february 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 2 convicted of involvement in terrorism Finally, some cases, such as the one Political in Central and were key instigators in a global against the young Mohammed Gul terrorist network operating from the who stands accused of disseminating Asia: The Role of Hizb al- internet in the United Kingdom.16 Other extremist material by e-mail, remain on Tahrir individuals such as Nicky Reilly17 and the docket.23 Isa Ibrahim18 were instead apparently By Emmanuel Karagiannis drawn in by material they found online Conclusion and tried to build explosive devices Radicalization remains an issue in one of the fastest growing global, on their own. Ibrahim was interdicted the United Kingdom, although the Sunni Islamic political organizations is before he could execute his plot, but threat has evolved away from the old Hizb al-Tahrir (the Islamic Liberation Reilly was only prevented by his own structures that used to make up the Party, HT).1 HT often escapes in- incompetence when his bomb failed to infamous Londonistan. Radicalization depth analysis because the group itself detonate properly in the middle of a today is more difficult for policymakers does not use violence to seek political restaurant in Exeter in May 2008. to legislate against. Dangerous extremist change. As a result, it is not on the activities online are hard to distinguish U.S. government’s list of terrorist It is also on the internet that security from the vast mass of meaningless organizations. Nevertheless, HT is services are increasingly concentrating extremism on the internet, while parts pursuing an agenda at odds with the their efforts, attempting to identify of the real-world portion have melded West, and eventually the group could threats through the internet or finding into the mainstream of British political pose an active threat to the United legal ways of charging people who discourse. This makes it difficult to craft States and its allies. step beyond the boundary with online legislation that targets groups specifically extremism. These include individuals that does not also catch harmless and Profiling HT is important as the group such as Krenar Lusha, who was legitimate forms of political discourse. is one of the most popular pan-Islamic identified through a network of online organizations, counting tens of thousands extremists and later convicted while Physical continues to hold sway, of members.2 While it rejects violence at in possession of an assortment of with events in Afghanistan and East this time, it is open to waging jihad once radical material as well as 71.8 liters of Africa drawing young men into their a proper is established with petrol and potassium nitrate,19 or Bilal thrall,24 but the networks and extremist the purpose of creating a global Islamic Mohammed and Rizwan Ditta who both rhetoric that were previously responsible . To establish this initial Islamic pled guilty to charges of distributing for the stream of individuals going to state, HT is pursuing an agenda to make extremist material obtained online.20 training camps have been forced into a society more “Islamist” so that such Other cases have proved more difficult, less prominent position. Unfortunately, a state can be established peacefully. however, with a group of cases linked however, a hardcore of jihadist thinking Nevertheless, the group ascribes to a little to the internet in Lancashire largely remains, making what happens in the discussed strategy called nusra, which dropping off the radar for legal United Kingdom still relevant for the means it could support a coup d’etat by reasons.21 Moreover, part of the case global fight against terrorism. an armed force if that force is pursuing against Mohammed Atif Siddique an Islamist agenda. that stated he was involved in actual Raffaello Pantucci is a Consulting Research terrorist planning was overturned and Associate at the International Institute for This article will provide background on he was released from prison, although Strategic Studies (IISS) and an Associate HT, including its strategy to establish other charges against him stood.22 Fellow at the International Center for the an Islamic caliphate. It will then profile Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) at King’s HT’s role in Central Asia, the region in 16 For more on this network, please see Evan Kohlmann, College. which it is most active. “Anatomy of a Modern Homegrown Terror Cell: Aabid Khan et al,” NEFA Foundation, September 2008; Raf- Background on Hizb al-Tahrir faello Pantucci, “Operation Praline: The Realization of HT was founded in East in Al-Suri’s Nizam la Tanzim?” Perspectives on Terrorism 1953 by Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani, an 2:12 (2008). Islamic scholar of Palestinian origin. In 17 Adam Fresno, “Nicky Reilly, Muslim Convert, Jailed the decades since its establishment, HT for 18 Years for Exeter Bomb Attack,” Times, January 31, 2009. 