Modi govt declares Hizb-Ut-Tahrir 'banned outfit', says it aims to establish Islamic State in India

The Hizb-Ut-Tahrir is a global pan-Islamic radical group set up in Jerusalem in 1953. The Ministry of Home Affairs said the Hizb-Ut-Tahrir aims to set up an Islamic Republic in India by overthrowing democratic government through jihad.

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affars on Thursday declared global pan-Islamic radical group Hizb-Ut-Tahrir a 'banned outfit', saying it aims to establish Islamic state and caliphate globally including in India by overthrowing democratic government through jihad. The Home Ministry also called the HuT a "grave threat" to democratic setup and internal security of India.

In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said the HuT is involved in radicalisation and motivation of gullible youth to join terrorist organisations, such as the Islamic State (ISIS) and raising funds for terror activities. The HuT is promoting terrorism by using various social media platforms, secure apps and by conducting 'Dawah' meetings to encourage gullible youth to indulge in acts of terrorism, it added.

"And whereas, the central government believes that Hizb-ut-Tahrir is involved in terrorism and has participated in various acts of terrorism in India," the notification said while declaring the group as a banned organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Tamil Nadu Hizb-Ut-Tahrir case

This came as several individuals were arrested in connection with n the Tamil Nadu Hizb-ut-Tahrir case which involved attempts to radicalise the youth and establish an Islamic caliphate in India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Faizul Rahman, a 'nakib' or state 'amir' of the HuT organisation, according to officials on Wednesday.

The arrested members were allegedly spreading the "violent ideology" of HuT at the behest of organisation's Central Media Office to their followers through secret and encrypted communication platforms. "The accused had held several secret meetings to spread the ideology of Hizb-ut-Tahrir among several groups and had run divisive campaigns throughout Tamil Nadu," a statement by NIA said.

The case was registered by the NIA against six accused, who were allegedly influenced by the extremist, radical and fundamental organisation that has been trying to establish an Islamic caliphate and enforce the constitution written by its founder Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani. As per the investigations conducted by the NIA, the accused had conducted secret 'Bayaans' (meetings), where many participants, particularly gullible youth, were radicalized with ideologies of Hizb-ut-Tahrir, which seeks military assistance (Nusra) from forces inimical to India to achieve its goal. Aziz Ahamed was found to be one of the chief initiators in conducting secret Bayaans.

What is Hizb-Ut-Tahrir?

Notably, the HuT is a banned organisation in countries including Bangladesh and the United Kingdom. It was designated as a terrorist organisation by the British government earlier this year under the UK’s Terrorism Act. UK secretary James Cleverly called the group “an antisemitic organisation that actively promotes and encourages terrorism, including praising and celebrating the appalling 7 October attacks".

It is a pan-Islamic organisation that was founded in 1953 in Jerusalem. Its name is Arabic for "party of liberation." According to the European Council on Foreign Relations, the group “works on the re-establishment of the caliphate through non-military means." The group is also banned in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Turkey, according to Al-Monitor.

The organisation has hundreds of members in the West Bank but has been “repressed” by the Palestinian Authority. Hizb ut-Tahrir’s website includes praise for fighting Israel, as well as hateful language toward Jews. On Oct. 10, three days after the Hamas attack and subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza, Hizb ut-Tahrir referred to the fight against Israel as a “heroic confrontation."

This came two months after the NIA conducted raids to arrest six members of HuT for anti-national activities such as propaganda against holding elections and democracy. The arrested persons included-- a man in his fifties, his two sons and three others who were aged between 26 and 33. The provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) have been invoked against them.

Hameed Hussain, one of the accused, had a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering and had been teaching engineering in colleges. He was involved in posting videos on YouTube advocating his ideology while his father Mansoor held private meetings to further the same cause. One of the arguments of HuT members against democracy was that democracy and the rule of law were man-made and hence subject to change and not perfect.

(with agency input)

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