بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

O Muslims of Syria! The Khilafah is the only way to protect your blood and your rights

The Syrian regime contrived a scenario based upon the presence of outsiders infiltrating, pushed by foreign forces, firing haphazardly at protesters with the objective of creating discord between the people and the army (statement of interior ministry of the previous government, 09/04/2011), and the presence of an armed rebellion carried out by armed groups of salafi organisations under the banner of Jihad, and seeking the establishment of an Islamic emirate, groups which the regime described as ‘terrorists’ (statement of the interior ministry of the new government, 18/04/2011).

On the basis of this fabricated scenario the Syrian regime carried out another massacre in Deraa on 25/04/2011, in developments that indicate upon the intention to use decisive military and security action in the regions of the protests, region by region, and the use of excessive force to break the will of the people to rise up against the regime.

Thus under the pretext that there are salafi groups intending to announce an Islamic emirate, and on cue from the Syrian regime, a statement was issued by the military which mentioned that, “…in response to the calls for help from the citizens and people of Deraa and their appeal to the armed forces for necessary intervention to stop the killing, destruction and fear perpetrated by extremist terror groups, military units have began intervening this morning [Monday 25/04] in Deraa in order to return calm, peace and normal life to the citizens.”

As for the details of how life would be returned to normal, the reality is that electricity and communications have been totally cut off from the city in order to isolate it and to hide what the security forces intend to carry out of massacres. As a matter of fact, already these forces have fired haphazardly at people, hit water tanks, killed tens of people and injured many more, arrested hundreds to interrogate and extract information in order to get to those leading the protests and seize them.

The above reveals the plan of the Syrian regime to sow the seeds of discord between the army and the people, and exposes its intent to use the army on its side to confront the people under the pretext of fighting ‘terrorism’. This fact is strengthened by the stance of the regime towards the huge protests, such that it said of them that they were only a few people hired to cause trouble. It said this so that it could justify to itself and in front of the world the merciless killing of the protesters.

What the Syrian regime claims is pure fabrication (the like of which Assad the father raised his son upon). It is not surprising coming from the regime which is completely exposed and known for its oppression and brutality. None follow it except those weak souls who are after material gain. The reality is that there are no foreign infiltrators, nor is there any armed rebellion or ‘terrorist’ groups. Rather there are sincere protestors, among whom are men, women and children unable to resist the tyranny of this regime except by confronting it through such protests. This is what the reality of everyday events in Syria establishes.

In light of this iniquitous plan of the regime to sow discord between the Ummah and her brothers and sons in the army, we address the army (officers and soldiers) sincerely, for the sake of Allah, the Exalted, with the following:

• The Syrian regime is, before everything else, an enemy of Allah, His Messenger (saw) and the believers. It wants to use you as a tool to repress your own people and brothers from the Muslims of Syria.

• It is not allowed that you obey the commands of this regime in killing Muslims, for this is a major sin. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “There is no obedience to creation in disobedience to the Creator.”

• It is the regime which ordered the killing of army officers and soldiers, not the people. The signs of torture found upon some of the dead bodies are a clear indication upon the fact that the cause of their killing was there refusal to submit to the command of the regime to kill people, the opposite of what the regime claims.

• The regime is gradually trying to draw a wedge between the army (officers and soldiers alike) and their families, so that it becomes easy for them to execute its commands. In this respect it is upon the soldiers to know that by this plot of the regime they are killing the families of other soldiers.

• The regime wants peace with the Jews. Many a time al-Assad (both father and son) have announced that peace with the ‘Israel’ is a ‘strategic choice’ and that they want the ‘peace of the valiant’; thus the boasting of the regime that it is a regime of opposition and resistance is nothing but deception, that carries no weight.

• The regime has not used its army in even one war which would give it the honour of liberating Palestine, let alone the Golan, upon which the Jews roam and reside as they please. On the contrary, the regime has used the Golan in foreign wars in Lebanon and Iraq for the benefit of its masters in America, and it uses the region now domestically to kill its own people under the pretext of ‘fighting terrorism’.

• The regime has weakened the army and its armament, established from it private forces and republican guards (from which is the fourth brigade lead by Maher al-Assad), and formed therefrom a strike force for its own protection against any attempt of revolution which the army itself may undertake, and it has spread the repressive security forces to keep surveillance of the army, just as they keep surveillance of the people.

• What is required from the army (officers and soldiers) is not merely to flee and disobey orders for the sake of disobedience, only in turn to be subject to being killed. Rather what is required is a planned action sincerely for the sake of Allah, His Messenger and the believers, undertaken by the sincere officers, in order to take authority and give it to the sincere and aware believing group so that it can establish the Khilafah Rashidah which rules by Islam, announces Jihad and annexes the Muslim lands to unite them.

On the other side, the Muslims of Syria must know that it is not allowed from them to take up arms against the Syrian army, because they are there fathers, sons, brothers and uncles. By taking up arms they would be facilitating the plan of the regime to exploit the army for its ends. Rather it is upon the people to work to make the army on their side, as a force working for them against the regime, for indeed the army has multiple reasons to rebel against the regime and to stand with their people.

The people must also know that if they attack the army they are foregoing the ability to possess that power which will aid them in changing this wretched regime, and at the same time they are falling into the trap placed by the regime to cause discord between the two sides (army and people). Likewise, it is upon the Muslims to advice, nay to command, their sons, brothers and fathers in the army to not submit to the commands of the regime to kill people, because this is from the most grave of major sins, one which attracts the wrath of Allah, the Exalted, upon them in this world and the hereafter.

O Muslims and army officers in Syria,

The Syrian regime only has in store for you plots and crimes, and it has resolved to suppress you, so do not allow it to succeed. It is only Islam that will protect the blood of the Muslims and non-Muslims in Syria, just as it protected it in the past when the Christians of Homs stood with the Muslim armies, in the days of Khalid ibn Walid (ra), against the Roman armies, even though the Romans were of their own religion. Bilad al-Sham is blessed in the Qur’an and is promised good in the ahadith. Thus, with Islam, must the army and the people protect the blood of each other, and with Islam must the people confront the regime, and with Islam must the people of power from the army support the sincere group which works to establish dar al-Islam by establishing the Khilafah Rashidah.

O Muslims and army officers in Syria,

Syria is an Islamic land, and naught but Islam is befitting for it, so resolve your will upon pleasing Allah, the Exalted, by supporting his deen, and know that there is no proper solution, that deals with the problem from its roots, except for what Hizb ut-Tahrir calls you to. This is the true call which requires sincere determination and souls pure upon Islam…to this Hizb ut-Tahrir calls you, sincerely for the sake of Allah, reminding you of His saying,

يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ
“O you who believe, respond to the call of Allah and to the Messenger when the call you to that which gives you life” (al-Anfal: 24)

02 Jumada II 1432
2011/05/05           

Hizb-ut Tahrir