1 Hizb al-Tahrir is more commonly transliterated as 18 Raffaello Pantucci, “Britain Jails ‘Lone Wolf’ Terrorist material online, as he was linked into the broader Khan/ Hizb ut-Tahrir. Isa Ibrahim,” Terrorism Monitor 7:23 (2009). Tsouli network. See “Siddique Terrorism Charges in De- 2 HT’s total numbers in Central Asia are not known 19 “Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Terrorism Offenc- tail,” BBC, February 9, 2010. because the group operates clandestinely. There are, es,” Derbyshire Constabulary, December 15, 2009. 23 “Man Charged With Sending Terrorist Material by however, some 6,000 HT members and sympathizers 20 “Muslim Man Who Sold DVDs Glorifying the 9/11 Email,” Daily Mail, February 24, 2009. serving time in Uzbek, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Tajik pris- Atrocities Jailed Under New Terror Laws,” Daily Mail, 24 The case of Mohammed Abushamma is instructive in ons. The U.S. State Department claims, for example, that March 20, 2008. the case of Afghanistan. See “Student Jailed for Trying to as many as 4,500 HT members are currently jailed in 21 “PM Death Plot Suspects in Court,” Derby Evening Fight British in Afghanistan,” London Evening Standard, Uzbekistan alone. See the Bureau of Democracy, Human Telegraph, October 4, 2008; “Jury in Blackburn Terrorist June 18, 2009. The Somali case is increasingly a concern. Rights, and Labor, Uzbekistan – International Religious Trial Discharged,” Lancashire Telegraph, July 27, 2009. See Richard Kerbaj, “UK Students Recruited for Somali Freedom Report (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of 22 The charges that held include spreading extremist Jihad,” Sunday Times, January 24, 2010. State, 2007).

13 february 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 2 has become an international movement3 To achieve this strategy, HT does not help. This is the method that the with tens of thousands of followers want to seize control of the state by Prophet Muhammad adopted to worldwide. Although the group is force and coerce society into accepting establish the State of Islam and to primarily active in Central Asia, it also has its political agenda. Rather, HT wants implement the Islamic rules.10 a large following in a number of Western to persuade society to accept its ideas countries, including in the United States. willingly, which would then inevitably In practice, this means that HT could Today, HT is led by Ata Abu Rashta, a lead to a regime change. Yet even in these support a coup organized by a military Palestinian civil engineer who studied circumstances, it is likely that HT would that would have first embraced in Cairo and previously served as the use some form of pressure to remove as its ideology. For example, party’s spokesman in . recalcitrant regimes; party ideologues HT encouraged elements within the have often implied that regimes could be Jordanian armed forces to overthrow HT does not view itself as a religious overthrown by acts of civil disobedience, the Jordanian government in 1968 and organization, but as a political party based such as demonstrations and strikes. For 1969. Moreover, there are indications on Islamic values. HT’s political doctrine example, the media representative of HT that some members of HT were linked to is founded on two principles. The first in Britain, Imran Waheed, once wrote: a failed coup attempt in in 1974.11 is the need for Islamic law, or Shari`a, The objectives of seeking nusra for the to regulate all aspects of human life— a day will come when the Muslims re-establishment of the caliphate are politics, economics, science and ethics. will take revenge against all twofold: first, to enable HT to continue The second principle is the need for an those who participated in their its political struggle without risking a authentic Islamic state, which would oppression [i.e. the Karimov regime military confrontation with authorities; pave the way for the re-establishment of in Uzbekistan]. Hizb ut-Tahrir does second, to propagate its ideology to the the Islamic caliphate. According to HT, not use weapons or resort to violence, security forces so that they overthrow a “just” society can only be achieved nor uses any physical means in existing regimes and establish an within such a political entity. its call…However, do not expect, Islamic state. that these rulers and their regimes HT’s goal is to create an Islamic state will collapse all by themselves. On It is important to note, however, that that will first absorb all Muslim- the contrary, patient believers are HT never developed a paramilitary wing populated territories into its borders to required to shake these regimes and and its members did not provide military establish a caliphate, and then spread uproot them.7 support for the coup attempts in Jordan Islam worldwide through jihad. For and Egypt, although these coups were instance, al-Nabhani wrote in Article Moreover, HT has also developed the aimed at establishing an Islamic state. 