I was asked to put my questions of the Hib Ut Tahrir to them instead of posting them here, and I did.

Just posting my original email and the reply here as others may find it interesting.

My Email:

Salaams,

A simple question on Muslim unity.

I think unity of the ummah is a big thing and the Hizb mentions it a bit as the answer to all evils in the world. However I cannot see the hizb actually practicing this.

As an example, many people protested against the assault on the Mavi marmara last saturday. Muslims and Non Muslims alike protested against it and for the siege on Gaza to be lifted.

However the hizb did not participate and chose to have its own separate protest the very next day, on sunday?

Where is the pracitising what you preach bit?

Salaams

The response:

Assalamu alaikum brother,

Thanks for your email.

There are many instances where we participate in events with our brothers and sisters from other Muslim groups (Aafia Siddiqui issues, Pakistan crisis, against UK anti terror laws which targets Muslims, e.t.c.) And there are other instances where we organise events on our own, to target a particular message and so do other groups. This does not mean we are disunited as an Ummah, merely doing different things but working towards a common goal.

In this case, Alhamdulillah Muslims were united to work to end the siege of Gaza and condemn Israel. Some non-Muslims agreed with that. So Saturday's demo was organised by those brothers + sisters, together with others, for that general purpose.

However, we had organised a separate demo for an added purpose (and indeed we announced it before the Saturday demo was announced) which was to denounce the Arab + Muslim regimes who helped enforce the siege and who still maintain trade + diplomatic relations with Israel. Also, to expose that the so-called 2 state solution which is nothing more than institutionalising the subjugation of the Palestinians.

Moreover, before last Saturday’s demonstration, ourselves and other Muslim groups (including some key organisers from Saturday's demo) met to talk about responding to the murders on the Mavi Marmara. It was decided that everyone would do whatever they could in their different ways regarding this issue. So some of our brothers and sisters organised and took part in Saturday’s demo, while we already had one organised to highlight the Egyptian regime’s collusion in besieging Gaza, and we invited people from other groups to join and address the audience.

Though from different groups, organisations and backgrounds, we were all united in responding to this issue Alhamdulillah.

May Allah (swt) aid and accept all of our diverse efforts in His (swt) cause. Ameen

Wassalam,

and a second reply:

Salams Dear Brother

Just forwarding an interesting article that I saw recently. Whilst we believe all Muslims working to end the Gaza siege are sincere, and are united in their aim, this article shows that sometimes different actions based on a more nuanced or deeper understanding of an issue can add value.

Wassalam,

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/11/gazans-pin-hopes-egypt-border