolfgang Shoelbe on the second Wednesday of May 2007 C.E called for an Islamic Conference for the second time where 15 delegates represented the Muslims and another 15 represented Germany with the purpose of discussing ways to integrate Muslims in Germany. The apparent aim was to assist Muslims residing in Germany to integrate and carve a German Islam. This is how the interior minister declared in the conference when he said: “….and to improve the mutual coexistence between Muslims and majority of the society”.
Before we begin to delve into the agenda of the conference and its aims, we would like to disseminate the interior minister’s inaugural speech addressed to the Muslims in the Islamic World. This was not objected to by the so-called Muslims’ representatives in the least; on the other hand, in the context in which he expressed his well-veiled views, these representatives were filled with a sense of satisfaction, relief and admiration. The interior minister said: “The Muslims in Germany are not responsible for the Jews and Christians who do not enjoy the same rights in the Muslims countries”.
On the surface this statement amounts to absolving the Muslims living in Germany; because as the minister said, these Muslims have no hand in non-Muslims’ plight and suffering at the hands of the Muslims in those countries!
Actually this was an impertinent question; because this rather petty question does not make sense, that Muslims living in Germany or other Western countries are responsible for the so-called oppression that the non-Muslims suffer in the Muslim lands. Nevertheless, the judgement of the interior minister absolving the Muslims of Germany was totally uncalled for in the first place.
Since we regard the German interior minister as a sane and wise person, we do not expect him to utter heresy. At the same time we find his elegantly styled address hides his evil intention, which he intentionally slapped on the faces of the representatives.
Despite the fact that we do not intend to defend any un-Islamic practice in the Muslim countries, anyone who knows us understands that while working to establish a Khilafah State, Hizb ut-Tahrir is engaged in a struggle to bring about a change in those countries. However the claims of the interior minister are misplaced and erroneous. Anyone who visits the Muslim countries knows that the non-Muslims there are far better placed than the majority of the Muslims and do not suffer as much as the majority of the Muslims do. And more often the non-Muslims enjoy a higher level of life style and enjoy special privileges denied to the majority of the Muslims.
The Chinese in Malaysia, the Maronites in Lebanon, the Coptics of Egypt or the Jews of Morocco are living examples of the better living conditions of non-Muslims in the Muslim World. As for some of them suffering poverty, it is a result of the general economic poverty prevailing in those countries as a whole and in all likelihood, the plight of the Muslims there may even be worse!
Returning to Germany, the land of order, freedom and democracy, which the interior minister praises enormously, let us look whether the Muslims living in Germany really enjoy the same rights as enjoyed by the majority non-Muslims there and let us apply the same reasoning that the minister used, to understand the situation.
Therefore as an instance, do the Muslims really enjoy the same rights while the Muslim women are denied a simple right to wear Islamic dress?
In the province of Bavaria, a constitutional court has ruled clearing allowing the catholic clergy to adorn their ‘religious’ head gear, and in a sharp contrast, has clearly rejected the Muslim women’s headscarf! Do the Muslims enjoy the same rights when a Muslim lady wearing Khimar is told that she is not eligible for any employment in her headscarf. When a Muslim lady refuses a job because it requires her to discard the Khimar, does she enjoy rights similar to the non-Muslims? Her dues are deducted like of those who do not report for work.
Do the Muslims enjoy the same rights when they are told on their face that Muslims who offer prayers are not required in the company? The Muslims are ridiculed or are sacked from work for refusing to attend company functions where liquor is served.
The list can be lengthy, but it is clear that the so-called ‘all citizens are equal’ is farcical and pure nonsense, its purpose to throw dust in the eyes of the Muslims and propagate lies and illusion that the Muslims enjoy same rights.
At this point we would like to quote the authorised statement of Maria Bomer of the Christian Democratic Union (the CDU). She stated in response to the fair demands by Muslims to segregate boys and girls in sports classes. She stated that this “equality is not negotiable”. May we ask her how are segregated sports classes related to equality? When the same sporting arenas and sporting equipment are used under the school supervision by the girls and boys, how do separate classes infringe upon equality? It is for her to explain this intellectual contradiction. But off course she need not if her intention was to hurt the Muslim sentiments.
As for the interior minister’s call to create a ‘German Islam’, it is out rightly rejected by the Muslims, just as similar calls for a ‘European Islam’ or any other brand if Islam.
Islam is one, it is the deen of Allâh (swt) which He revealed to His Prophet (saw) to organise man’s relation with his creator; with himself and with other human beings. This is the one testimony which binds the Muslims the world over. It is this testimony that gives Muslims their identity and makes them an inseparable part of the Islamic Ummah. The Muslims in Germany are being asked to renounce their link to the Ummah and embrace another set of laws which are unacceptable. However, having said that it is not being implied that the Muslims in Western countries like Germany can not live in peace with non-Muslim majority, this is not only possible but it is also a requirement under Islam. Therefore a Muslim by merely obtaining a visa to enter Germany or by accepting the nationality is obliged by the Shari’ah to comply with the general law of the country and not to violate peoples’ property, honour and blood in any way. This is the basis on which the German nation can require the Muslims to comply with, but if it chooses to demand that Muslims must shed their identity and renounce their beliefs, it certainly can only be rejected.
It is an obligation for the Muslims in Germany to profess their Islam with a sense of pride. It is for them to become the sinless brigade which Allâh (swt) revealed to His Prophet (saw) which will release the people from the shackles of ignorance to the enlightened truth.
The Muslims must analyse such false statements that are issued by the politicians of Germany and see the falsehood of Western values through these and also see through their policy to match apple with two apples which characterises their representatives in the conference.
يَا أَيُّـهَـا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْـتَجِـيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُـولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِـيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُـولُ بَـيْـنَ الْمَـرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ.
"O you who believe! Answer Allâh (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] calls you to that which will give you life, and know that Allâh comes in between a person and his heart. And verily, to Him you shall (all) be gathered." [TMQ Al-Anfâl, 8: 024]
Engineer Shakir Asim
Member representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir
In areas referred to as Germany
19th Rabee’ al thani, 1428 A.H
6th May, 2007 C.E
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