183 of his proposed constitution for the concept of seeking outside support Moreover, HT has not been involved in future Islamic state that “conveying (nusra) to remove a regime from power. any other violent or velvet coups in the the Islamic da’wah [to the world] is the HT compares this strategy to how the Muslim world since the mid-1970s. axis around which the foreign policy Prophet Muhammad received support revolves, and the basis upon which the from Arab tribes in his conquest of HT’s Role in Central Asia relation between the [Islamic] state and Medina after he fled Mecca for fear of Although HT has influence globally— other states is built.”4 Moreover, “this persecution by the pagan leaders.8 HT including in the United States and in the policy is implemented by a defined has interpreted the conquest of Medina West—it is most active in Central Asia method that never changes, which is as a coup d’etat orchestrated by the because it has faced little competition jihad, regardless of who is in authority. Prophet Muhammad and his allies that from other Islamist groups in this region. Jihad is the call to Islam which involves took their local opponents by surprise. There are a number of factors that led fighting or the contribution of money, According to the group’s literature, to HT’s rise in Central Asia, not least opinions, or literature towards the of which is the fact that Central Asia is fighting.”5 To achieve these goals, if the land was a land of Kufr and predominately Muslim.12 Poor economic HT envisages a three-stage program the rules of Islam were not put in conditions in post-Soviet Central Asia of action, modeled after the three implementation, then removing the provided fertile soil for Islamist groups stages that the Prophet Muhammad ruler who governs over the Muslims to achieve support in changing the experienced on his path to establishing would be through using the method 9 the first Islamic state: of Nusrah, i.e. seeking [military] caliphate must be armed. On more than one occasion, HT has openly asked the armed forces of Muslim countries Stage One: Recruitment of members. Re-establish the Khilafah and Resume the Islamic Way of Life to intervene in certain states. Therefore, it must be em- Stage Two: of society. (London: al-Khilafah Publications, 2000), p. 32. phasized that HT is interested in those who are militarily Stage Three: Takeover of the state and 7 Imrad Waheed, “Who Killed Farhad Usmanov?” Ca- (not politically) capable. 6 jihad against non-believers. liphate, July 2002. 10 The Methodology of Hizb ut-Tahrir for Change, p. 22. 8 Hizb ut-Tahrir, The Methodology of Hizb ut-Tahrir for 11 S. Taji-Farouk, A Fundamental Quest: Hizb ut-Tahrir 3 The terms group, party, organization and movement Change (London: al-Khilafah Publications, 1999), p. 22. and the Search for the Islamic Caliphate (London: Grey Seal, are used interchangeably in this article. 9 HT refers to the “people of support” (ahl un-Nusra) 1996), pp. 27, 168. 4 Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani, The Islamic State (London: al- who were physically powerful enough not only to help 12 According to the CIA World Factbook, the Muslim Khilafah Publications, 1998), p. 275. establish the first Islamic state, but also to defend it populations in the four Central Asian republics are: Ta- 5 Ibid., pp. 143-144. against enemies. They were the equivalent of an army. By jikistan (90%), Uzbekistan (88%), Kazakhstan (47%), 6 Members of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Britain, The Method to definition, those who now can help in re-establishing the and Kyrgyzstan (75%).

14 february 2010 . Vol 3 . Issue 2 current social order. Governments in have responded to the emergence of HT pursues a different strategy in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan HT with repressive measures against each Central Asian country where it is exclude Uzbek minorities, which has its members and supporters. These active. In Uzbekistan, HT spreads its allowed HT to recruit among this class punitive measures, however, are having message clandestinely. In Kyrgyzstan, in these countries. Furthermore, many the opposite effect: HT is growing it takes advantage of the country’s in the population are attracted to the in popularity, as can be measured relatively relaxed political atmosphere prospect of an Islamic government, by its ability to recruit across broad to launch public relations campaigns. In primarily due to the lack of legitimate swathes of society, including students, Kazakhstan, HT is still growing its cadres channels for protest against the region’s businessmen, intellectuals and women. while avoiding a confrontation with the authoritarian governments. Only in Turkmenistan does HT have a authorities. In Tajikistan, HT chooses minimal presence, which is probably to confront both the authorities and Moreover, the collapse of communism due to severe state repression. the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan, produced an ideological vacuum in its main political competitor. While Central Asia, which HT has attempted HT differs considerably from other maintaining a coherent and concrete to fill with religious rhetoric. The clandestine Islamist groups when agenda, HT has tactically focused on group appeals to individuals who want it comes to recruitment. The group each country’s unique problems. to believe in a coherent ideology that welcomes as members both men and provides ready answers not only for women. HT is more likely to use its Prospects for the Future spiritual questions, but also practical female members for demonstrations and HT does