Press Release
Police Killings: A Capitalist Mindset of Brutality and Impunity

Three police officers in Kenya have been charged with the murder of a 31-year-old blogger who died in police custody earlier this month. Albert Ojwang's death has sparked outrage in Kenya with protests held to demand justice.

We, in Hizb ut Tahrir Kenya, would like to highlight the following:

The security agents under any Secular-Liberal Regimes such as Kenya are an extension of a colonial-era creation that the British used to control the population and stamp out dissent. During the 1950s, as Kenyans began to assert their right to rule themselves, the police and other British-run security services rounded up tens of thousands of Kenyans and hanged more than a thousand.

Apparently, the police force views ordinary citizens as potential threat to ruling administration an approach that was originally established to enforce colonial rule—not to protect citizens.

Ideologically, the secular-liberal regimes perceive benefit and interest sacred above human life and properties, thus making corruption, impunity and state capture as political norm. With this in mind, states apparatus killings with impunity is the only means to curb any voice of dissent and efforts to expose mass corruption. It is worth mentioning the brutality and torture by state apparatus is a global trend and not unique to Kenya.

We insist that human lives or rather all lives are sacred which deserve an ultimate protection by the state without fear or favor. In Islam, the protection of human life is paramount and is considered a sacred trust from the Almighty Allah. Islam emphasizes the sanctity of life, prohibiting the unjust taking of it, and requires the preservation of life and dignity for all human beings.

We reiterate that it is only under Khilafah Raashida (rightly guided Caliphate) which will be soon reestablished upon the methodology of Prophethood, the police force would be responsible for maintaining public order, enforcing laws, and investigating crimes. Torture is absolutely forbidden and any police officer found guilty of carrying out physical abuse or torture against any citizen, Muslim or non-Muslim, will be held accountable. Hence, the police forces will be fully committed to maintain law and order; hence, protecting the lives and property of the citizens.

Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Kenya