In a recent post, we discussed Yemeni opposition parties and their ties to extremist groups. A few days ago, the most influential leader of the Islah party Abdul Majid al-Zindani stated that “an Islamic state is coming” in Yemen. Abdul Majid al-Zindani is a former mentor of Osama Bin Laden and the leader of the Islah party representing Islamists, tribalists, and Salafists in Yemen. He is also one of the most powerful clerics in Yemen and his words carry considerable weight.

There is another growing Islamist force on the rise in Yemen and elsewhere. That force is Hizb-ut-Tahrir, a pan-Islamic organization that opposes democracy and seeks the “formation of a transnational Islamic caliphate”. It is banned in many countries and has been accused of supporting terrorist organizations. However, Hizb-ut-Tahrir claims that it is a peaceful organization of one million members and does not support violence.

Using open source intelligence tools we can discover more about the political affiliations and statements of Hizb-ut-Tahrir. Is the organization really what it claims to be?

Aside: For general background information on Hizb-ut-Tahrir, consider reading GlobalSecurity.org’s article on the party. It provides a foundational introduction to the organization’s political structure and motivations.

So, who leads Hizb-ut-Tahrir? The leader of an organization is almost always at the top of the policy pyramid and plays a critical role in shaping its ideology. Recorded Future’s network tool can provide information about the political statements of Hizb’s leaders.

Hizb-ut-Tahrir Link to Burhan Hanif

One of the leaders of Hizb-ut-Tahrir is Burhan Hanif, who has openly stated that, “Muslims should shun democracy.” Most of what Hizb-ut-Tahrir has said in the press also reflects this viewpoint. Over the past few years we find a steady flow of information supporting Hizb-ut-Tahrir’s anti-democratic sentiment.

Hizb-ut-Tahrir Timeline of Quotations Past Year

Points of interest include:

• Hizb-ut-Tahrir has been banned in Bangladesh for threatening to topple the government. (Source 1, Source 2, Source 3)

• Kyrgyzstan identifies it as a threat to its security (Source 1, Source 2)

• In July, the Marriott in Chicago canceled a conference planned by Hizb-ut-Tahrir when it discovered that, “speakers at previous conferences have denounced democracy”. A Muslim school in Bridgeview, Illinois, also backed out of hosting the group. The article also indicates that Hizb-ut-Tahrir has a relatively pale following in the United States compared to other Muslim groups.

Hizb-ut-Tahrir Media Overview

• An editorial by the Telegraph of London notes that, “Hizb-ut-Tahrir is an organisation that is anti-semitic and anti-democratic. Its members in Denmark have called for the killing of Jews and one of its activists here has called for the death of the criminal capitalist nation of America and other infidel (kuffar) states by the army of jihad”. It also states that Hizb-ut-Tahrir publications have described “Western education as a threat to our [Muslim] beliefs and values”.

• The group was nearly banned in Australia because of its political platform and possible links to terrorist groups. Although these links have not been completely confirmed, Clive Williams, head of terrorism studies at the Australian National University indicates that, “There are many instances, though, of those whose views were forged in Hizb ut-Tahrir subsequently taking part in terrorism.” It has been reported that the group also supports the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan and calls for the military elimination of Israel.  The group has also been banned in Russia and listed as a terrorist organization.

Does Hizb-ut-Tahrir have any links to potentially violent groups?

Links to Violent Groups

Hizb-ut-Tahrir is suspected of having links to al-Muhajiroun and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Hizb is currently banned in several central Asian countries, perhaps based partially on these links. Al-Muhajiroun is a banned Islamist organization in Britain and is proscribed under the UK Terrorism Act of 2000. The IMU was a terrorist organization that sought to overthrow the government of Uzbekistan and implement Sharia law. It is thought that the organization no longer exists.

Where does Hizb-ut-Tahrir fit into the current crisis in the Middle East?

The organization recently has shown its ability to flex its political muscle at the university level. In Bangladesh, “Hizb-ut Tahrir – which has well known global links – has been active lately in universities and the government may well have been worried about its increasing influence among students”. This ability to organize may have a future impact on events in the region.

The current protest movements have largely been influenced by students, and Hizb-ut-Tahrir has shown its ability to appeal to at least a portion of the student populace. Although the group may not have overt political goals (such as running for election) it still may be able to influence political events behind the scenes.

Conclusion

OSINT evidence suggests that Hizb-ut-Tahrir is staunchly anti-democratic and may be a security threat to regional governments. It is currently banned in a number of countries for this reason. Hizb-ut-Tahrir may still attempt to exploit the current political situation in the Middle East, even though most protests so far support democratic reform. Its anti-democratic message may appeal to a subset of the population, particularly in countries such as Yemen that lack secular opposition parties.

Further, the group has shown its ability to organize at the university level and appeal to a younger audience. In Yemen and other failing Middle Eastern governments, it may take advantage of a newfound opportunity to spread its ideology.