not constitute an immediate issues. HT’s vision of a universal protests in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, threat to the security of Central Asian Islamic state also appeals to Central based on the belief that security services states. Nevertheless, HT may in the Asians who feel nostalgia for the loss in these countries are less likely to medium- to long-term ally itself with of Soviet society, which theoretically abuse them physically or arrest them. radical elements within the security promoted values of “solidarity” and Also, HT has been active in recruiting services or armed forces to overthrow “justice.” There are widespread feelings prisoners in Central Asia. Jailed HT one or more governments in the Central of mistrust in the capability of Central members propagate their ideology to Asian region in line with the group’s Asian governments to cater to the fellow convicts who, due to the harsh nusra strategy. HT’s rejection of political citizens’ needs. The application of prison conditions, are susceptible to violence is conditional on the prevailing Shari`a, propagated by HT, promises to Islamist messaging. This has become political circumstances: when nusra is a fraction of the population a legitimate such a problem that in Uzbekistan, for not an option, the group aims at the blueprint for a “just” society. Its radical example, authorities tend to isolate HT Islamization of society and the eventual calls to overthrow regimes through members from common prisoners.14 peaceful overthrow of the regime. peaceful measures are well received by many people who, while rejecting Although HT cannot be classified as violence as a method for political change, a terrorist organization, the political have lost hope in the Central Asian implications of its growing influence regimes’ ability to reform themselves. Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), HT has managed to establish in the region are serious. The group a presence in the country. The first HT cells in Tajiki- constitutes an obstacle to the emergence HT’s emergence in Central Asia was stan were established by Uzbek citizens who moved into of democracy in Central Asia, since its initially an “Uzbek phenomenon.” northern Tajikistan in the late 1990s. A rough estimate growing popularity has allowed regional The early development of a mosque- of HT membership in Tajikistan is about 3,000 mem- leaders to solidify their positions and centered faith in Uzbek-populated bers. In Kazakhstan, the first HT members appeared in resist Western calls for political and areas means that the local population 1998. As in Tajikistan, the first generation of members economic reforms. Moreover, if HT were is accustomed to thinking that Islam in southern Kazakhstan were ethnic Uzbeks. In recent to collaborate with an armed force to can provide solutions to problems. years, however, a large number of members are ethnic establish an Islamic state in a country, Since the late 1990s, however, HT Kazakhs. HT likely has about 2,000 members in Kazakh- its next goal would be to re-establish the succeeded in spreading its message stan, mostly active in the south in areas such as Shymkent Islamic caliphate, which would clearly throughout Central Asia. As a result, and Kentau. In Kyrgyzstan, HT is strong in the southern set this new state up for conflict with its HT is the leading Islamist group in provinces of Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken. According to regional neighbors. Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and security sources, there are around 4,000 HT members in Kyrgyzstan, with thousands of members Kyrgyzstan. These details are based on: “Hizb ut-Tahrir: Dr. Emmanuel Karagiannis is an Assistant 13 in each country. These governments Extremistskaya Organizatsiya,” Shyt [Dushanbe], Janu- Professor of Russian and post-Soviet ary 27, 2005; Personal interview, Igor Savin, director of Politics at the University of Macedonia in 13 Based on interviews with security officials and group NGO Dialogue, Shymkent, Kazakhstan, February 2004; Thessaloniki, Greece and an Investigator at members, as well as extrapolating from the number of ar- Personal interview, Kazakh diplomat, Washington, D.C., the University of Maryland’s START Center. rested members in the country, the author estimates that September 2009; Personal interview, Kazakh security His new book on Hizb al-Tahrir in Central there are around 10,000-15,000 members and many official, Astana, Kazakhstan, February 2009; Personal Asia, Political Islam in Central Asia: The more sympathizers in Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan, the interview, Sadykdzhan Mahmoudov, director of NGO Challenge of Hizb ut-Tahrir, has just been majority of HT members appear to be from the Ferghana Rays of Solomon, Osh, Kyrgyzstan, May 2004. published by Routledge in New York. Valley and Tashkent—as assessed by the number of ar- 14 Personal interview, member of Hizb al-Tahrir, name rested members from these areas. In Tajikistan, despite withheld at request, Namangan, Uzbekistan, August the existence of a legal Islamic party, the Islamic Revival 2005.

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